STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Hermes

ugh, don't know what to do...

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

I agree with the coworker. If you refuse to comply, you risk looking like you're not a "team player." With the increase in pay, this could work out well for you. Unless you have a long commute to work, or children to look after I don't see a reason not to do it. Good luck with your decision!

jj · Kate Spade

Hmmmm...I guess I might be upset with my boss for pulling a bait and switch, promising only 4 days a week and then pressuring you to work 5.

I would probably stick to my guns and say that you both agreed to a 4-day work schedule. If there are meetings you need to attend on Friday, maybe they can be switched to another day.

Are there particular deadlines that must be met on Friday?

I don't think kids or commuting should be a factor. You are entitled to your own reasons for working four days a week.

I guess in any situation you must weigh the pros and cons of your decision. Are you willing to say no and risk having them let you go? Are you willing to give up a good set up, work longer hours, and potentially be unhappy?

Suasoria · Chanel

Me three (four). I think the best solution is to agree to come in Fridays temporarily until things calm down. I think the instinct is correct about what could happen if you say no - you run the risk of looking like a spoiled brat, particularly among coworkers who don't have the choice of Fridays off.

Perhaps you can take alternate Mondays off as another compromise, but it sounds like your boss is really about the face time. The good news is those people are becoming dinosaurs as telecommuting becomes more technologically and economically feasible.

sephorablue · Marc Jacobs

man, D, that stinks... it does seem like your boss pulled a sort of bait & switch on you. Maybe, as your coworker suggested, you could agree to do it temporarily, and see how it goes? If you find you really don't like it, then maybe you can talk to him after things calm down a bit and say you'd like to resume your prior schedule. Why is he so insistent on having you in the office every day? It seems like one of the privileges of being as senior as you are (or at least, I assume you are, since they were the ones who sought you out for this position) is being able to telecommute some of the time.

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

How about agreeing to half day fridays? A lot of my clients are moving to this type of schedule for their employees. It might be a good compromise for you. I can tell you from experience though that Fridays are the worst days for me to get anything accomplished as I just sit and play/think all day. It wouldn't be to stressing mentally but I know what you mean about the 4/3 type work week.

joy0302 · Kate Spade

I feel for you because I work 4 10's and love it, and HATE when overtime starts and I lose my Friday's. You could agree to do the Friday thing temporarily, but in my experience once you agree to this, they will pretty much rope you in for the long term, sort of like give them an inch and they will take a mile!

I would intially agree with JJ and remind your boss of your agreement when you signed on. I also think that you shouldn't need to have an excuse of kids or a long commute to have your own reasons for wanting him to stand by his word.

If it becomes too big of an issue, I guess I would do the Friday thing if I didn't want to risk losing the job. I wouldn't worry though what your coworkers think or of them not thinking you are a team player because I bet any of them who were able to work 4 days would jump on it too!

HeatherLynn · Gucci

Ugh this sucks! Part of why you took the job was to work part time. I would sit down and talk with him and say that you are exited about the thought that your work is liked well enough to be considered to go to full time, but honestly, you never expected to do that. Say that you don't mind helping out during the busy season (if you don't but if you do then don't do say this bc this is not the original agreement), but that you definitely want to go back to part time for personal reasons. I don't think explaining that for personal reasons you don't want to work full time yet will look bad. I think given your year that you have had you are entitled to personal time. I know you may not want to look at things that way, but the truth is you have enjoyed your free time (finally) and should be able to. Besides, a huge plus for this job was that it was work you enjoyed and they were okay with part time hours. =)

Good Luck!

Elle · Hermes

Well, 36 hours of facetime a week seems plenty full-time-like to me! Especially on a job that could be done from home some of the time.

I agree w/ Joy0302 that if you give this inch, they'll likely try to take you for a mile. IMO the 'more facetime' is a bullshit excuse for not wanting to be flexible, and it happens to sound only slightly more legit than "Because I want you to". Just perpetuating the warped American work ethic, idn't he?

If you're already sort of working from home on Fridays, there is no reason you can't continue to do so on a slightly more formal basis depending on your workload when you feel it's necessary. I think you could go the temporary route, but only if you put an expiration date on that agreement. Otherwise 'temporary' would almost absolutely turn into "Well you've been doing it for awhile now, why don't you just keep coming in?". Put it in writing, reference your hiring agreement, and (if you want) agree to work in-office on fridays through x/x/2007, whenever you feel the busiest period would be over.

Is this person otherwise manipulative? Sounds like he learned how to push all the right buttons!

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

1) I wouldn't worry about it reflecting poorly on you, or the idea that they could find someone else to meet their terms. This isn't about popularity. I would focus more on the fact that he is saying, "You are a valued employee, one we want to be invested in this organization." It's a compliment. And one backed by significant money? Very nicely done, Miss D.

2) And this isn't an "inch" that they want. It's an opportunty that they are offering. I don't think turning it down would make you less of a team player. Rather, it would say that you only want a limited role in this job, and are happy with things the way they are. That would hurt you later, if you change your mind. But if you want to spend the rest of your time there workign part-time, I don't think it would be a problem (although your boss and some coworkers will probably be a bit put off).

3) I really think you should take it. I get that the chance to goof off is precious. But once the busy period is over, it probably wouldn't be too hard to sort of slide back into a work-from-home system, as long as direct confrontation on this point is strictly avoided, so your boss won't see it as a power struggle. In that case, eventually, you'd have almost everything you have now, plus more money!

Kitty · Hermes

It sounds like you'd rather continue to be part-time and have the Fridays to yourself. I totally understand and would probably feel the same way in your sitaution. Having that extra day to run errands, stay in pajamas, or bring your laptop in bed is really, really a nice perk. I probably wouldn't budge if I was in your situation. Will it reflect poorly? Maybe. But is that 'maybe' really worth sacraficing what you want? Plus, I just can't see it as reflecting that poorly...the quality of your work is going to speak louder than whether or not you come in on Fridays. Plus, it sounds like they really like the work you're doing, or they wouldn't have asked you to come in full-time.

littlebean · Kate Spade

Kitty wrote:

It sounds like you'd rather continue to be part-time and have the Fridays to yourself. I totally understand and would probably feel the same way in your sitaution. Having that extra day to run errands, stay in pajamas, or bring your laptop in bed is really, really a nice perk. I probably wouldn't budge if I was in your situation. Will it reflect poorly? Maybe. But is that 'maybe' really worth sacraficing what you want?

I agree with the above. It's too bad that your boss has put you in this situation, although it obviously speaks to the fact that you are highly valued (congrats!). I think that you do run the risk of upsetting/angering your boss (and perhaps co-workers) by not agreeing -- but it is your life and there are not the terms that you agreed to, so you don't need to feel obligated to accept them if you don't want to.

It sounds like there are pros (more money, good atmosphere, no risk of upsetting your boss) and cons (sacrificing the time for yourself that you want and deserve) to working on Fridays. Perhaps going in on Fridays on a temporary basis would be the best way to see whether there are more pros or more cons.

Good luck!

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

Since you already work 36 hours a week , could you try to comprimise with your boss by working Every other friday , Instead of every friday?

dangergirl · Kate Spade

Elle wrote:

I think you could go the temporary route, but only if you put an expiration date on that agreement. Otherwise 'temporary' would almost absolutely turn into "Well you've been doing it for awhile now, why don't you just keep coming in?".

ditto - i would be worried about them expecting you to continue working fridays if you started doing it now.

ViViDogWear · Kate Spade

Dizzy wrote:

1) I wouldn't worry about it reflecting poorly on you, or the idea that they could find someone else to meet their terms. This isn't about popularity. I would focus more on the fact that he is saying, "You are a valued employee, one we want to be invested in this organization." It's a compliment. And one backed by significant money? Very nicely done, Miss D.

2) And this isn't an "inch" that they want. It's an opportunty that they are offering. I don't think turning it down would make you less of a team player. Rather, it would say that you only want a limited role in this job, and are happy with things the way they are. That would hurt you later, if you change your mind. But if you want to spend the rest of your time there workign part-time, I don't think it would be a problem (although your boss and some coworkers will probably be a bit put off).

3) I really think you should take it. I get that the chance to goof off is precious. But once the busy period is over, it probably wouldn't be too hard to sort of slide back into a work-from-home system, as long as direct confrontation on this point is strictly avoided, so your boss won't see it as a power struggle. In that case, eventually, you'd have almost everything you have now, plus more money!

I agree with what Dizzy wrote 100%.

I