- Aug 31, 2006
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Being salaried employees my co-workers and I were shocked when my boss had us all begin using a time clock to punch in and out at the beginning and end of the day and lunch. He was vague on the reason why. After much pressing I got him to say it was so he could show the execs that we're all already working OT and that more employees are needed. He sent an email to all of us that the time clock would not be used in anyone's review it was only being used for the aforementioned reason.
Our annual reviews were this week and one of my co-workers said that he got dinged for punching out too early (4 minutes) a couple days. I suggested he forward the email saying the time clock would not be used on reviews to HR to have it appended to his review.
Would he have a leg to stand on if he demanded that section of his review be removed?
ADDITIONAL INFO:
Boss's exact words in time clock email: "First of all, how many hours people work will have no negative impact on your evaluation."
UPDATE:
My co-worker IM'ed the boss this morning and said he'd like to have that email attached to his review. The boss flipped out on him and came into his office and started yelling at him. Said that the co-worker knows he has an "hours issue" and that from now on any changes he makes to the network must be approved by him first.
Now, I know what you're thinking next -- "the co-worker must have done more than clock out a few mins early to warrant such a response." You'd be partially right. One of the oddities about my boss is that one day he'll be joking around with you and treat you like his best friend. The next day he'll be yelling and screaming at you for something insignificant. As someone else said about him "he's the kind of guy that likes to think he has the longest dick in the locker room."
Anyway, my co-worker is not perfect. He was promoted to be a network technician from help desk and expected to learn on the job. He has done so very well and, after a year, is close to getting his CCNA.
The "hours issue" the boss was referring to I can only imagine is because the co-worker has called in sick more than average, but not enough to warrant discipline. However, for every 4 minutes he clocks out early, there is an instance of him working over VPN at night, coming in to fix network issues after hours, or coming in early. So what the big "issue" is I'm not really sure.
I'm a server guy and can empathize. I spend 2-6 hours every week patching servers, doing work after hours, etc. on top of my 40 spent sitting in my desk. Most days I work through lunch as well. A typical week for me is 48-50 hours. I got talked to a few weeks ago because I occasionally leave a few minutes early. Didn't think anything of it until this came up.
I'm in agreement with others that as a salaried employee one is paid to do a job. IMO so long as one is available (near a cell phone and internet access) in case something happens and is present for meetings, it shouldn't matter how many hours a person works or where they do it from. I'm expected to work over 40 hours without batting an eye so why should working 38 be a big deal? Why doesn't the door swing both ways?
Anyway, I don't call the shots so I can accept it or leave. My co-worker has a meeting this afternoon with our boss and his boss. We'll see what happens.
Our annual reviews were this week and one of my co-workers said that he got dinged for punching out too early (4 minutes) a couple days. I suggested he forward the email saying the time clock would not be used on reviews to HR to have it appended to his review.
Would he have a leg to stand on if he demanded that section of his review be removed?
ADDITIONAL INFO:
Boss's exact words in time clock email: "First of all, how many hours people work will have no negative impact on your evaluation."
UPDATE:
My co-worker IM'ed the boss this morning and said he'd like to have that email attached to his review. The boss flipped out on him and came into his office and started yelling at him. Said that the co-worker knows he has an "hours issue" and that from now on any changes he makes to the network must be approved by him first.
Now, I know what you're thinking next -- "the co-worker must have done more than clock out a few mins early to warrant such a response." You'd be partially right. One of the oddities about my boss is that one day he'll be joking around with you and treat you like his best friend. The next day he'll be yelling and screaming at you for something insignificant. As someone else said about him "he's the kind of guy that likes to think he has the longest dick in the locker room."
Anyway, my co-worker is not perfect. He was promoted to be a network technician from help desk and expected to learn on the job. He has done so very well and, after a year, is close to getting his CCNA.
The "hours issue" the boss was referring to I can only imagine is because the co-worker has called in sick more than average, but not enough to warrant discipline. However, for every 4 minutes he clocks out early, there is an instance of him working over VPN at night, coming in to fix network issues after hours, or coming in early. So what the big "issue" is I'm not really sure.
I'm a server guy and can empathize. I spend 2-6 hours every week patching servers, doing work after hours, etc. on top of my 40 spent sitting in my desk. Most days I work through lunch as well. A typical week for me is 48-50 hours. I got talked to a few weeks ago because I occasionally leave a few minutes early. Didn't think anything of it until this came up.
I'm in agreement with others that as a salaried employee one is paid to do a job. IMO so long as one is available (near a cell phone and internet access) in case something happens and is present for meetings, it shouldn't matter how many hours a person works or where they do it from. I'm expected to work over 40 hours without batting an eye so why should working 38 be a big deal? Why doesn't the door swing both ways?
Anyway, I don't call the shots so I can accept it or leave. My co-worker has a meeting this afternoon with our boss and his boss. We'll see what happens.
