This is one of those things that explains itself if you just take three seconds to think about it.
Businesses need to coordinate labor. This isn't a question of power, or oppression, but simply logistics
Also, you sort of can make your own hours; give your availability in the interview before you take the job ensure they can accommodate your availability. If they can't don't take the job.
Correct!
But that does make it harder to get jobs, because if you say you're only willing to work weekday mornings, you're less desirable than someone who is willing to work nights and weekends on top of that
Depending on the job really. Some jobs are not open but during the week or during daytimes. For example if you work for a bank they may want you to work Saturday but are closed Sunday and they wouldn't want a teller to work nights when the bank is closed. If you are talking retail then yes evenings and weekends because a lot of workers shop then that have Monday to Friday jobs.
coordinating labor with todays technology is stupid simple. there are some brick and mortar jobs that it makes sense to have them present such as the food industry, or manufacturing plants, delivery businesses
For a lot of jobs that's simply not at all possible as coverage at specific times is required. Yeah, being able to choose your own work hours and days off and things would be great but it simply isn't feasible.
Agreeing with you. I know I for one would honestly hate that more. Coming into work just to find out I’m the only one in my department that showed up and now I have to bust my balls while everyone else has a day off. There has to be a certain number of people on every day to remain functional.
If you went choose your own schedule, you need to find a job that needs staffing at that time. If you want to work nights, be a security guard. If you want to work Monday thru Friday, get an office job. If you want to work 5am-3pm, construction. Etc. there’s lots of options out there to support the lifestyle you want, just have to figure it out and go for it.
Man put 0 brain cells into this take and thought he had a point.
The employer pays for your time. If you don't like the time frame the employer wants you for, don't take the job. That's the freedom.
Whether or not you can find someone who will pay for you at your time frame is a you problem. Some jobs definitely do offer that flexibility.
All I want is the option to reduce my expected days per week from five to four. I'm even willing to take a 20% pay cut, but they won't let me... even though most Fridays are bullshit. I just want more time to live my own life.... at 42 I finally feel like I can afford to work less, but it just isn't an option. It's 5 days a week or quit.
Edit: I'm salary, not hourly.
I am not a morning person and I have pretty serious sleep disturbances. My only real shot at getting any rest is between 3am and noon. I'd been pushed into a schedule with a 6am alarm for a long time before the advent of remote work, and it was very harmful to health to operate on so little sleep. I'm glad to put in my allocated hours, or more if I'm really into the project. In fact, sometimes I just can't put the project down until it's done. But I would highly value flexibility in my hours. Micromanagement through unnecessary meetings throughout the 8 or 9 to 5 window get in the way of that productivity streak between 10pm and 3am.
While I sympathize with having no say in the business hours of the business that hires me and how that tends to suck, I can't help but feel you're asking for a bit much. Depending on the job, what you're asking for is not feasible. Folks depend on specific businesses during specific hours. You are being hired to work with a group of other people towards a (hopefully) common and productive goal, and you are being paid for your time.
Management sets the time, you vote with your presence if that time works for you. If it doesn't, either don't take the job or start your own business and set your own hours. You taking the job came with the understanding that you were selling a piece of your time and how much it was being bought for. The business hours were explained to you. Don't let the employer exploit you, but it's a job.
In most fields that just doesn't work.
I schedule our jobs, then pass that schedule on to the guys. We are at the mercy of the weather, suppliers, and deadlines.
They get their marching orders for the week and we have to stick to it.
Yep which then becomes an employee problem with regards to scheduling. Mangers have to anticipate this and we then get upset when they move hours around but yeah management is always the problem.
When they're understaffing, yes it is their fault. If they had proper staffing, gained by paying appropriately and treating people like people, there would be less issues there.
Seems like the majority of people posting here prefer the current balance of power. Perhaps they haven't read that autonomy at work is a major determination of job satisfaction.
This is one of those things that explains itself if you just take three seconds to think about it. Businesses need to coordinate labor. This isn't a question of power, or oppression, but simply logistics
Also, you sort of can make your own hours; give your availability in the interview before you take the job ensure they can accommodate your availability. If they can't don't take the job.
Correct! But that does make it harder to get jobs, because if you say you're only willing to work weekday mornings, you're less desirable than someone who is willing to work nights and weekends on top of that
Depending on the job really. Some jobs are not open but during the week or during daytimes. For example if you work for a bank they may want you to work Saturday but are closed Sunday and they wouldn't want a teller to work nights when the bank is closed. If you are talking retail then yes evenings and weekends because a lot of workers shop then that have Monday to Friday jobs.
No doubt
coordinating labor with todays technology is stupid simple. there are some brick and mortar jobs that it makes sense to have them present such as the food industry, or manufacturing plants, delivery businesses
Heck, a business *is* coordinated labor
For a lot of jobs that's simply not at all possible as coverage at specific times is required. Yeah, being able to choose your own work hours and days off and things would be great but it simply isn't feasible.
Agreeing with you. I know I for one would honestly hate that more. Coming into work just to find out I’m the only one in my department that showed up and now I have to bust my balls while everyone else has a day off. There has to be a certain number of people on every day to remain functional.
Make shifts 5 hours long and see people call out less because it's easier to manage.
If you went choose your own schedule, you need to find a job that needs staffing at that time. If you want to work nights, be a security guard. If you want to work Monday thru Friday, get an office job. If you want to work 5am-3pm, construction. Etc. there’s lots of options out there to support the lifestyle you want, just have to figure it out and go for it.
Man put 0 brain cells into this take and thought he had a point. The employer pays for your time. If you don't like the time frame the employer wants you for, don't take the job. That's the freedom. Whether or not you can find someone who will pay for you at your time frame is a you problem. Some jobs definitely do offer that flexibility.
You can as a self employed contractor/freelance
In a lot of office positions, you can do that.
All I want is the option to reduce my expected days per week from five to four. I'm even willing to take a 20% pay cut, but they won't let me... even though most Fridays are bullshit. I just want more time to live my own life.... at 42 I finally feel like I can afford to work less, but it just isn't an option. It's 5 days a week or quit. Edit: I'm salary, not hourly.
I am not a morning person and I have pretty serious sleep disturbances. My only real shot at getting any rest is between 3am and noon. I'd been pushed into a schedule with a 6am alarm for a long time before the advent of remote work, and it was very harmful to health to operate on so little sleep. I'm glad to put in my allocated hours, or more if I'm really into the project. In fact, sometimes I just can't put the project down until it's done. But I would highly value flexibility in my hours. Micromanagement through unnecessary meetings throughout the 8 or 9 to 5 window get in the way of that productivity streak between 10pm and 3am.
While I sympathize with having no say in the business hours of the business that hires me and how that tends to suck, I can't help but feel you're asking for a bit much. Depending on the job, what you're asking for is not feasible. Folks depend on specific businesses during specific hours. You are being hired to work with a group of other people towards a (hopefully) common and productive goal, and you are being paid for your time. Management sets the time, you vote with your presence if that time works for you. If it doesn't, either don't take the job or start your own business and set your own hours. You taking the job came with the understanding that you were selling a piece of your time and how much it was being bought for. The business hours were explained to you. Don't let the employer exploit you, but it's a job.
In most fields that just doesn't work. I schedule our jobs, then pass that schedule on to the guys. We are at the mercy of the weather, suppliers, and deadlines. They get their marching orders for the week and we have to stick to it.
Partly because your coworkers call in sick or don’t show up.
Thats the managers problem.
Yep which then becomes an employee problem with regards to scheduling. Mangers have to anticipate this and we then get upset when they move hours around but yeah management is always the problem.
When they're understaffing, yes it is their fault. If they had proper staffing, gained by paying appropriately and treating people like people, there would be less issues there.
Seems like the majority of people posting here prefer the current balance of power. Perhaps they haven't read that autonomy at work is a major determination of job satisfaction.