Possible Debate inspired by Desperate Housewives.

[septbride2002]

Yes the storyline is over the top and I agree there is more to this character then meets the eye. However I also know many people who have come to face to face with these issues in their life.

Now my job is in a call center - whenever Bob takes off I have to handle his existing clientel and also new clientel coming in. He has to do the same for me. When his kid had a big soccer game and he got to leave it stuck me with having to handle his workload from 3pm to 5pm which included a closing on a home gone bad due to title issues. My work was compensated to handle his clients problems and I had to work late to finish my work.

Could he know this was going to happen, no. But that doesn't take away from the extra work I had to do so he could go to a soccer game instead of being at work.

This is all hypothetical.
~Amanda

 

[SillyMe]

There is no solution to the problem and probably never will be. You can easily say the parents should take turns, but, what about the single parents?

I am so glad I work for a small company. I don't have personal days, sick days, etc. I have the flexibility of taking off when I need to. However, in my case, there isn't anyone here to take over my work load. If I'm not here, it piles up and waits for me until I get back. Then I have double/triple the amount of work.

 

[mcnuss]

Attorney X can leave at 3pm to watch her son play football, so you stay until 8pm to finish her brief, you're infertile, right? If Attorney X wants to leave at 3pm, Attorney X should make sure all of her work is done by 3pm and be prepared to work a Saturday to make up the billable hours.

From the fact that you've mentioned this situation twice in your posts, I'll guess it happened to you. If you're working at a law firm and you are an associate and Atty X is a partner, then you should know that it doesn't matter at all why Atty X dumped that brief on you, that's her right as an owner of the firm, and it's what you signed on for by working in a law firm. Partners come & go as they please, and since they are generally bonused on the profits the firm generates, not on billable hours, she's not going to care about making them up.

If she is another associate, that's another story. If she asked you to do this, and you said yes, then you really have no right to complain. If she really dumped it on you, then you should talk it over with her. If you are bonused on your billable hours, and you picked up her slack, then you will get a bigger bonus at the end of the year, and if you are on partnership track, then you will end up ahead of her (at least based on the billable hour criteria).

Edited to add: Law firms are not like most other organizations. There are three classes of people: partners, associates and staff and the lines of demarcation are quite clear.

 

[wvrevy]

In most corporate environments, time off is given, by hours, to everyone based on seniority and such. As far as I'm concerned, I could care less why someone is taking time off, as long as they have that much vacation or personal time available to them. Should anyone be given "special" consideration and allowed to take time off that is not counted as "personal" or "vacation" time ? Absolutely not.

Using your example from Housewives, Lynette should have been given the time, so long as it was charged as vacation or personal time. Otherwise, she should have been at work. Sorry, but personal business (including family business) is personal, and business is business. You shouldn't get special privileges just because you happen to have a child.

 

[LoraJ]

I think employers should be flexible with everyone-not just parents. Everyone has real needs

I think this is true where I work. i am becoming one of the few childless who works here. But I have never had to pick up the slack. We have very flexible shifts, so if one guy wants to switch with me so he can take his kid to school, I'll just switch with him when I want to go to a concert.

 

[jrydberg]

Sorry, but personal business (including family business) is personal, and business is business. You shouldn't get special privileges just because you happen to have a child.

There it is in a nutshell. My daughter is my responsibility, not the company's. If I want time off for her first day of school, I need to plan for that and make sure it's ok with the company. When she started kindergarten, I did all this well in advance and used vacation time so I could be there.

 

[Spinning]

I think if someone is abusing the system and out or late leaving early all the time but if it is once in awhile I don't see it as an added benifit of having kids.
I didnt have kids for a long time and would have to leave for various "family" emergencies. Such as my dad was dying from cancer and at times I had to rush home to help my mom. He wasn't dying at that time but she couldn't deal with something and needed help (medical problem etc....). I used my sick, vacation or personal time or if need be stayed late/came in early. So I think in most work places at different times different people need to leave early or what ever. or those people who couldn't get a dr appointment after work so they need to come in early and leave early.

My biggest beef at work places is smoking breaks. Talk about abuse of time. Since smoking is banned in most work places they would have to go outside to smoke. Usually away from the main door. Workers would do this several times a day and still take a full lunch, full scheduled breaks and not clock any of their smoke time.

 

[AllyandJack]

From the fact that you've mentioned this situation twice in your posts, I'll guess it happened to you. If you're working at a law firm and you are an associate and Atty X is a partner, then you should know that it doesn't matter at all why Atty X dumped that brief on you, that's her right as an owner of the firm, and it's what you signed on for by working in a law firm. Partners come & go as they please, and since they are generally bonused on the profits the firm generates, not on billable hours, she's not going to care about making them up.

If she is another associate, that's another story. If she asked you to do this, and you said yes, then you really have no right to complain. If she really dumped it on you, then you should talk it over with her. If you are bonused on your billable hours, and you picked up her slack, then you will get a bigger bonus at the end of the year, and if you are on partnership track, then you will end up ahead of her (at least based on the billable hour criteria).

It depends on who the partner is. I'm in a particular group, so, any random partner can not come up to me and start giving me work because the partners in my group will have a fit. But, that's never been a problem, so no point in dwelling on it.

We used to have an associate with a child who caused work to be dumped on the rest of us. It was a horrible situation and we were so happy when she quit. We have another associate now - also with kids - who does her job so the rest of us don't have to. We're all much happier.

 

[Jennifer S]

Just a quick question. Anyone posting now - at work. That's taking away from your job. It's not leaving the office but you aren't working. Is that fair to the person sitting next to you that is working?

That used to annoy me - workers who were there but didn't work - I guess that is a whole new thread.

 

[phorsenuf]

Many years ago when I was a full-time working mom they were good about things that came up regarding kids. Then we got a new boss who was a jerk. I got a call from the daycare that my son fell and was hurt and I needed to go. I told my boss and he was not happy about it. He called me into his office and told me I needed to choose between working there and my kids. That was easy! Gave my 2 week notice then and there!
Of course now thats probably illegal, but back then it was probably the best thing that ever happened! LOL

 

[Bob Slydell]

Just a quick question. Anyone posting now - at work. That's taking away from your job. It's not leaving the office but you aren't working. Is that fair to the person sitting next to you that is working?

That used to annoy me - workers who were there but didn't work - I guess that is a whole new thread.

As a salaried employee, my priority is to complete all my projects correctly and on time. I get my work done, get it done right and on time.

Now, if I was sitting here surfing the web with nothing to do and had co-workers busting their butts and didn't offer to help them, that's a different story. But typically, we're all busy enough on our own and each have our own tasks to complete, so that's not a problem.

 

[Wishing on a star]

This whole issue is clear cut to me....

It should NOT matter WHY any person takes/receives time off. I should not have to explain my personal time off to my boss, and have to get his/her approval.

If it is to get my hair done.. FINE
If it is little Juniors first day at school.. FINE

This has NOTHING to do with special treatment... When you take a job, you are given XXX amount of time. It is yours to take as you please. As long as an employee is following policy, then it should be a complete NON-issue.

To those who complain about having to cover for Working Mothers... What is your big gripe??? coworkers cover for each others leave all the time.... That is part of being a productive employee. Hey, you have your time off... Take it as you please. If your boss is not following policy about 'leave', then take it up with the boss..
Don't just gripe and take your frustrations out on another employee who happens to have young children to consider.

PS: in the episode of Desperate Housewive's... Lynette had JUST started this job... My guess is that, as a new-hire, under policy, this type of discressionary leave is not usually given. The employer is the one paying the employee for XXXXXX hours/services. The policies are usually VERY clear.

I am sorry that there is such pressure on women to 'do it all'. Unfortunately, there is simply NO way that a woman can meet the obligations of a full time job, and be there for every little miraculous milestone for their children. I feel sorry for woman who try to do this, and then think less of other women who choose to be SAHM's to raise their children. But, it is just so classic for women to be catty and snipe at each other. Too bad!

I say, if a woman wants to work, then WORK, make that choice to meet the responsibilities of being in the workforce and earning a paycheck from a company. If a woman wants to be there for her kids, then be there for your kids.... However, unless we have somehow developed super-power abilities to be simultaneously in two places at the same time... Make your choice, and live with it... And quit whining and complaining.

 

[mcnuss]

Just a quick question. Anyone posting now - at work. That's taking away from your job. It's not leaving the office but you aren't working. Is that fair to the person sitting next to you that is working?

That used to annoy me - workers who were there but didn't work - I guess that is a whole new thread.

I am far more annoyed with the woman in the office across from mine who talks endlessly on the phone with her friends and her mom, or the woman who e-bays all day then complains about her work volume than I am with anyone who leaves early or arrives late every once in awhile.

I do believe this is more of an issue in a workplace where you are measured by the number of hours you work. Where I work, people come in at all times and leave at all times. We are expected to put in our 7.5 hours but not necessarily on a set schedule. The only thing we are expected to make sure of is that there is someone to cover the department between 8:30-6:00. We've never had to formalize a schedule bc there are many who come in early/leave early and many who come in late/leave late.

 

[mickeyfan2]

What do you think of the Working Mom vs. Childfree by Choice employee situations? Should companies put family first no matter what, or is it reverse discrimination to do so?

~Amanda

I think that you should give all employees a little flexiblilty (if the job allows). But I do not think that a Working Mom should be allowed to take advantage of it. Many men are working Dads, but don't leave as often. If you want to take the kid to their first day of school, then take a vacation day. BTW the Dad did not help the situation on DHW. I think he is trying to get Lynette to quit or be fired. He found out that a SAH parent is a lot of work.

 

[Bob Slydell]

BTW the Dad did not help the situation on DHW. I think he is trying to get Lynette to quit or be fired. He found out that a SAH parent is a lot of work.

I thought he did as well as he could that day. He was more than willing to take his son to school for his first day. It was their son who was attached to the idea of mom taking him instead of dad that day -- nothing he did wrong.

 

[4greatboys]

Its been my experience at a few different employers that time off was given according to who asked for the time off first and not by what the reasoning was behind the request.
Same held for holidays. At one place you had to work either the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas eve. So if your request made it in in a timely fashion and there were still spots open for the day you wanted off you got lucky and sometimes you didnt.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I thought he did as well as he could that day. He was more than willing to take his son to school for his first day. It was their son who was attached to the idea of mom taking him instead of dad that day -- nothing he did wrong.

I saw it differently. The husband seemed to be happy that the kid made the fuss, kind of like he put it in Parker's head before Lynette came home from work. When Lynette said she couldn't take him the Dad should have backed her up and told Parker that it would be fine.

 

[malibuconlee]

Your post reminded me of something that a few of us at work were discussing.
For maternity leave I would receive 13 weeks 100% paid time off. For adoption leave I would receive only 8 weeks paid time off. I think that is a bunch of bull as well.

~Amanda

That's still way more than other places. Most I've know you get 6 weeks for a "normal" delivery, and 8 weeks for a c-section.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I think that if a company wants to keep a good employee they will figure out what is important to those employees and give it to them. Some of these things don't even cost $. If an employee has a job to do whether they are there or not, it doesn't cost the company anything to let them take the hour or two off of work to do whatever it is. The employee will return to work happier, do their job and give even more back to the company. It shouldn't matter to the employer whether it's a parent taking time off for the first day of school, someone taking an ill parent to a drs appt, someone going to the dr themself, taking an occasional long lunch break, etc. It's smart business. To micromanage employees in the way that some companies/bosses do can easily backfire on the company because that employee will figure out a way to get what they want and/or will not put themselves out for the company like they would if the company respects them and their desires and needs. In general, a happy employee is a harder working employee.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Interesting thread. I don't think there is anything I can add--you have to go with the company's rules concerning time off.

But you still can plan, make choices and decide your priorities. Do you want a family? Do you want to wait a few years or start right now? Do you want to continue working? Full time or part time or not at all? Do you want to try to work from home or maybe start your own business? If you have a child and stay with your present employer, how family-friendly is that employer? What are their policies? Are you going to be okay with those policies?