Flexible hours - what does yours actually look like?

Jan 131 min read

Just negotiated "flexible hours" with my new employer. Want to get a real sense of what that means in practice at other companies before I get surprised:

Can I really start at 10am if I finish at 6pm?
If I work Saturday am do I get time off Wed afternoon?
Is it actually flexible or just "flexible if nothing goes wrong"?

Sharing what I agreed to: 8am-4:30pm core hours, flex before/after, no expected weekend work, can take 1.5-2 hour lunch for school pickups if I make time up same day.

What's reasonable to expect?

5 comments223 views

Comments(5)

MMatt B.New DadJan 13

My company does flexible hours and it's genuinely been a lifesaver for doctor appointments and stuff. But I found out nobody actually takes advantage of it because there's weird culture pressure to be at your desk during normal hours anyway. Scope out how the other parents in the office actually use it.

BBrandonNew DadJan 14

I'd specifically ask about summer schedule since that's when it matters most for us. My flexible hours basically disappeared in July when everyone else wanted them too.

SSteve K.RegularJan 15

Got burned by this at my last job. 'Flexible' meant I could work whenever as long as all my stuff was done, which somehow meant working all the time. Get it in writing with actual examples of what flex looks like.

SSam P.RegularJan 15

Ask them point blank: can you leave at 2pm for a school pickup? If they hesitate, it's not actually flexible. That's the real test for us dads.

CCharlie A.RegularJan 15

Mine means I can work from home two days a week and adjust my start time between 7-9am. Sounds great on paper but my boss still expects emails answered at 6pm. I'd push back on specifics like when they actually expect you online and if there's a core hours requirement.