Flexible Hours

[alina6]

I always thought flexible hours was for the employee. I didnt realize you had to be flexible for the employer. Doesn’t sound like a positive.

[Galaban]

Flexible hours means, you can control your time of work which is very nice.

[makeblessed]

Probably more flexible for the employer; which to mean means one has to be available at all times; since probably no set work schedule.

[countrygirl12]

Flexible hours means, you can control your time of work which is very nice.

No actually that is not what it means at all.  It means you need to be flexible on when you will work.  Basically be available any time they may need you.  I am just realizing recently the true meaning of it.  Don't believe me?  Apply for a job that says they have flexible hours and tell them I can work this time and this time and no other time and see how willing they are to accommodate you.

[countrygirl12]

Probably more flexible for the employer; which to mean means one has to be available at all times; since probably no set work schedule.

Exactly.  That is what it means.  Look at the fast food places.  They all say flexible hours.  And if you apply and go in and talk to them they tell you that you have to be available all the times they are open.  And that your schedule will vary every week.  No, you do not have a set work schedule.  It changes every week.

[dsosnowski06]

Guess I was lucky because when I talked to my boss years ago about flexible hours to work around the kids school schedule he had no problem with it as long as my work got done. Was able to leave when I needed to and switch my days off really easy and even work from home when necessary.  Think it depends on many things such as the type of work you do, your boss, and what type of employee you are.

[sfreeman8]

What does this mean to you?  If you were looking at the help wanted ads in the local paper and you see an ad and it says part time, flexible hours - what do YOU think this means?

I always thought it meant I as the employee would be able to work when I was available.  You the employer will work with the person applying.  I think I have had it wrong all this time.  Most fast food places say flexible hours but you work when they want you to work.  They don't work around your schedule.

I saw an ad a few days ago for a job and it's main point was "flexible hours" and I thought this meant, again, you can work when it is best for you. But when you get the application packet it has set hours and says you may be required to work more hours if they tell you to.  So I am assuming that "flexible hours" means YOU the employee must be flexible to work when ever they want you to be there.

So if you saw that in a help wanted ad what would you have thought it meant?

It means THEIR flexible hours. That's what I thought a long time ago. I was hired at the Acme for part time flexible hours but it was their time. I always wanted to work for the Acme and was thrilled when I was hired. They would schedule me 5 days a week sometimes mornings, sometimes afternoons, sometimes evenings. Drove me nuts. I could only handle it for a month. It was no life. You only knew on Friday what you're schedule would be for the next week so you couldn't make any plans. 

[teresa3200]

I always thought it meant they schedule you when they want. You have to be flexible, not them. But I guess it could mean either way.

[jenniferhoder]

Flexible hours to me is where I don't have to work 9-5 and get 40hours but as long as I get the 40 hours in a weekI am good!

[ghunter]

Yes, it means you need to able to come to work whenever they needs you.  Could be early or late hours.

[countrygirl12]

Guess I was lucky because when I talked to my boss years ago about flexible hours to work around the kids school schedule he had no problem with it as long as my work got done. Was able to leave when I needed to and switch my days off really easy and even work from home when necessary.  Think it depends on many things such as the type of work you do, your boss, and what type of employee you are.

I do not think it has anything to do with the type of employee you are since they do not know this when you are applying for the job.

[countrygirl12]

What does this mean to you?  If you were looking at the help wanted ads in the local paper and you see an ad and it says part time, flexible hours - what do YOU think this means?

I always thought it meant I as the employee would be able to work when I was available.  You the employer will work with the person applying.  I think I have had it wrong all this time.  Most fast food places say flexible hours but you work when they want you to work.  They don't work around your schedule.

I saw an ad a few days ago for a job and it's main point was "flexible hours" and I thought this meant, again, you can work when it is best for you. But when you get the application packet it has set hours and says you may be required to work more hours if they tell you to.  So I am assuming that "flexible hours" means YOU the employee must be flexible to work when ever they want you to be there.

So if you saw that in a help wanted ad what would you have thought it meant?

It means THEIR flexible hours. That's what I thought a long time ago. I was hired at the Acme for part time flexible hours but it was their time. I always wanted to work for the Acme and was thrilled when I was hired. They would schedule me 5 days a week sometimes mornings, sometimes afternoons, sometimes evenings. Drove me nuts. I could only handle it for a month. It was no life. You only knew on Friday what you're schedule would be for the next week so you couldn't make any plans. 

I just misunderstood what it was suppose to mean all this time. haha  I thought they were just saying we have flexible hours and then schedule you when ever.  But by saying we have flexible hours they were telling you that YOU need to be flexible because you never know when you will be working.

Even in fast food and retail most any person would like to have a set schedule.  Then you can make some plans.

Flexible hours to me is where I don't have to work 9-5 and get 40hours but as long as I get the 40 hours in a weekI am good!

The 9-5 thing is a old wives tale and a joke.  I have never heard of a job that was 9-5.  Even in a bank they may be open 9-5 but employees are there by 7:00 or 7:30 and do not get off til 5:00 or 5:30.

Forty hours is nice.  Most jobs do not let you get that many hours.  They want to hire you part time so they do not have to offer insurance.

[mrisha]

It means working any hour the employer wants you there-be it at 8am to whatever hour.  Or it can mean working the 4 to 12 shift.

[sherryinutah]

I always thought that flexible hours means the Employer is willing to discuss work schedule with someone to create a win/win scenario.

An example is if a person has small children they might be willing to consider a day care schedule so the parent can come in after dropping kids off at day care.   

[Tresbn00]

I am lucky to have "flexible" hours on all four of my jobs. My main job is the least flexible but pays the best. I have to put in eight hours per day and am required to be there between nine and three. I usually work six until three or four (Wednesdays from eight till four) because I am salaried and forty hours does not cover the work load. My second job requires ten hours per week and I must provide the hours I will be working the following week. I usually put eight till ten every day and end up working forty hours. My third job is completely flexible and I usually four till eight and six to eight hours on Saturday's and Sundays. My fourth job is only four hours per week and I set my times at six till eight in the mornings on Wednesdays and Saturdays.