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With the workplace developing this constant ‘always-on’ culture, it is easy for employees to feel that they need to be embedded in their work 24/7. And this may leave colleagues frowning upon those who leave on time each day or, alternatively, employees feeling like they aren’t able to leave on time over fears that this could demonstrate a ‘lack of commitment’ to their role.
Flexibility | 'Stop judging me for leaving the office at 5pm'
Yet, one working mother has hit out at her colleagues to stop judging her for ‘leaving the office at exactly 5pm’. She explained in a post published on Love What Matters that the reason for her timely office departure is that her children are waiting to be picked up from the babysitter. The mother went on to thank those colleagues who ‘picked up slack for me’ when she has had to solve a child-related emergency.
In this week’s podcast, HR Grapevine’s Online Editor, Sophie Parrott, sits down with Jade Burke, Editor at myGrapevine – a new personalised content hub which we will be launching soon – to discuss whether employers can force their staff to work overtime. The pair take an in-depth look at HR Grapevine’s recent coverage of a working mother who asked colleagues to stop judging her for leaving the office at 5pm each day. Additionally, the pair explore whether employers can legally force employees to work overtime and workplace options that can encourage a better work-life balance.
