Fair vs. Right?

Posted: Fri, Sep 18 2009, 10:24 am Post subject: Fair vs. Right?

I work in an office near the edge of a big city. I live in a suburb outside the city. I work in an office with two other women. Due to daylight savings time, the office will open an hour early for October.

One of the other women lives within a 30 minute walk (10-15 minute bus or taxi ride) from our office. One lives in the city, but a 45 miunte bus ride. I don't have a bus from my suburb until 6:05am (which gets me to work at 7:15am), and I have to leave at 5:30am to reach the office by the earlier time without the bus (between 6:45am and 7am), because I would have to beg for rides. Additionally, I am the only one of us who has kids.

My boss didn't ask me to come in, but the other two women asked if we could split the days evenly. What got me angry, was that the one who lives in the neighborhood next to work said, "you're only getting up 30 minutes earlier, so, it's not like it's a big deal. I mean, It's hard for all of us." I replied, "you mean you'd also have to get up at 5:30am and work til 3:30pm and then not have a bus back home until 5pm and get home and 6 pm?" She paused and went on to another part of her argument.

Am I crazy? Is there a difference between splitting every thing evenly and being realistic about how much of an impact the change would have on everyone? I'm pretty angry and I don't like feeling this way. My boss has basically said he feels my co-workers are being childish, as asking me to spend an extra 2 hours away from home without a guaranteed ride is pretty self-absorbed. Any ideas?

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48155

Is the office a communist entity? Why do things have to be "equal" ?

Posted: Fri, Sep 18 2009, 10:36 am Post subject: re: Fair vs. Right?

Hmmm. the whole argument sound a bit childish, IMHO. From the boss's perspective, one wants to have productive employees. Being exhausted from longer commutes doesn't . Are you paid by the hour? Or do you draw regular weekly/monthly salary and evaluated on output?

Incidentally, you mentioned you're the only one with the kids. To be honest, I think it is a personal situation that should not affect work-related issues.