How Much info to share with boss/supervisor?

I am an office worker and there is going to be a major life changing event affecting my family in the very near future where I will need to change my working hours or try and find a different job (not much hope in that area considering the economy).

How much info do I need to share with my boss when I request a change in the hours I work? The company as a whole does not look upon this type of thing favorably and I may face a major battle trying to get it approved.

The last time I shared any personal info....(that my doc told me stress was causing havoc on my body) my boss ended up calling me into the presidents office to tell me I wasn't working out in my job (after almost a year and a half).

How much do I need to tell my boss? How much personal information do people really share with their bosses/employers?

Thanks for any input!

Seedsower Hi, I think the answer to this question would be answered better if more information were present. Such as: How long have you worked with this co. If you have been with them for one yr or longer and if you are a good worker will determine if boss wants to keep you around with the baggage. Keep in mind business is business and bosses expect workers to take care of personal business on their own time. However if you have become an asset to the co. and proven to be a productive worker and team player then they may go that extra mile to accomodate your delimma if it can be proven to be a short term problem that you can take care of with a little help from boss. Just be sincere and upfront and shoot from the hip , sounds like thats your only choice at this point. Good Luck

You'll need to be pretty clear about why the hours need to change. Will it affect how the overall work gets done? Are you dealing with clients that usually work a set of hours, and the new hours make you unavailable to them some of the time? Or is your job the same every day regardless of what everybody else is doing?

That's a really good question, Seedsower. Just in general I think women are inclined to give too much personal information. Younger women especially. I know I did. My step father once sat me down and gave me a talk about it that I'll never forget. The main point was that in the work place especially too much personal information can be used against you later. You don't want to be thought of as "troubled" or emotionally unstable. You also don't have to go in to detail about why you want a schedule change. Just be clear about what you want and what you could compromise on. Of course it might not be possible to have the hours you want and you will have to accept that without any hard feelings.

I work for a small family business and after 22 years my boss is like a brother. But I still try to keep things on a professional level as much as possible.

It may help you to actually sit down and draw a pros & cons "T". You may come up with some things that would actually be advantageous to the company also.

I agree with smiley about the pros & cons list.

If you could work out a little presentation about how this change in hours wouldn't affect your work, could possibly increase your productivity (i.e. less interruptions from others), or could be advantageous to the company in some other way (like being available hours that are currently unavailable for client contact), that would be helpful. I'm assuming that your job doesn't depend on someone else always being available for you, or you being available for someone else. Work out possible compromises in your head ahead of time, try to be as prepared as possible for what you think they may say or ask. Does this need to be a permanent change, or a temporary one, if temporary, how long, 3 mos, 6 mos, a year?

Good luck, and keep us posted on how it goes.

Deb

Thanks for the input everyone. Keep the comments coming. This would be just a temporary thing...probably a year at most but I'm not sure at this point. I've been with the company 4 years and I don't see anything detrimental to me starting a half hour later than I do now.

I guess since I've always worked for family owned businesses I've come to expect my employers to be flexible when it comes to their employees needing to take care of personal issues. I've always been told "do what you gotta do" when I've needed to take care of personal "stuff". This isn't an issue where I'd even reduce my work hours...it would just be starting a half hour later and working a half hour later.

Thanks again!

Only 1/2 hour, I wouldn't see why that couldn't be worked around. I would think the main concern of the company would be, if we let her do it, what if others want different hours, too. Though I don't necessarily think that varying start times is a bad thing. My current employer, and the employer I worked with previously had "flex hours". Everyone has to be in between the hours of 8 and 3 (9 and 3 at my previous job), and as long as you put in your 8 hours a day, it doesn't matter when you start or finish for the day.

Good luck, keep us posted how it goes,
Deb

Shucks seedsower you are worrying over nothing, after 4 yrs with this co. it they can't work with 30 minutes then you don't need them anyway. Your dedication and hard work is worth something to a good employer.I feel confident with your trac record that they will be honored that you brought this to their attention and just didn't leave.

Seedsower - 1/2 hour shouldn't be a big deal. Unless you would be there alone at some point (for safety's sake)

Sounds like that should be easy to work out!

Seed, let us know how it went.

Hi Everyone

Thanks again for input...wisdom, etc!

I don't know for sure yet in regards to a definite date...it could be next week to even a few months. I don't plan on bringing it up with my supervisor until it's necessary.

I'll keep everyone posted.

Thanks!