Is this an appropriate ask?

[Anonymous]

They are going to be thinking, if they let you do this they will have to let everyone who asks. Would that be ok at your company? Yes or no, there’s your answer.

[Anonymous]

Are you an hourly employee? If so, then that might be something you can request. If your salary, there's no real rule about when you can take a break or not take a break because the main thing is you get your work done. So if you're asking to leave an hour early because you don't take a hour lunch break that's treating yourself like an hourly employee. Because you're trading an hour for an hour. Or I think you said 30 minutes so a half hour for a half hour.

Usually, there's a core set of hours that they expect you to be at work. I think they call it core business hours. And it's typically between nine and five. Because customers might be calling during that time and what not. So what you're suggesting may not work.
That said I have worked with people who worked there eight or nine hour day earlier due to trying to miss rush-hour traffic because they lived outside of Annapolis. They came in at 6:30 in the morning and then left at 3:30 in the afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Taking 30 minutes is related to employment law. You wanting to save up your 30 minute segments and leave two hours early once a week doesn't fall under employment law.

NP. I'm not sure what you're trying to say, but I'm pretty sure it's wrong. Maryland/Virginia/DC don't have required lunch breaks.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn’t remotely be an issue at my job. But we all have flexible hours and don’t care as long as the work is done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a manager, I'd say no and start planning to let you go.

As an exec, I’d fire a manager for being such an a$$ and being unable to see that creating that type of hostile work environment is a problem.

[Anonymous]

You’ve never taken lunch?

wtf?

[Anonymous]

Probably be easier to ask if you can leave at 3 then log back in after the kids go to bed one night per week.

[Anonymous]

You already work 9-hour days. Minus the 2.5 hours for lunch, you should have 2.5 hours to use one day to keep it at 40. I wouldn't ask for the lunch; just say you work extra every day and leave early, but keep it vague about how much extra you are working.

[Anonymous]

You all are hardcore! I am an exec at a non-profit and if my employee asked this and was getting their work done, I would definitely say yes. Honestly I have no idea what time my team gets in and leaves each day and that isn't something I want to spend my time monitoring, as long as the work gets done...

[Anonymous]

We are not allowed to use our lunch break to to come in late or leave early. I wish I could!

[Anonymous]

You lost me at is “this an appropriate ask.” Giving me horrific corporate flashbacks.

[Anonymous]

All the jobs I’ve had (private sector, nonprofit and federal) specify it’s a break during the workday and can’t be used to leave early. So I’m quite sure they couldn’t be saved up and used all at once to leave early. As others have said, it’s related to legally required breaks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a good relationship with your manager and a good office culture? If so, I don't see the downside in asking.

You might have more luck with asking to end your workday at 4:30 each day IMO.

Agree. This is adjusting within a day. What you're asking is to bank hours, and I don't think that would work, because as a PP said, it's employment law to get a break each day. I think you would have better luck asking to work a longer day one day and then taking a shorter day. I know that doesn't really address the issue you're trying to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a manager, I'd say no and start planning to let you go.

Why would you start planning to let her go? Explain it to me like I am five.

[Anonymous]

Request, not ask. "Ask" is a verb.