Appropriate interview question

[Anonymous]

This is for an office job.... I am being told the position requires flexibility, and am being asked what kind of schedule considerations or restrictions they should be aware of if I were to be hired?

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Answer the question?

[Anonymous]

Are you asking, is that question appropriate? If yes, why wouldn't it be? Your answer could be, "I can't be away from my home more than 9 hours because I have a dog I have to let out." "Or, I have no personal restrictions. I can work a flexible schedule based on the company's needs."

[Anonymous]

It sounds like they are letting you know that long hours or late nights might be required and they want to know if this is going to be a problem.

If it is a problem, then you'd be ahead to say something and look for a different job.

If it depends, then ask for more specifics. Do they mean late nights or do they mean weekends? How frequently? Interviews are an opportunity for you to learn about the job.

[Anonymous]

If the answer were to be "I cannot work long hours" you would not be hired. That would apply to men or women.

I don't see discrimination here unless you can show that the question is a proxy for weeding out women who have to be home at 5:30.

[Anonymous]

it seems like they are treading close to the line but not crossing it. Looks like a warning signal for you.

[Anonymous]

I would be comcerned that they are trying to weed out anyone who doesn't want to work after 5 or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Yes they are treading into dangerous territory. The question should be phrased:

"Occasionally (or regularly) you will be asked to work flexible hours, including late hours some days, and potentially weekend days. Knowing this up front, is this acceptable or is there anything that precludes you from meeting this requirement?"

They can add that you may have flexibility (like if you are accommodating a client on the west coast, you could work 11 to 8 some days).

Perfectly reasonable line of questioning, by the way. As long as it is done the same for men and women, white and black, young and old, etc.

[Anonymous]

If I were you, I'd be glad this is coming up now. You don't want to find out this stuff AFTER you accept a job!

I'd tell them the truth about whatever flexibility you have (or haven't.) If you can work weekends, but need more than a week's notice and want comp time, I'd tell them that. "I can absolutely work weekends, but I have obligations and need more than a week's notice to be able to work a weekend. How do you adjust an employees schedule in this case? Do you offer comp time?"

If you can't stay late, you absolutely need to say it. Ideally, you'd offer up something else that you can do instead, as in: "I have prior obligations that means I will always need to leave the office by 5:00 pm. I am happy to come in early if that helps out the team." or: "I have prior obligations that means I will need to leave the office by 5:00 pm most days, but if there is a certain day of the week, like Thursdays, when you'd like me regularly to stay late, I could make arrangements."

If you absolutely cannot flex on anything, you need to say it and recognize that they probably can't offer you the job, but that you're dodging a bullet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like they are letting you know that long hours or late nights might be required and they want to know if this is going to be a problem.

If it is a problem, then you'd be ahead to say something and look for a different job.

If it depends, then ask for more specifics. Do they mean late nights or do they mean weekends? How frequently? Interviews are an opportunity for you to learn about the job.

+1000 There is nothing worse than hiring somebody who agrees to flexibility because they need the job but then that employee can't work extended hours due to other commitments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like they are letting you know that long hours or late nights might be required and they want to know if this is going to be a problem.

If it is a problem, then you'd be ahead to say something and look for a different job.

If it depends, then ask for more specifics. Do they mean late nights or do they mean weekends? How frequently? Interviews are an opportunity for you to learn about the job.

+1000 There is nothing worse than hiring somebody who agrees to flexibility because they need the job but then that employee can't work extended hours due to other commitments.

OK, but why not be upfront about the requirements then? If I see a job advertised as 40% travel, I know that it's not even worth applying. Why not say, "frequent nights and weekends required?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like they are letting you know that long hours or late nights might be required and they want to know if this is going to be a problem.

If it is a problem, then you'd be ahead to say something and look for a different job.

If it depends, then ask for more specifics. Do they mean late nights or do they mean weekends? How frequently? Interviews are an opportunity for you to learn about the job.

OP here. Interestingly, this first round "interview" is in the format of a survey. So, there isn't really an opportunity to learn about the job because it is not a two-way conversation.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's an inappropriate question at all, and offers you some valuable clues about what kind of company you might be working for.

Some people can't be flexible in their schedule for various reasons. Others won't be flexible.

Some jobs (like mine) have day to day, immediate needs for flexibility. Others, you know weeks out if you will have to work early or late. Again, depending on what YOUR needs are as the employee, either may or may not work for you.

Either way, if it's an environment where there is a lot of change, sooner or later someone else needs to pick up the slack. It's not fair for a team when a new team member gets structure while everyone is forced to cover.

I think it's a very valid question, and one that you could also explore more with them to determine if it's a workplace that will be a good fit for you.

[Anonymous]

I think it is reasonable. I recently received a rather generous offer (30% raise) to a number I never thought I would earn.

I turned it down because of these issues. The problem for me is I have medical issues which require flexibility (I never know when I will be out for a few weeks or longer....disability coverage is a must, either they pay or I pay)

[Anonymous]

Sounds like they want someone to work 60 hrs a week but pay for 40. I'd pass. A well-run workplace ought to be able to describe their work schedule so that you can decide if it fits; not ambiguously put it back on you to figure out what they mean by "flexibility."