I (23) work in a research lab on a college campus, and two of my coworkers and I are all recent graduates. A professor that we all know has invited us to her lectures a couple times in the past when she thinks she’s discussing something applicable to our interests – which is very nice of her, but they’ve always taken place during our work hours. We used to be part-time student workers, so our schedules were flexible, but now we’ve all been employed as full time employees post-graduation – with bigger responsibilities around the lab and a more rigid, 9-5 schedule.
Today, we were invited to another lecture, still during our shift – but the difference is, our boss is out of town and we don’t have direct supervision. My two coworkers decided that that’s enough ‘permission’ to go to the lecture (which’ll be 1.5-2hrs) and still stay ‘clocked in,’ since nobody is around to “care if we’re actually working.” I told them that I can’t personally do that and attempted to explain that if I’m being paid to be somewhere and do something, I’m going to be in that place and doing that thing – but they acted like I was the crazy one for not wanting to ‘seize the opportunity while we can’ and acted like I was accusing them of slacking off. (Which I was trying very hard not to do, since I really was just explaining why I don’t intend to join them.)
Am I in the wrong, here, or making a big deal out of nothing? Attending the lecture is one thing, but I feel like it’s dishonest to just skip out of work for up to two hours while still clocking that time as being at work and getting paid for it. I don’t mean to accuse them of being dishonest, but… Yeah, I just can’t really get my head around it.
NTA staying on the clock while not working for 2 hours is time theft and you can lose your job over it. You showed integrity in your actions unlike your friends.
NtA- you are entitled to your answer and your reason just leave them be about it and move on and worry about yourself in the future. Saying no I’m good, is good enough.
NTA, getting paid while knowingly not working crosses a line for a lot of people
If the lecture is something that is potentially relevant to your work and you could get approval to attend – get approval to attend it (even if your direct supervisor isn’t around, there is presumably somebody there with the authority to approve it). Otherwise, don’t go.
If your boss’s boss, or somebody sideways to your boss, drops by to see how things are going/if somebody can do something relatively quick but time-critical and none of you are there when you’re supposed to be, how would it look? Or if there’s a fire alarm and you’re supposed to evacuate? Or worse still, if an actual fire broke out on your floor, and fire fighters were risking their lives trying to find you all when you were in a lecture hall 15 minutes away?
But honestly, I would imagine there’s some sort of expectation for you to engage in ongoing learning. If you’re not busy enough that this will put you all behind on your work, I suspect that you will probably be able to get permission to attend those lectures, if they’re potentially at all remotely related to your work (although they may want a minimum coverage level, so if there are 5 of you, they may approve 3 of you to go, with the 2 of you that remain getting first dibs on the next opportunity).
I can only speak to my industry where these types of opportunities are common. As long as my work gets done and my calendar is updated my director doesn’t care. Should they ask/tell your boss? Absolutely. They may see it as a great learning moment. You do you and stop worrying about what they are doing. You are not the boss and it is above your pay grade. You don’t owe any one an explanation as to why you are choosing not to attend. ESH
It really depends on the workplace culture. I work for a university and am encouraged to attend lectures that pertain to my faculty and their studies. These are presentations outside of usual course meeting times. I’ll clear my attendance with a supervisor. Perhaps you could casually discuss expectations with your boss. Don’t throw your coworkers or the professor under the bus.
If you’re not their supervisor then mind your business and move on. It’s not your responsibility to keep them on task. And don’t be the person that goes running to the boss to tattle on them. But if your boss asks don’t lie for them either.
How do you know they don’t have permission to go? I have worked in several different universities and every single one of them has even encouraged us to go to lectures to support professors and students. Universities are there for collaboration and learning, for both the lecturers and the audience.
If you are running experiments and need to leave, you usually sit in the back by the door so you don’t disturb them. If you don’t want to go, then don’t.
Mind your own business. Let them make their own decisions.
NTA — assuming they don’t have permission and this is a “cat is away, mice will play” situation I think you are behaving very reasonably. This is a big kid job and they clearly still have a student mentality. You’re not even telling them not to do it, just standing your ground on why you won’t join them.
Attending this kind of lecture would be considered normal professional development for many university employees. In some cases, skipping out on a colleague’s lecture after a specific invitation could be a real error that would reflect poorly on you and your supervisor (especially if you’ve passed on multiple invitations).
Your supervisor might or might not agree, depending on your role, their relationship with the professor who invited you, and the topic of the lecture.
It’s definitely out of line for you to police your peers, and it’s entirely possible that your colleagues made the choice that your supervisor would have expected. YTA.
ESH, kind of. But I might lean towards YTA actually. But I need more info.
What crappy boss do you have that you have a kind of strict 9-5 as a post grad researcher? Or is that just your own personal perception of how it should be?
I will give you some advice. Corporations (and yes universities are corporations, just in a different coat) are not your friends. They don’t care about you.
If your friends are getting their work done, and taking an hour off during the week, power to them. If them skipping out on work messes up your work, then that is a different story.
But the vibe right now is that you called your friends out for jaywalking. No one cares but you and the corporation.
NAH. I don’t see much wrong with going to an event like this, which seems at least somewhat related to your field, as long as they’re getting their work done. But it’s fine for you to skip it if you’re not comfortable or just don’t want to go. YWBTA if you actually tried to stop them like the title says, but based on the description in the post it sounds like you just said “nah I’m out” which is fine.