How to get your Employer to answer the question: How many hours a week are expected at minimum, and what does a standard day of a Salary Supervisor looks like for this company?

Anonymous

January 15,2022 at 9:11PM UTC

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How to get your Employer to answer the question: How many hours a week are expected at minimum, and what does a standard day of a Salary Supervisor looks like for this company?

I am in negotiations to accept or deny a position with my employer, whom I’ve worked for, going on 14+ years. I have asked theses questions, both in my interviews, and to the hiring manager; however I still do not have a solid answer.

I am curious of what others think, on how to address the lack of response to questions, one should find basic of the job requirement, and performance expectation.

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Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 15,2022 at 11:55PM UTC
I'm not sure exactly to get them to address it except to keep pressing the point. I do know that - especially if they really want you - the most leverage you're ever going to have is before you accept or reject the position.
That they seem reluctant to answer this question would be a potential red flag for me personally. I recommend that you get their answer in writing. Any reluctance on their part to do so, would be another red flag for me.
Jill LopezJanuary 16,2022 at 1:20PM UTC
Great questions. I am curious to see what responses you get. Good luck in making your decision. Their hesitancy seems to indicate they are hiding something but it could be they just don't know.
Jasmine KnightonJanuary 16,2022 at 2:03PM UTC
Do you know any supervisors in the company already? Have any relationships with them where you have or could shadow “a day in the life of” so you can get your answers. Working at a company for 14 years you have leverage to where you may know many people who you can get your answer from and use that to also make your decision.
Rachelle AndersonJanuary 17,2022 at 10:27PM UTC
Yes. I have spoken with a couple of them; however they are remote in other locations. We have been able to talk to at some length, which has offered some great insight and I now have some direct questions to ask that will assist in making the final decision about how to proceed with my career path.
Bevin MarieJanuary 16,2022 at 6:10PM UTC
I would bet that they're avoiding these questions because you may be expected to work long hours. Why don't you try rephrasing the questions as "In this position, would it be common / expected for someone to work nights and weekends?" Or "is it only during the busiest periods that I would need to work more than X hours a week?" Perhaps you can figure out your threshold and then ask the questions to understand whether you would need to exceed your threshold for work life balance to succeed in that role
Rosa GoesJanuary 17,2022 at 12:22AM UTC
I think you can rephrase the questions by keeping in mind the company culture. That should tell you a lot especially since you've been with the same company for so long. Also ask yourself what makes this company special versus seeking opportunities elsewhere. I know it doesn't directly address the questions but it will help determine your career path.
AnonymousJanuary 17,2022 at 1:49PM UTC
How many hours per week is a hard question to answer because in salaried positions you are hired to do a job, not work hours. I think what you are getting at is more about the expectation for being "on" and available.
So you might ask, what are the normal business hours? How many meetings are there in a day? Was the person previously in this position able to complete their work effectively and efficiently? What might be the barriers to effective and efficient work? Is there urgency to the work that would require you to log in or be available after normal business hours? Does the person who would be your boss expect you to answer texts and calls immediately and after hours and on weekends? Do you have to take on-call hours? When you take vacation, is there backup for your role or are you expected to be available? These will help you get a sense of the company culture around salaried work. Good luck!
Rachelle AndersonJanuary 17,2022 at 2:43PM UTC
Thank you everyone. Your feedback has been very insightful. I appreciate that the time you took to respond.
DianeJanuary 18,2022 at 2:26PM UTC
I'm wondering if maybe you should set the expectations of the hours you intend to work. That way you're satisfied and your manager is aware. Just a thought.
AnonymousJanuary 19,2022 at 1:58PM UTC
What does a typical day look like, should not be that hard of a question to answer. Hours worked is much harder. In my experience, three things play a role:
1. The amount of supervision others need will vary based on their experience in the job and maturity level.
2. Your familiarity with the work you will be doing. I always spent more time when getting up to speed.
3. The reasonableness of the mix of workload and quality expected.
Lastly, look at your own supervisor, what sorts of hours do they work? If it seems excesive, ask if that is typical for the position you applied for.