Meetings at 8am — how common

[Anonymous]

We have probably 6-8 8am meetings per month, which throws our life in chaos because it’s right in middle school drop off.

My spouse wants to spend $300 a month for morning SACC.

Is this typical of corporate workplaces. I’ve only had one job. Most of my colleagues have SAHM and get to work early anyways.

My neighbor is in sales and seems to always start around 10, maybe I should switch fields.

[Anonymous]

Not common, though I have a new boss (who does not have kids) who has instituted daily meetings at 8am and 5pm. Super helpful.

[Anonymous]

I have never had an 8am meeting. My spouse has had a handful of early meetings that I can recall impacting me over the last 15 years. 6-8 meetings per month would be very unusual in our workplaces.

It sounds like this is normal in your particular workplace, which is what matters. Have you asked if the meetings can be moved? I would do that before I switched fields.

[Anonymous]

I have 2-3 a week. With international colleagues. More rarely 7am. I’d pay for care.

[Anonymous]

It varies based on the company. I find that the more former military folks at a company the earlier the meetings are held.

But it doesn't matter what is typical of different workplaces, it matters what your workplace does.

[Anonymous]

I've never even worked at a place where the day starts by 8am. That's crazy to me. I only schedule meetings from 10am - 3pm or 4pm each day.

[Anonymous]

I work for an international company so we have lots of meetings at all hours. In general you’re expected to be available for meetings within your core hours (set with your manager) but it’s fine to block the school run or have kids in the background if you’re attending a meeting that’s at a weird time in your time zone. I’m available for meetings 8:30-4:30 but secretly detest anything after 3pm. Fortunately most of my colleagues are in Europe so it works out.

[Anonymous]

I block 8-830 and 430-5 on my calendar.

Similar to PP, I also roll my eyes when anything is added after 3p.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have probably 6-8 8am meetings per month, which throws our life in chaos because it’s right in middle school drop off.

My spouse wants to spend $300 a month for morning SACC.

Is this typical of corporate workplaces. I’ve only had one job. Most of my colleagues have SAHM and get to work early anyways.

My neighbor is in sales and seems to always start around 10, maybe I should switch fields.

Assuming these are in-person? I had an 8:00am standup EVERY DAY on one contract, but could phone it in (sometimes literally).
Why do companies do this?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't go to anyone's 8:00 am meeting and I don't even have kids.

[Anonymous]

Common in my industry (healthcare). Bonus is I’m done between 4-4:30 daily. I’m a morning person so it works for me.

[Anonymous]

Would be very unusual. Most people start in my office start between 8:30-9. I have an occasional 9:30 but most meetings are at 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It varies based on the company. I find that the more former military folks at a company the earlier the meetings are held.

But it doesn't matter what is typical of different workplaces, it matters what your workplace does.

Oh that is true. Lots of former military in our management.

[Anonymous]

8am is a jerk move. I had a boss who used to have an 8am Monday weekly meeting just for fun. It was hell trying to make it and I couldn't always plan around the metro schedule.

I flat out would tell my boss that 8am doesn't work for me. Are you required to be at work at 8? Since you're married, can't you trade off who drops kids off? Or have them walk/ride the bus?

For all of those above who roll their eyes at a meeting after 3- really? I think anything before 5pm is reasonable. I only work 8:30-5pm though.

[Anonymous]

In other places, schools start a lot earlier so parents can be at work that early. Can you call into either one of these meetings during a commute? Or can you permanently telework? That schedule would not work at all for me because I have kids in DCPS and take the metro to the office.