I would not think so. You set the hours, not him. If you need him more at around 4pm than at 12pm, then tell him.

You should have the Superintendent/Resident Manager write a warning letter to that doorman and another letter reminding the entire staff what their hours are. And if it happens again they will be suspended. Everyone should take their lunch break during their shift and not leave early.

I agree with Mike on this one. The purpose of the lunch break is to have something to eat/drink somewhere in between your shift.

MRM

Every building Superintendent/Resident Manager has the right to direct each staff member when their lunch period will be. What I would suggest is that your super, sit down with this doorperson and inform him/her that they are to take their lunch period at this time and not at the time they have been taking it at. I would document this conversation with this doorperson and insert it into their file. And if this person elects to ignore their direct supervisor and continues to take their lunch period at the end of their shift? now we are in a different game now it is insubordination. With insubordination, suspension then termination will not be diffcult. Also protect yourself, if you elect to go down this road, you might want to create and lunch schedule for all staff members.

After giving this more thought. If this doorman is taking his lunch break at the end of his shift and once the break is over he goes home right? I assume the porter? or the handyman? is covering the door during this time? what happens if the next scheduled doorman arrives late or even worse he is a no show/call or he calls in at the last minute! who is going to cover your door for the next 8 hours? the porter? the handyman? I am a reasonable person, our staff member many of them have families and with that things happen where certain situations present themselves where they must leave early for whatever reason. The key is to not allow it to get out of hand. But that is another story.

If the building is fully covered at all times by a staff member, and your other staff members all enjoy the same flexibility with one another when they need time off, or are sick... and other staff members aren't complaining... then what's the real problem?

A happy staff is a productive staff. If YOU had no flexibility in your job, would you be happy doing it?

Plus, it sounds to me as though the gentleman in question may have a second job. In this economy, it would be difficult for him to support his family if he lost that opportunity.

Please just TALK with the staff member if it's absolutely essential to make ANY change?

Happy Pesach to those of Jewish faith.

@ RLM- Everything you mentioned I practice with my staff, I am firm but fair. I am not sure if you ever managed a Luxury High Rise? one guy leaving early or not showing up can and will change the balance of service in the building.

I think people may be misreading the original question. The doorman does his full shift. He only opts not to take lunch until the last hour of his shift so he can leave early. It is obvious that either the porter or handyman filling in for that hour (instead of the earlier hour) worked an agreement with the doorman otherwise the doorman would have been stuck with his normal shift.

Sorry J, I still disagree with you. He is leaving the property before his shift officially ends. He should be taking a break, and not time in lieu off.

MRM.

check out NY State labor law. An 8-5 shift requires a break between 11 and 2 by law, in most cases. http://www.labor.ny.gov/workerprotection/laborstandards/faq.shtm

A doorman, or any employee for that matter, cannot choose the time of his lunch break.
The real problem is the supervisor allowing this to happen in the first place ( this = being a doorman taking his lunch break at the end of his 8 hours shift, ... barely legal ! ).

If that was allowed, not only the doorman is not in fault, but during his lunch break he IS free to do as his wishes, meaning he can stay or leave the building.

In a perfect world we would all be happy and live in peace. The same applies to the properties we manage. Managing a property is a team effort therefore there is a little bit of give and take. Have I allowed staff to go home a little early absolutely, would I allow someone to do this repeatedly, no. To allow someone to leave early on a continual basis shows favoritism. The rest of the staff will resent this. What happens when another staff member decides to cut out early and gets caught? To say someone needs to leave early for a second job? I say he/she knew what they were getting into in the first place and should have approached the super/RM in the first place rather than getting caught. I am sure all my fellow building mgrs will agree, bad bad idea.

Happy Easter to all my Christian friends.

MRM