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I would say first week get a later return and check out scene. You will be in a better position. You def don't want to come off as leaving way too early
Noon
There's no way you get away with noon flight for long. Be happy if you get to take the 6pm because the alternative is a redeye. And get there by 10am on mondays...
@OP- definitely discuss that with your manager before you book a flight on that schedule. they may be expecting you to take a redeye
If they expect you to take the redeye you should quit the firm and join PwC or some other firm that is more considerable about their employees well being. Red eyes are not sustainable...
@PWC1, I'm afraid that the real alternative is to just leave big 4 completely. I don't care how much smoozing another big 4 does to lure one to jump firms on the belief that you might not get stuck on a project that requires redeye travel on a coast to coast engagement. any big 4 that promises that is lying and any consultants that believe it doesn't really understand the big 4 culture. OP, work it out with your manager and counselor.
It 100% depends on the SM or MD/partner running the engagement. I have learned to only work with MDs that value work life balance. The one I work with the most is the type that does NOT want you taking late flights on Thursdays (with exceptions occasionally) and he doesn't want Sun flights and prefers even for people to not take the 6am because it usually means a 3:30am wake up. Work with these type of people and stay with them. That being said you will still hear people on your project say "I took the 6am or the redye" I have found through experience that most of this is for optics and these people are not working more efficiently OR it is because they choose a certain airline or connect for the segments - that is on them then...
Yes. Do like 1-2pm if you are far away from the airport you will be leaving around lunch time when everyone leaves office. But the idea is that there is no point of taking lunch on Thursday, so you do your work till like 11-1pm and then peace out. And maybe if there is no delay you will make it home for dinner.
We did alternate weeks of Thursday noon flights and Friday noon flights for a year. For the first week I would find out what the team is doing and do that.
P4, it all depends on your project and project team. I leave at 1:00 on Thursday afternoons from a NYC project to get back home to DC. I have been doing so for well over a year. Not once has anyone said anything about my schedule. If your manager has a good relationship with the client, you shouldn't have to worry about pleasing more than the manager. If you're putting in your hours and have managers who trust you to do enough and quality work, you don't necessarily have to martyr yourself every week.
3pm
Thank you! That's a lot better than the 6 pm flights I was looking at
^what he said.
I've take red eyes from SFO to NYC, all depends on projects because it happens at every firm. I think 3/4 PM is best option for Thursday afternoon but I'd discuss with your project leadership before booking.
I'm with PWC and have never seen that be acceptable to leave at noon on a Thursday. Don't think it differs at all by firm... They all want us to work hard and make clients happy.
Totally agree that if you've built trust with your boss it's fine. But I would never presume to leave that early on a new project.
I do 3:30pm takeoff, but honestly it's up to your engagement manager. Often I'm told to take the red eye home
Don't ask your manager. Feel it out and decide.
Make sure your work gets done - if it can be done remote or on the flight, take the 2 pm. I usually do that from LAX. Communicate - make sure your team and client know when you will be leaving. More often than Not, they will be okay as long as you do your stuff on time, and set appropriate expectations
Are you sure? I felt that noon PST would be too early? That would be my preference though, considering the 3 hour time difference