Should Managers be spared of Fixed working hours norms?

I was curious to know the current policies followed in various industries regarding the fixed working hours norms applicable to the Managers & Sr. Managers in the Organization. I would like to know Senior H. R. Persons opinion on the matter as well as the policy that they follow.

As far as my knowledge goes that, there is no set policy with regard to working hours for Managers & Senior Managers. However presently, to ease the work pressure, and one way of empowering 'time management' concept, principle of 'fixed working hours' is being introduced. Managers are expected to manage his business within his working hours, and has the social need to take care of his family. Some of our Indian Managers are very good in sitting in the office till mid night, resulting which the sub ordinates do suffer very much. I personally feel any Manager who is sitting late in the office, is one who is not in a position to manage 'time management' and who is not able to communicate "no" to subordinates / client

Dear colleague,
Though all employed persons irrespective of any position/role are expected to work for minimum 8 hours, Managers are not expected to be time watchers .They are responsible for results and not the time they put in.
Regards,
Vinayak Nagarkar
HR-Consultant

I will elaborate further on my question - Should the Senior Managers in a Company be allowed a concession in the morning reporting time in the Office - especially the Sales Managers. What is the norm across industries?

Dear colleague,
The blanket time concession is not given but based on situation in individual case and merits considered sometimes.
Sr. Managers have to and generally they do adhere to company policy in this regard but it should not be forgotten that they are responsible for end results .
Regards,
Vinayak Nagarkar
HR-Consultant

This varies from individual to individual and from organisation to organisation. I had set a norm that by the first siren of the factory (6.45 am and the shift starts at 7.00 am) to be inside the factory premises. Unless the boss sets example, he has no right to expect compliance by others. There has been earlier discussion on this topic, of sales and marketing people being exception to the general rule. There could be many reasons, in deed most middle level and senior executives work very late in the evenings and that is the justification claimed for coming late, in Marketing/Sales the most often heard alibi is that there won't be customers available early morning but would be at work near the close of the shift hours . There are too many well known business heads who had made a personal habit of arriving before time (like JRD Tata, E Sridharan, V. Krishnamurthy, Amul Kurien etc). These days there are flexitime, work from home etc rigidity regarding timeliness and punctuality have to be strictly viewed from the organisational perspective. But let us not forget the age old adage that timeliness is next to godliness.

There is nothing special under the law that increases or decreases working hours as per the grades/scales. There is parity on working hours i.e. is 8 hours for all categories of employee.
There are establishments those who have adopted specific rules pertaining to hours of working to suit threir requirement. In many establishments the Managers have been under terms to come as when they are required other than their duty hours.
You and employee of your cadre discuss the issue with your top management to have a policy or some exemption that you want on hours of working.

Working hours are mentioned by almost all companies. In a company all employees starting from base level to all senior levels need to work beyond working hours so that no pending work is there, even on holidays need to work.

Though in principle Manager is responsible for overall productivity as suggested by seniors here and he can have relaxation in working hours. but he can lead the employees properly if he follows timings as stipulated.
Few deviations are always acceptable in consideration of his position/responsibilities and he is supposed to be present in case of any exigency even on holiday without any monetary benefits.