AIBU to leave work at 5pm?

[ChipmunksInAttic]

I have been working for 8 years with a good career and then I moved to another country because of DH's transfer - and thinking that would be better for our child's future. After a year settling in this country, I managed to find a good job, however it's a bit different than what I was doing before and I was unemployed for a whole year, so they took me in as a junior employee. Also I need to commute to work for 1,5 hours.

I have a 3 year old child and at the interviews I told my employers that I have to pick him up from nursery at 6pm, and I can continue working from home if I have unfinished work. They were totally ok with this during the interviews however after I start working, the second day I was kindly asked to stay more as most of the team was working quite flexible, and I have lots to catch up. I said I'm trying to get my driving license, so maybe after that I can be more flexible but for now I have no other option. I really feel bad when I leave at 5, even though I only give 15mins lunch break and complete 7.5 hours at work. However, even if I leave at 5, I can be home not earlier than 6:30.

We arranged it afterwards so that now DH picks him up and I come home at around 6:30, then prepare the food and do our sleep routine and put my son bed at 8-8:30. He needs to be up by 7am in the morning.

Now I am thinking if I am being unreasonable sticking to the hours and the habits we have. If I leave at 5:30, I'll be home at 7:30 because of the train times. What would you do? Am I being so precious? Should I just cut one hour from my son's sleep? Please comment as I feel I lost the common sense.

[ThePinkOcelot]

YANBU to finish work at your finishing time.

[TheSnowFairy]

Perfectly reasonable to leave at 5 and even when you drive I wouldn't suggest staying an hour later.

Reiterate you can work from home if that's what you'd prefer to do.

[cheersbye]

Work the hours you are contracted to work and don't let them bully you in to staying later. I've worked in so many places like this, and if you stick to your hours but make sure you get your work done, then I think they will just get used to you (my experience is in the UK and the US).

However, things you should consider are:

1. Will you create bad feeling with colleagues who are peers, who may feel they are picking up your slack? You need to make sure you are demonstrably helpful to colleagues and pull your weight when in the office.
   
2. You may be passed over for promotion as management may want someone they can ask more and more of - only you can decide whether you care about this
   
3. There may be times when your 'overtime' would be particularly appreciated (e.g. Thursdays, last week of the month, Nov and Dec, etc) - are you prepared to give some flexibility?
   
4. Can you work during the commute?
   

What country are you in?

[ChipmunksInAttic]

@cheersbye, I am prepared to stay in the office for longer hours occasionally, and I'm carrying my laptop with me every day. still I feel a silence in the team when I leave, and I am usually the first one to leave. nobody really notices if I arrive early or don't have any breaks I guess.

I should have got a job that is closer to my home I think, but this was the only offer and I needed a job so badly... I'm in UK.