To leave work on time?!!

[skyblueeee]

I find working full time (9-5:30) quite hard, I feel tired and restricted, which is why I can't wait for the clock to strike 5:30 and I can walk out the office, drive home, eat dinner and relax....

But the problem is, no one ever leaves at 5:30 I look around and everyone is still working while I walk out the door, I even get a few judgemental looks from colleagues. I'm usually the first one out, if not I'm one of the first.

Does it look bad to leave work on time? Obviously if I had something urgent to do I would finish it, but I don't want to stay just to look good. I already get home about 6:20pm depending on traffic and not keen to have an even longer day....

CalF - Thanks for answering, I'm kind of relieved as I couldn't imagine it would happen in the UK, although still not great

Out of interest who made up the rules? Are there many more companies like this?

The ‘rules’ Cal imposes are appalling anywhere - UK or mainland Europe.

Busy day in the office again, CalF? Don't you have some inmates employees to monitor?

CalF - Deprivation of liberty breaches Article 5 of the ECHR unless certain conditions are met

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_5_of_the_European_Convention_on_Human_Rights

@MarshalBradyo

The rules were all imposed by the founders of the company- so not by me directly.

They actually used to be a lot stricter- i.e. staff had to ask permission to leave their desks for any reason, toilet breaks were timed, staff could be kept behind without notice if targets weren't met, lunch breaks would be removed for ubderperforning staff. I do agree that those rules were overly strict.

Sounds like an episode of Dr Who. My money is on the 'Senior Managers' being aliens.

Cal - why do you continue to enforce rules which are so clearly immoral? As senior management you can make changes.

@Parker231

The procedures we have are not out of the ordinary for the sector and industry the company is in. The company itself is also quite conservative.

However, as a result of this thread, I am looking at improving the procedure for requesting emergency leave. I'm going to look at whether the office supervisor could be able to contact a member of senior management directly if a member of staff requests to leave. That may then speed up the process of authorising the doors to be unlocked. However, this would be quite a significant change to our culture which would take some time to implement.

What industry are you in?

Do you like your job CalF123?!

I’ve worked quite a few offices and none of them are like that! You would have fun timing by IBS ridden loo breaks!

Has anybody else ever worked for a company where the staff are locked in and have to request to be allowed out?!

@Biggreygoose

Finance

Polarbear - don’t think they could either with my coffee addiction and frequent visits to the local Starbucks or Costa! I’d be setting the fire alarm off daily!

Has anybody else ever worked for a company where the staff are locked in and have to request to be allowed out?!

Actually, yes. As a student at the call centre from hell. I resigned after a mere week despite desperately needing the money and having no other job lined up.

They'd also demand we ask permission to go to the loo.

Cal - I work for an international financial company and I’ve never heard of another in this industry working the way you have described. Thankful I work for a modern, forward thinking company which considers its employees when implementing policies and procedures.

@polarbearflavour

I do enjoy my job overall. I like the responsibility of the flat management structure we have.

Calf what does the fire brigade have to say about locking your staff in? I don't think they'd agree with it, and I think it's likely to be against various H&S legislation.

What would you actually do in an emergency? How would you get people out?

“A flat organization refers to an organization structure with few or no levels of management between management and staff level employees. The flat organization supervises employees less while promoting their increased involvement in the decision-making process.”

CalF123 - how is your organisation flat?!

I still want to know about the staff turnover and average length of service at CalF's place of work.

You can keep a workplace secure through having doors locked on the outside, and to leave you just press a button on the inside (like most schools).

@sunnydaynoworking

Keeping the office secure from intruders isn't the only reason the door is locked...

What are the other reasons for keeping the door locked ?

@Mummylin

It's primarily locked to prevent staff making sneaky trips to local coffee shops etc during work hours. It also ensures that all staff are working their full hours with no leaving early or returning late at lunchtime or home time.

Surely that can be policed by a clocking in system? My ex-employer had one that loaded on the computer and was the first thing which opened up. It's ridiculously extreme to resort to lock and key when other - more reasonable - measure can be put in place. Talk about sledgehammer to crack a nut.

It sounds like one of the sweatshops where people are treated like dirt and paid low wages. Do you really think it's a good environment for people to work, and do you feel no shame treating people as you are ?