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....

Bloody hell @CalF123 that sounds horrendous. What sort of workplace is it??

A fake one

I like to stress that I will judge your performance and want you to judge mine on what you do, not when you do it or what hours you spend in the office.

I make sure I meet all deadlines and attend all meetings, and prioritise my work appropriately and that means I am able to leave early most of the time. It doesn't make me a worse performer.

@RedForFilth Seriously. The care profession is hard enough without management breathing down your neck.

@CalF123 you have to watch the door and your staff because of things like locking the exit door which is a health and safety violation hope you don't get reported can you not see that? You sound so unpleasant towards your staff. I pity them, working for you.
I don't directly manage reports, but am management level and this kind of petty minded behaviour among the people-managers is something I'm trying to eradicate. It's toxic and costs the business money in staff turnover.
But hey. You get your wee power trip eh? S'all good 🤦🏻‍♀️

As others have said it totally depends on what area you work in and the culture of the office.

I work in an extremely flexible company, but it is looked down on those who just do their contracted hours by turning up just before start and making sure their desk it cleared down 10 minutes before they are due to finish, but that is the nature of our sector and I can get 2 weeks blocked booked of in lieu.

As another anecdata, the germans I work with put more hours in than most in the office, and the ones who clock in just their contracted hours are usually the first to take issue with why they have been passed up for promotion etc.

But before I get jumped on, it does depend on the overall culture of industry and office, you have a myriad of good/bad and no one can really tell you yes or no.

CalF sounds like an absolute delight, I particularly like the way she's so righteous about how she and her fellow gods the rest of the management team monitor staff lest there be any surreptitious cup rinsing or rummaging for car keys at 5.29!! A tiny bit of power really does go to some people's heads...

CalF that sounds terrible how can you lick people in? What type of workplace is it?

Um lock

a fake one

It's very much a real office, and I know of similar policies at many other workplaces in my sector and others.

Overall no, you shouldnt have to feel bad for heaving on time. However, We have a work colleague who physically runs out of the door at 5pm each day. It doesn’t look good when we have customers in and she’s sprinting past them. She has a 13 year old daughter which is her reason. The rest of us finish at 5.30 and often stay much later when we don’t want to go finksh with clients . She’s got away with it for 15 years (before she had her child) and won’t change now.

Calf. You're probably one of the worst sounding managers I've ever heard of

Bollocking you do CalF

"In the office I manage, the exit door is locked until 5.01pm when it is opened to allow staff to leave after they have completed their contracted hours. Me and the rest of the management team also closely monitor all staff at the end of the day to ensure there is no surreptitious 'packing up' or 'washing cups'."

Calf Am so glad I don't work for you. Am not entirely sure that is legal locking the exit door. Anyway, your style of management is bullying and you are treating your staff like children. Do you enjoy the power? I hope they all leave your little empire soon and find decent places to work where they are respected.

There used to be a lady in my office who at 4:50 on the dot would have her handbag on the desk. She would spend ten minutes with her desktop empty and it used to drive me absolutely potty. But you're not doing that, you're leaving when you are supposed to leave!

I work flexi so rarely leave at the same time every day, but contracted hours are contracted hours.

I work on the edge of an industrial estate, I always laugh because of 5.01 it becomes almost impossible to turn out of our car park due to the volume of traffic, I joke that they must all be stood there at 4.59 bag and keys in hand ready to run out the door at 5 on the dot.

Or even bollox though you'd certainly get a bollocking if I worked for you!

@MarshyBradyo

It'a a normal office- fire exits are still accessible while the main entrance is locked between 9am-12pm and 12.30pm-5pm.

@CalF123

What a load of shit! Who the fuck would want to work for you??

@heysosilver

There are over 100 people working for the company.

I’m on flexi time now but I’m previous companies we used to line up at the clock machine two minutes before home time. In the end what does working extra hours get you? I go to work to have a nice life outside of it.

The thought of being locked in makes me feel claustrophobic

How little trust there must be

CalF123
It's just not legal, and not possible here, health and safety being one of the aspects.

In which country would that office be?

There are over 100 people working for the company yeah and all desperately applying for other jobs I'm sure...

@ikeepaforkinmypurse

It's perfectly legal as long as fire exits are still accessible. How else do you think schools operate where main entrances are usually locked all day?

Bollocks you lock people in!

Yanbu, OP.