To be shocked at boss telling me off for being late back

[onlyafewdaystogo]

I am retiring from work next Wed, after many years working for this company. Last year our dept got a new Manager who's a bit of a stickler.

Anyhow, due to upcoming retirement several groups of colleagues have been taking me out for lunch in the last few days. Yesterday I went to an Italian restaurant with some people from another Dept that I have a lot of dealings with.

We had a lovely relaxing lunch and I got back to work at 3 o'clock instead of 2.30. My boss knew this group were taking me out. He called me into his office about an hour later and told me off for being late back from lunch and said it's the second time it's happened in recent days and I'd have to watch my timekeeping.

AIBU to be . It's always been the norm when someone is retiring that they spend the last week or so winding down and not really being bound by the normal time bands etc.

My colleagues were really surprised and annoyed when they heard.

OP, do you work in the civil service?

I can't imagine this being an issue anywhere I've worked but I've only ever worked in the private sector.

Fucking I've worked in offices where any excuse for a long lunch was jumped on, from the CEO down. Creative industry in the 90s darling, it was practically insisted on - 2-3 hour lunch and back in the pub at 5.30. Salad days hic!

Ignore him. What's he going to do, fire you ?

Wow some miserable arses on here.

I'm hoping some are just very young and enthusiastic about their jobs and haven't really learnt that sometimes balance and understanding of other situations and circumstances is important.

Others sound as if they haven't worked in a long time and are just spouting.

And others are people I would absolutely hate to have as a Manager.

I just think companies work differently.
Some are very rigid - you clock in and you clock out.
And that's that.
Others are big global corporations that have to be flexible.
I have to do the standard work day but also I have Skype calls with the US and APAC so I have to attend either very early in the morning or in the evening.
Work know this, as we all have to do it, and they cut you slack when you need it. My work place is very flexible and it's much appreciated by me. I don't know how I'd have got through last year without their support. My managers are fab!
Not all places are like that though.

What a joyless sourpuss! How mean spirited and pathetic.

you can tell who the clock-watching presenteeism obsessive are on this thread

I've worked in offices where any excuse for a long lunch was jumped on, from the CEO down.

I got pissed in the pub all afternoon with the CEO on several occasions. I also once worked 48 straight hours with the CEO broken only for coffee, pizza and cat naps when there was a massive tender with a tight deadline. These facts are not unrelated. And the ceo could see that.

when our chairman got made a lord (yes, really) he had to resign and we had a company champagne lunch in the boardroom and the afternoon off - turned into a 12-hour session, ending in the Polish vodka bar behind Holborn station. And back to work at 9.30am! We must have all reeked.

Oh, presenteeism. I once spent a grim month in a grim office in a grim suburb of Tokyo. The staff left in descending order of seniority with no one willing to leave before their boss. I had to stay late to overlap with uk office hours in an era where internet connections were sketchy in hotels, and watch the 22 year olds drag out at 10pm. They did fuck all from about 5 onwards but dared not leave. It was the office with the craziest hours I ever saw, and the office with the laziest and least productive staff I ever saw.

You were late back he has a fair point. Should have invited him

OP I hope you're not thinking of knocking off early on your last day?!!! Lol

@echt
I'm probably not the only one
RTFT
before you comment, especially read the op's posts

Echt is obviously a troll, can we just ignore him/her?

Should have invited him? Yes, that would have been fun.

It's petty.

But you are late.

But, you're leaving next week. So smile and move on.

I used to have a line manager like this. I don't miss his miserable face turning to look at the clock whenever somebody came in, went home, went to the loo etc.
Enjoy your week and don't give the saddo another thought!

OP, tell your manager it is TOIL for the overtime you have worked unpaid.

Have a long and happy retirement!

Happy Retirement OP. I would ignore your tight arsed jobsworth twat of a manager. It's your last few days and if you've got to the stage of desk tidying and thumb twiddling then I don't see what he is whinging about. You've done your time over the years and now is your time to wind down. Enjoy your last few days.

Do remember to give him a special mention in your farewell speech

"Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep that in mind in the...(counting aloud) one, two, three days to come."

echt

As a teacher your comprehension skills are a bit shit. Surely a stickler for details would have read the posts where the op clearly states that her lateness has no impact on any other worker

2/10 must try harder
Yet again RTFT

Perhaps you should send him a copy of this on your last day :

dancinginthehall

I cross posted with you because I didn't RTFT
You make some good points
Some posters on here are obviously joyless knobhead

Employers are happy to take your extra time but it doesn't go the other way it seems. I have a great manager who is very flexible but I absolutely hated working at places where clock-watching went on. Most of those jobs aren't life or death matters anyway but Lord forbid you're not a bum on a desk...
Thank goodness I have a manager who doesn't care about who gets in when as long as the work gets done.

And if you're going to quibble with employees over their time I hope you don't expect them to put in extra time for you when you need it.