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.

Total jobsworth! Bet you've worked more than 1/2 an hour unpaid (when your work has ran over your lunch/leaving time) ignore, enjoy your past week and your retirement

I would have just said “so give me a written warning”and walked out. Your boss is trying to throw his weight about, but as you’re leaving in less than a week he has no way to ‘scare’ you in to submission. Count your blessings you are leaving and have a fabulously long and relaxing retirement.

I think I would be annoyed as a manager if I'd agreed an extra long lunch break for a retiring employee and they were then 30mins late back, for the 2nd time that week.

I wouldn't mind allowing extra lunch time for a (or several) meals out, but I would expect my employee to be back at the agreed time (obviously not if a car broke down or emergency came up, but just late due to chatting is a bit of a cheek).

Yes your manager can't do much about it, but I would chat to you about coming back at the agreed time. If you needed longer, then ask.

This is why people really have to question why they would ever do one minute longer than they're paid for (if they work for someone else)

I cannot imagine how dreadful an employee you'd have to be to have not built up a lot of goodwill over the years given how much work people do for free.

See how far you can push it and see if you can get summoned to a disciplinary. Hopefully scheduled for next Thursday

I can't believe people on this thread are defending this useless, pathetic example of management - so glad you aren't my boss/colleague. Jeez, morale must be rock bottom wherever these mood hoovers work.

Just smile and ignore OP - or as other said, perhaps a suggest he reviews all your failings as an employee at a meeting - is next Thursday good for him?

What's he going to do? Sack you

It's not the time away from the office but the lack of courtesy in coming back as agreed, or calling to say you'll be a bit later.

Once would probably have been ok, but how is he to know you won't be 30 mins late again today and tomorrow?
So what if she is? It’s her last weeks of work and she’s done all of her handovers what would actually be affected if she took long lunches every day? Utterly ridiculous behaviour from the manager and I say that as someone who manages staff at s senior level.

Yes your manager can't do much about it, but I would chat to you about coming back at the agreed time. If you needed longer, then ask.

Would you really? Seriously? Fuck me, I'd be joking with my staff member that they were getting training for retirement, not 'having a word'. You're doing management wrong.

I could not care less, I am a manager actually I get paid to do a hob and oversee people, I dont piss off early or come in late and I expect my staff to do the same,retiring or not she is paid to be here! I would have let the 1st 1 slip due to her retirment but 2nd 1 is a clear piss take!! And if thats you attitude im glad I don't manage you, bet your a pain in the arse

Hope this person doesn't work in an office. It's hard to make that many mistakes by accident.

I also bet it was written while she was at work.

‘Are you serious?’

...would have popped out of my mouth immediately, followed by 🙄🤣‍🤷🏻‍♀️

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 he’s an idiot, just ignore him and enjoy your last few days.

IF you’re having a lonely moment or feel a bit lost after you’ve retired,, think back to that and you’ll be certain you did the right thing!

Reframe the lunches as "knowledge transfer". Job done, you were on the clock.

Smile and wave!

Did he tell off everyone who was with you (presumably they were late back too)

He's a twat! You're leaving in a week, pay lip-service to behaving yourself. Probably he's pee'd off because he isn't out there with you having a pint and a natter. He's not worth getting upset about.

What a plonker! He's made himself look a fool and in doing so has undermined his own authority. People won't take him seriously if he doesn't know what warrants a telling off and what doesn't.

Take no notice, enjoy being treated and happy retirement.

Doris

oh, for heaven's sake, do you really expect people to clock watch in this instance?

I wouldn't be surprised if this chap finds his entire team walking in due course, if this is his style of management. His loss.

that was to purple

Not to do with retirement but I used to work in a job like this. I would come in early (8.30, contracted hours were 9-5), and often stay until 6pm, taking a short lunch break to get a sandwich which I'd eat at my desk. One day I went out to lunch, and got told off for not being at my desk when the phone was ringing.
After that I arrived at 8.55, took a full hour for lunch and left by 5.10 up until I resigned.

Ridiculous little man. I'm so glad I don't work with the jobsworths telling you you haven't left yet .

Enjoy your last week and ignore him other than a polite 'Mmm, ok'. You'll have forgotten his existence by summer.

Can’t believe some of the joyless funsponges posting on this thread! If I was your manager OP I’d have asked why you were back so early!

As a PP said, most people will have put in WEEKS of unpaid overtime over the course of their working lives. I would never begrudge someone a few half hours celebrating with their coworkers before retiring.

Only possible exception would be if your absence was negatively impacting other people’s work but it doesn’t sound like it is. Happy retirement OP!

Oh, what an absolute dullard!

I would definitely make sure I got another long lunch in before I left. What's he going to do, give you a written warning?

Similar thing happened when I was leaving a contract. Had worked over and above my contracted hours through lunch and leaving late as the job was ridiculously busy. Needless to say, he was not popular and didn't last very long apparently.

Enjoy your retirement and just try to laugh about this one!

Wow there's some right keen little worker bees on this forum 😂

Happy retirement OP 👍

Unless long-serving members of staff are retiring on a weekly basis within the organisation, I think he should have let it go. For goodness sake - after years of service, she should be allowed some slack in her final week.

Happy Retirement only - hope to be joining you soon!