Posted on 09/17/2005 by Walk the Planks
Viewed: 859 times
For nine months now, a coworker and myself -- and in her case, it's been longer -- leave the office every day at 4:55 p.m. This isn't uncommon in our office -- like most offices -- and it's sort of an unspoken thing that many people do. Some people even leave as early as 4:45 p.m. Anyway, I found out yesterday that I -- and just me -- can no longer leave at 4:55 and that I must wait until exactly 5:00 to leave. I don't take the two 15 min. breaks during the day, by the way, and I pointed this out; so dammit, I should be able to leave five minutes early. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter. I cannot leave until it is 5:00 p.m. exactly on-the-nose. My coworker, on the other hand, comes in at any time between 8:00 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. (We have to be in at 8:00 a.m.), and this is perfectly fine and acceptable. She is allowed to leave at 4:55 p.m. No questions asked. When I pointed this out to the administrative assistant, I got, well, so-and-so is always here on time -- not! I pointed other people out to Ms. Admin who are doing the same thing -- not! She is so blind to everyone else, but me. (I wonder if Ms. Admin can answer why it is then that she, herself, feels the need to take an hour and an half lunch break when we're only required to take an hour!) At the company I work at, the rules only apply to some. The others that are in with the right clique can break and bend the rules any way they want. It's so wrong and so unfair.
POST A COMMENTthe confessor(09/17/2005)
As I said before, document as much as you can, but leaving is your best option. The clique is now completely in control-your punishment of having to wait while others do whatever they want is a message to any who would fight the clique: screw with us and you'll be forced to sit and watch as we go and come as we please. As part of your departure, let the highest possible authority know what's happened. Otherwise, expect the clique members to be promoted. Bullyonline.org has lots on this. P.S. Even if you weren't being singled out, the clique is so destroying morale and productivity that it would make no sense to work there!
trickster(09/17/2005)
If I was you, I would start taking those 15 minute breaks! If they are going to hold you to the "rules" you need to take advantage of the rules. Live it up! Make sure you take the full 15 minutes each time too!
BPFH(09/17/2005)
I believe the term you're searching for is "work to rule." If they want you to go home EXACTLY at 5:00 p.m., fine. Are you supposed to come in at 8:00 a.m.? Make sure you don't walk in the door even a second early. You know those two 15-minute breaks? Take 'em. Got a lunch hour? Take the ENTIRE hour (but not a minute more). Working on something at 5:00? In a meeting? Too bad--for them. You were told that you had to leave at 5:00, and dammit...
wayoutgirl(09/17/2005)
I got fired for leaving a job at 4:55 p.m. The job wasn't worth it - I'm convinced bad employers will make up any trumped-up charge if they want to get rid of you, so let them find another reason. At my current job, I get to work at 8 am on the dot and don't leave until 5 pm exactly. However, my boss and closest coworker get there at 8:15-8:25 and can leave at 5. I don't say a word about it, because of course I'd get reamed out.
JustSo(09/19/2005)
Here is what I don't get, I mean unless you are a doctor with appointments or in surgery, or you are on a help desk, or are waiting for a shift replacement, why shouldn't people have flexibility in their schedule. Seriously, the average 8-5 office job should have flexible hours; if everyone in America left at exactly 5pm, can you imagine the traffic? I don't smoke - so take your 7 minute 2-3 times a day smoke breaks and shove it, I take a short 15 minute lunch (if I even leave my desk at all), and I am in ealier than everyone else. Not to mention I do work outside of the office, and I think of my projects while driving (I didn't charge you for that time though...did I). I hate timekeepers - get a life! Honestly, look around, are people really being productive past 3:30pm anyway? Here in my office everyone is talking around 3:30pm and is done putting in their 100% effort. I'd start to log my time and submit every Friday just to be annoying, even include the time you thought about your project while shaving!
Walk the Planks(09/19/2005)
Oh, the latest with this now is if everyone left five minutes early every day, that adds up to 25 mins. a week the company is being cheated out of, which adds up to an hour and forty minutes a month. Oh, come off of it already!
targetnomore(09/27/2005)
Why can't people do the right thing? At my job, time is counted on the quarter hour. So, one can be as much as 7/8 minutes late and still be on time. Once you're 8 minutes late, then you're 15 minutes late. So, can you guess how this plays out? Not only do we 'start' at 7:45 but we also 'open' at the same time. To me, it means being here early enough to settle in, turn on my 'puter etc. But to a few co-workers it means walk in the door with the customers at 7:53--4--5--6.... Now they still have to turn on their 'puters, check to see who has treats, take coats off, go find some treats. turn on lights, nuke some coffee or bacon or steak or last nights supper or or, get register key, talk to each other about who has treats. By this time, the rest of us have been working a half hour or more. It's the same thing in reverse at the end of the day. They start shutting down 15 minutes before we close so that they can be gone on the minute no matter if we have customers at the counter or how many. I haven't mentioned break times...
momalie2(09/28/2005)
Wow--flexible work schedule???I have NEVER had one of those. If I were you--like others have said take your full lunch hr. your 15 min breaks and come in right on time and leave right on time. soundds to me as if you have upset somebody's apple cart?
Corporate Doormat(06/18/2006)
I hate bosses like that who watch you every minute. I have trouble getting up in the morning, so I am always late to work probably the last one to arrive. But when I do, I begin my work immediately, while others are just goofing off. When the end of the day arrives, I'm not the first one out the door either usually 10-15 minutes later on average. I usually take my lunch hour for about 55 minutes and ususally don't take my two 15 minute breaks. Do you think they would get off my back about my late arrival? NO!!! They focus on the negative aspect; my arrival times. So now, I'm arriving exactly at 8:30am, taking my two 15 minute breaks (which I didn't take before) and leaving exactly at 5:30pm. Doesn't matter if I'm still working on something. I'm gone! Too bad! Now I ask you. Which way is more profitable for the company?
SouthernProgrammer (09/17/2005)
I had the same thing happen to me. My old manager has a "pet" employee (who is a very likeable person) who comes in late, leaves for 1.5 hour lunch breaks and never gets reprimanded. I on the other hand would get reprimanded for LEAVING ON TIME while other employees stayed past normal hours. The difference was ... they did not have a family..I did
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