Do you leave work on the dot?

cozlw

I am always on time if not early for work, therefore when it gets to the end of the day, I want to get home. In my last company, overtime was expected (regardless of how well arranged the day had been) with no pay and no time back in lieu. Hence why I no longer work there.

I think that it's important to have a work life balance, an employer that doesn't understand that cannot expect to have a loyal workforce.

Tiglath

It's investment banking so the annual bonus helps And they do treat their staff exceptionally well in other ways - twice in the past 2 years I've had to take 6 weeks off to recover from operations and they've insisted on paying me full pay both times (and insisted on me going back part-time for 3 months on full pay after the second one). At least I don't have to do the midnight global conference calls like some people!

TrickyWicky

I used to put in extra time when I was on flexi years ago but then I knew I would get it back. I've also put in extra in other jobs but it doesn't get you any respect these days - most employers are more scared about their legal accountability if something happens to you and yes, I've had rollockings for it.

I had another employer a few years back that were grateful for it (apparently) but they'd soon make life an utter misery about something else before asking you to stay on late again after having made your entire day a misery. I went out of my way for that company time and time again and all they did was make life miserable and difficult.

Would I ever do it again? Yes but only for the right employer with the right attitude towards its staff otherwise no way. If they can't be bothered to appreciate you for your efforts then there is no point.

alright_dave

Always leave on the dot, as I work on a production line, I can't do anything once the line stops.

jayII

Sometimes early, sometimes late, it depends on the work. We often have to stay late to manage 'situations' which we have no control over (just the nature of the work), so no-one minds when we leave 20 mins early. In fact the manager is often the first one out the door when rare early finishes are possible.

No overtime, just flexi for us too.

It all evens out and no-one minds as long as our work gets done.

Tigsteroonie

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

No, I don't get reprimanded. I successfully structure my working day, manage my workload and - most importantly - manage my customers' expectations so that I'm not "in the middle of something" at 5pm. And my managers don't have a problem with that.

Just to add - I'm normally in 10-15 minutes early in the morning (and I do start working when I arrive, I don't wander around clutching a coffee debating last night's soaps!), and I generally end up working some of my lunch-hour. So that might go some way towards my managers' acceptance of me leaving on the dot of 5

regprentice

I used to work all hours, at my last employer i often unlocked the building in the morning and locked it up again at night. i've previously worked for small/family firms and always felt respected and that i wanted to play my part.

At my current job (Im an accountant working for a bank - no i dont get paid bonuses) I quickly heard horror stories after i started. People would work until 2am, and that at that time in the morning the air conditioning would have cut out so the office would be like a sauna, frequently driving frayed tempers over the edge.

Never experienced quite that myself, but i am often compelled to work 12 hour days, often at short notice which can be difficult for childcare and puts a lot of strain on my wife. I am not paid for overtime.

I started out working before and after my contracted hours... but then i applied for compressed working to help look after my newborn. This didnt work in an environment where working the 'right amount' of hours was not even 'good enough' and it wasnt long til my compressed working was revoked. This was a nightmare and still costs me an extra £40 a week in childcare to this day. (£2k a year!).

Since then i dont care about them anymore, i get to work early i sit in the cafeteria til clocking on time, while i dont leave if work needs doing i generally leave at 5. I do find that my manager makes a point of giving me things to do/starting chats with me at 5 mins to 5 so i am not seen to be standing up an leaving at exactly 5 pm.

Our job descriptions have recently been re-writen and the final line of each of them now reads - and whatever work is necessary to get the job done..

Unfortunately my employer has paid for me to attend courses (ACCA) which i have not completed but which i must repay before i leave. This sadly means i cant leave without losing around £8K, which means i cant leave til a year after i qualify, and it doesnt look like i will be leaving for the foreseeable future.

Captain_Shambolic

I leave as soon as my shift finishes, the way I see it is that if they want me for longer they can pay me for it. That said, I structure my work so I don't end up with anything big to do at the end of the day, and certainly nothing that can't be done the next day.

However I'll be starting a new job which comes with flexi time so I may put in the extra hour here and there, as having the odd three day weekend sounds glorious.

DCFC79

If everything is done before the time Im meant to leave then yes I go, if theres still work to do I tend to stay on.

Madjock

lol, i NEVER leave work on time. My husband hates that I don't finish on time, but that's the nature of my job. I can try to structure my day but the minute an unhappy tenant walks in, that's out the window. I tend not to pay attention to my hubby's whinges, as he stays out on a fairly regular basis. So at least if I finish at 2pm instead of 1, I'm not staying out in a hotel for half the week.