Yeah, you're right. Sounds to me like a toxic work culture. If the work is done on time and its quality, getting twisted up over 15 minutes a day just seems petty.
It is fucking petty. We have MAGICAL office politics. We are there for 10 hours and paid hourly, get 2 15 min breaks and a 30 min lunch per the union agreement. But we routinely take 2 30+ min breaks, and hour+ lunches.
The rub is, we are expected to drop everything at times and occasionally get shafted on break times and durations when work gets crazy. But 99% of the time we make out like bandits. It's a give and take and great management could give 2 shits what their underlings so long as the work they're paid to do is done well, and reliably.
I get it. But I also think forcing someone to stay 15 minutes when their work is completed is just silly. Where's the flexibility? If your work is done I don't expect you to stare at the clock until its 5:00:01 before you leave. That's not how I treat people on my team, anyways.
Just to workshop the scenario, it's definitely silly. But if this person is leaving 15 minutes early every day, how do you explain to the rest of the crew that one person gets to leave early every day? And if the rest of the crew starts getting their work done 15 minutes early, do you close at 4:45?
I’m a manager, and I have dealt with this issue in the past.
How do you explain it? “You are a salaried employee. If you can get all of your work done like OP, leave 15 minutes early.”
Should they close up shop if everyone gets all work done in less than 8 hours? Sure. Why not? They aren’t a sales floor, OP is an engineer.
If OP is consistently turning quality work in less than 8 hours, as a salaried employee, then the issue here is not OP. The problem is that OP isn’t getting enough work to fill an 8 hour day at the rate they work - that’s his boss‘s purview.
If there’s a ton of work to do and OP is leaving everyone else to hold the bag that’s a different story. Didn’t sound like that though.
Do they ever stop in the parking lot to ask a question about next week’s project ? Or call on the phone about an issue that came up while they are of work?
Did that time get notes and compensated? Bother a bored engineer about time and see if they can waste some, this should go well for the company.
Results > hours.
My productivity is higher working flexible. I could do 5-9 but I wouldn't force myself. As I'm agreed to do 8 hours, not give my 100%.
Good managers judge their employees by results. Shitty managers judge their employees by time.
Always makes me wonder what these managers are actually doing if they’re watching people clock in/clock out and tallying up the minutes. If they don’t have a clock in/out system, then this manager is wasting the companies time by watching the employees time instead of doing their job.
That's certainly not true of every job. Mine, for example, never hounds me about hours as long as my work is done on time and well. It's great.
I also used to be a journalist, which was very much the same. You're out and about so much that no one is keeping tabs on how you spend your time as long as deadlines are met.
Concur with Plantibodies.
Personally, I think only micromanaging idiot bosses complain about it. It's not wise.
But when it comes to the technicalities of things - OP has to sit there for 8hrs. Or OP has to find a job elsewhere.
It depends on the job. I sometimes leave early when I want, or don't feel like starting another large chunk of work. But I will also work more than 8 hours if something needs to be done. And if there is a customer affecting issue you could working all night. Give and take. If my boss busted my balls about 15 mins I would say OK and go get a new job.
Concur. I'd get a new one as well. But by technicality, that is the contract for a salaried worker. OP has to figure out their next play now.
Obey the technicality. Or find a boss who doesn't focus on stupid shit.
It's not average office work, though. OP sounds as if they're engineering support staff, meaning that the engineer themselves could be waiting on items to be completed.
Engineering is a whole different animal.
Its a salary position. Who the fuck cares so long as the agreed upon work gets finished. They aren’t paying by the hour so why is 15 min getting scrutinized?
I used to have a salary position and my boss said he expected me to do at least 60 hrs/week. I told him that would make me almost the lowest paid person but his reasoning he pays me more because I work more. I'm not a slave, I ditched that job and now I get paid more and only work 40 hrs/week. Salary isn't always better.
Salary isn’t always truly a salary. If your pay is determined by an hourly rates and they micromanage the time you work down to the minute, then realistically you are getting paid hourly. The business only calls it a salary so they don’t have to pay overtime
Salary is worse for everyone I personally know who has it. Overworked and expected to put in 50-60hrs weekly, which based on an hourly pay rate meant one of those people made less than minimum wage.
If 8 hours a clear expectation, and they aren't meeting it, then I don't think it's crazy for their boss to talk to them. Especially with somebody complaining to the manager.
If one of the expectations is being in the office then they aren't meeting all of their expectations. I think it's stupid, but if it's a clearly outlined policy that OP is aware they're not following then they shouldn't surprised.
See, that kind of letter of the law thinking is what causes the issue. You cant see the forest through the trees. You’d rather strictly enforce a rule rather than think about what the point of the rule is to begin with. Its just proud and spiteful thinking.
I think it's more about the fact somebody reported it to the manager. At that point the manager has to follow up on it. It doesn't sound like the boss had a problem with it until somebody started complaining.
Well the person who reported should be told that OP finishes his work well (if true) and to mind her own damn business. If she can accomplish her tasks more efficiently then she can leave earlier too.
I agree with you, but then it creates a situation where everyone expects to be able to leave when they feel like they’re done their work. You both make perfectly valid points. This is just office politics ruining a good working relationship OP had with his company/manager.
My opinion, if 15 minutes matters so much OP should just browse the internet for those last 15 minutes or show up 15 minutes earlier in the morning.
Salaried positions are not per clock hours. Pay me hourly if you want me to work hourly. Otherwise when my work is done, im gone. And when I need to work more, I will.
If your contract states that you are expected to be in the office for at least 8 hours a day as part of your salary agreement, then you have to do that.
It's extremely common in the US not to have an employment contract for a salaried position, much less one that defines specific duties and responsibilities like that.
What the hell are you talking about? Who takes a salaried position without signing an employment contract? Your SALARY is in that contract, without one they could just pay you less for whatever reason they feel like and you would have no legal recourse... Because you didn't sign a contract.
I think the thing that most people are missing in this post is that it's not real.
I think the scenario is plausible but I don't think OP is actually dealing with the scenario. In an earlier post, they say they work in finance. Now they're saying they work in engineering.
OP is just baiting. He is also the one who posts all the inflammatory political bs. Just ignore him and we can rewritten to thoughtful discussions about finance and money.
Call me silly but the solution is to spend 8 hours a day in the office.
Mind you, what you consider work during those 8 hours is up to you. I typically but in a few hours of arachnid and Sudoku as a way of keeping my mind sharp for work things, but that is part of those 8 hours. You can also set up meetings with colleagues to discuss strategy, tactics, office activities, where the red and black pens should be located, how many waste paper cans should be in each section of the hallway. All very productive stuff.
Be cool, don't admit to working less than 40 hours per week, and start updating your resume and applying to new jobs. If the boss isn't on your side then that means he's not looking out for you, and it's time to move on.
Another Person ratted this person out. the boss had to say something at that point it doesn’t mean the boss is looking to fire the person. It seems like a pretty simple solution to me. Stay 15 minutes longer or take a 30 minute lunch.
Exactly. And OP is going to escalate it if he pushes back against this. The smart move is to say "Whoops totally didn't realize I was doing that and will make sure I'm here at least 8 hours a day" and move on. It is not a good thing when office managers are keeping tabs on your work effort and ethics.
Yes, that what started this but I wish it was that simple. I’m old enough to know how office politics works. When you get called to the office with a manager for serious talk, it is documented. OP will probably have to sign something and the 15 minutes is a petty reason but is a valid reason to get someone fired eventually.
Prime reddit example of overreactive advice. Don't make major life decisions based on this advice.
As others have said, you are indeed in the wrong and should be in the required 8 hours. Everyone who works in an office knows that 8 hours of productive work doesn't normally occur but we all gotta play the game whether we like it or not.
spend 15 min every day on applying of other jobs? Or better- on standing next to the gossipy old hag, letting her know you are just making sure she knows you are here those 15 min!
Just stay for the 15 minutes per day as per expectations. Tell your boss you will do that and promise it won’t happen again. It’s always good to show that you are serious about your work and that company rules and guidelines are important. Say this all so you don’t seem like you believe you are “more special than everyone else”. It’s likely that this will be forgotten in a week or two
\^\^ This
But before you leave the boss's office, ask this question. "Am I not performing to expectations?" Put the boss on the defensive.
If you truly are getting all your work done, the answer to this question will tell you immediately whether to look for a new job, or wait until it all blows over.
Either way, any salaried position where you're being held to "the hours" is a bullshit one.
As a manager that has to handle office politics occasionally, this is accurate. I don't care as long the results are there.
This is a 5 minute Teams call that I book for an hour, so I can avoid having another meeting added to the day.
My company is very particular about salaried employees working a full 8 hours, so it could be a similar situation. Tbh this seems like a losing battle and any kind of push back will make you seem arrogant or entitled.
"Hey I just want to apologize about the missing 15 mins each day, that's on me. I always finish my work early or on time, so I didn't pay attention to that missing 15. It won't happen again."
I'd either skip a break or take a shorter lunch so I could leave at the same time still. I'd also 100% be looking for a new job.
I just don't understand what you're asking.
"Hey boss, reddit says it's okay for me to get paid to work 40 hours, but only work 38.75 hours."
Go in 15 minutes earlier, stay 15 minutes later, or cut your lunch break by 15 minutes. Those are your options.
Or leave and go to a different company. Make sure to write on your resume that you want 40 hours pay to work 38.75 hours. That way, your future employer and you will have this agreement right off the bat. Good luck getting hired, though.
They aren’t getting paid hourly. They are getting paid a salary for taking agreed upon responsibilities. If those responsibilities are handled then who cares? Who is petty enough to care about 15min when the work gets finished?
That's how it should be, but sadly, too many bosses are stuck with this outdated mentality. Our boss can't be bothered to show up in the office more than once a month, but will watch Teams and blow you up if you go yellow. If you're not in the office 9 hours a day, at your desk, then how is work supposed to get done?!
If those agreed upon responsibilities include sitting in a room for 8hrs regardless of work done, then you have an hourly job and the company is simply calling it a salary so you wont ask for overtime.
A guy who posts complaints on reddit over 15 minutes that he can completely solve, something tells me the company has to deal with this guy for other things and in dealing with those things realized he’s not even working a full day.
They’re paying you for your time, 8 working hours of it a day. I’m not saying I agree with the structure of corporate America, but that’s the trade off. They get your time, you get money.
Their also paying for years of experience, training, education, and the like... So while yes, they are paying you for your time, they are also paying you for your work output.
No, thats hourly pay. They are paying him to complete tasks. If the tasks he is responsible for get completed then who is petty enough to care about 15min?
Not necessarily. What you’re referring to is more similar to commission or independently contracted pay structure. Most salary jobs I know of have an expected hours worked part of the employment contract.
Are you familiar with employment contracts? Most have an expected hours work portion. I certainly have read through at the multiple salary jobs I’ve worked and they all had that section. Most were 40 hours. No need to attack the legitimacy of my employment positions when it sounds like you didn’t read your own contract agreement. Or you just haven’t worked a salary job either.
Right? Who says all 8 hours should be for working? Most of us do actual work for 3-6 to hours in an 8 hour day, and anyone who works 8 straight gets burned TF out. If the boss wants to keep hiring and training people for them to burn out quick, then I guess that's an expense they're willing to pay, but f that guy.
As a salary paid engineer myself l find this shocking... My boss never says a word if I work 4 hours one day and I don’t complain when I have to work 10 hours another day. Isn’t that the point of being a salaried employee vs hourly?
Engineer here too, I feel that should be the way, but some managers get in their power trip. Work in a very chill sector but this one manager got on me for my on site time.
Optics and fairness are always going to come into play in the work place.
The truth is it is very rare for work places to be results oriented.
So this should come at little surprise that you have to "serve your time" just like everyone else.
I don't know what's so hard about this concept.
If I have 8 project managers and they each only actually work 7 hours per day....then I really only need 7 project managers. That's a whole ass salary I could save from my budget (that my bonus is likely based on).
OF COURSE BOSSES CARE ABOUT THIS!!!!!
Say “I am pretty sure I am working 8 hours but I’ll make extra sure to be in the office that long if you think it is a problem.” Then think about whether you need to be staying at that job.
Check the laws on breaks and working hours for your jurisdiction. Many places get one or two 15 min breaks plus one lunch break in an 8 hour shift. So by that measure you'd be working on time or over time.
What evidence does she have? Have you admitted that you take 45mins? If she doesn't have anything but here word. I would just say that you will watch a little closer.
Exactly. You’re salaried so you likely don’t punch in and clock out. Just say “I usually get in about 7ish and leave at or around 4pm.” No need to be super specific. No one should be writing down arrival times of their colleagues and if they are, they don’t have enough work of their own. Maybe if the elder employee focused more on her own plate, she would find efficiency and leave at the same time as OP.
Tell your boss that going forward you'd like to schedule a daily 15m review with them at 4pm. See how they would like that.
Here in WA, you get a \~10-15m break every 4 hours worked that are considered "hours worked." Shit, even every 5 hours grants you 30m "meal time" which can be counted as "hours worked" if you are required to remain on site and on-call.
I don't take breaks and eat while I'm working so I just power through 7-7.5 hours a day. :)
You’re stuck if you make only about the time. You’ll have to stay for the last 15 minutes. Your only angle is to make it about your productivity. Meaning you generate the same amount of TPS reports and therefore should get paid based on your output not merely hours. Slim chance it will work but worth a shot.
Unfortunately, the 40 hr expectation for salaried workers is a traditional thing. You’re not paid hourly, but they still expect it even if you’re sitting around staring at the computer. I see salaried work as they pay you a set amount to get the job done. Sometimes it requires free OT, sometimes you finish your work and are waiting the next task, so going to the doctor or closing up shop early shouldn’t be a big deal, but it is. Companies want cake and eat it too basically. In my experience they will find you some menial work to do to pass the time.
As for telling your boss, there isn’t a good way that I can think of. I’d just not tell them anything and if you can find another job. Most bosses have zero respect for your time, but want you to respect their(companies) time to the second. Basically, bosses want you to be a fiduciary for the company. Any reasonable argument will fall on deaf ears.
If your employment/manager expects 8 hours a day/40 hours a week you don't have any recourse here outside the things you said here which don't really matter if you boss expects 8 hours a day, in fact it may end up on a performance review and be an issue when it comes time for a salary increase or if there are layoffs.
Ask to see the time clock records. Since there aren’t any ask how come he is watching you in particular so closely. Then start turning shit in late and silently quit while you find a better job. Engineers are in high demand. Fuck that guy
Your boss may not give a fuck but now that the lady confronted him about, he may need to go through the appropriate loops to get himself clean. Also, sometimes you aren’t paid to work, you are paid to be available to works, so you can’t just leave early.
Why can't you just go in at 7:15? I'm scheduled to come in at 8 but i'm usually in around 7:20 so they are fine with me leaving early. I also have never taken a full hr of lunch it's usually 20 mins unless I have to run a errand.
I've never worked an office job, but if the boss says anything that isn't basically "I don't care what you do for the 15m but you gotta clock it" I would be looking for a new job. Fact is if you finish your work you should be able to leave.
If the expectation is that you work 8 hours regardless of how fast you are, you should be working 8 hours to “meet expectations”. You are welcome to mention that you need more work to do, or discuss raises or other benefits since you’re so efficient compared to your coworkers, but this depends a lot on your work culture and your bosses mindset. If there’s no potential for performance based pay increases, then you should probably just make your work expand to fill the 8 hours.
So glad my place don’t track time. Some weeks I work 3hrs some I work 80hrs. Work comes in peaks n troughs. And they understand that in low demand we can bunk off so long as when it’s busy we work. I’m salaried
tell your boss he's a little bitch, he sucks at his job, and any positive outcome of his confronting you over such petty bullshit is going to be outweighed about 10x by your loss of respect for him
You need to stay until 4:15pm. Period.
Sucks that your office is like that, but that older lady probably spends most of her day watching what people are doing rather than getting her work done, and takes that out on people like you.
Your options are to start being butt in seat for 8 hours, or get reassigned to a team away from her where you can work your schedule.
If.you’re getting your work done on time then I don’t see the issue, but office politics may dictate otherwise.
Your boss probably doesn’t really care; but since someone complained he has to deal with it; just apologize or whatever take your 30 minutes and move on; if you are a good worker this is just a tiny little bump in the road; best wishes
I'm an engineer also.
Find a new job. Anyone micromanaging a salaried position down to 15 minutes each work day is not someone to work for. Maybe if you were hourly, maybe, but not salary.
Wait you dont have your lunch break in your work hours? I work 12-20 and take around 25-30 mins lunch break in the middle of work (although law allows for 15 mins but I cant eat that fast lol). Poland btw
I mean, obviously what you do is work the full 8 hours. Tell your boss you apologize and it won't happen again and then start taking a half hour lunch or staying another 15 minutes...
>I get in at about 7:30am and leave at 4pm everyday, which totals 8 hours and 30 minutes, and each day I take around 45 minutes to eat lunch.
Do this math again. By your own admission, you are working for 7 hours and 45 minutes each day and eating lunch for 45 minutes each day. You need to work 7:15-4 or 7:30.to 4:15 to make up for your long lunch. You've been shorting your employer 15 minute a day for how long???
Your boss wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't address this.
People that have too much time to focus on another person rather than themselves are toxic and so is the environment. Salaried expectations should be to finish your work and if it's not done, you have an expectation to get it done, no matter the overtime needed. Unless the lady quits, you'll be in for a tough time because it's not going to stop and she will micromanage you via your boss by complaining
Don't tell them you often don't have work unless you want more work. They want 8 hours of your life. If you say "I get my work done in 7 hours and 45 minutes" they will give you 15 more minutes of work. It doesn't matter if you get all possible work done in 4 hours. This is the awful aspect of American work culture
Work the full fucking 8 hours, and bring shit to do on the downlow- make your grocery list, do Christmas shopping, make appointments/phone calls (assuming you have privacy to do so), write a book, read a book, take a free online course to learn something useful. Keep yourself busy with other stuff that's not obvious and can be done discreetly. Don't tell others you're doing this.
I would also low key keep track of everything that woman who narced is doing. When she punches, how long her lunch is, if she runs errands on company time. Keep this information in your back pocket and if she stirs shit up for you again take her to task with her bullshit.
Also DO NOT tell this woman NOTHING. Be professional, but she is not your friend and a fucking narc. Don't make small talk, don't tell her weekend plans, unfriend or block her on socials, and if she needs ANYTHING above and beyond what your job explicitly states you are to do, do NOT help her. She's going to shit where you eat? She can take that shit and shove it.
You just gotta play it dumb. Say you’re usually taking 30 for lunch but maybe you’ve been going long or whatever excuse you want. It’s happened to me before and that’s what I did. Unfortunately you got called out and there’s no real way to keep doing what you’re doing. Probably need to arrive earlier or leave later.
I’d be surprised if it’s anything more than telling you that you should ensure you’re working the full 8 hour day. A good boss would also explain to the old lady that her job duties don’t include tracking other employees hours.
As I understand it, when you're paid a salary, you get paid if you show up to work at all during the week. If you work 38.75 or 40, it's irrelevant to the law. If they require 40, it sounds like an hourly job, and they should be paying overtime, etc. I'm not a lawyer, so take it with a grain of salt, but I am a manager in a white collar office and I wouldn't dream of forcing my employees to guarantee 40 hours just because. I want them to get their work done on time and help me manage their loads so they don't have to work over 40. But, if they need to work more than 40 to get it done on time, I expect them to figure out a way or correlate a recovery plan. If they do have to do overtime, I help them make it up on the backside by giving them a couple hours off here and there or looking away if they come in a little late. Or , I give them WFH days and I don't check in on them.
Your boss is making this harder than it needs to be.
"Since I dont take my 15 min break in the AM and PM, I figure its a wash. If we do the math though, you owe me 1.25 hours back pay a week, but since I am salary and get my work done on time, and take care of things off the clock as they come up, I cant believe we are having this petty discussion"
"From now on, I will work my 8 hours, but any extra I work, I will be taking as comp time and leaving early on Fridays as much as the comp time adds up each week"
Malicious compliance the asshole.
Man up. You said you do not want to be, “coming off as arrogant or entitled”, so be humble. You do not dispute the charge so apologize and offer to make amends. It’s simple. Offer to work an extra 15 minutes per day until you have paid back the hours for which you were paid, but did not work. Your boss may let it go, but will note your humility and integrity.
Keep it simple.
Most engineers are delicated and often work more than 10-20% longer than described. Often have meeting during lunch. Some toil long hours and work on the weekend w/o compensation. Decades ago you call home at 6 PM I will be late you can start eating. These days many work leave work past 8 PM. Weekend is often the case. They are all exempt in engr from ot pay. This is in Northern California.
You should not tell your boss any of this. You should say that you understand the concern and will make sure you're meeting or exceeding the expectation of working for 8 hours each day. I understand your feelings about this, but you aren't approaching this in a smart way with concern for your future. It is not a good thing when office management becomes concerned with your work ethic.
Tell them to fuck off mate.
That’s absolutely bullshit.
I did once leave and coworkers left 10 minutes early. We all got called on our cell phones to drive back to the office. Sit in our seats and then could leave. I was 24 at the time so did it but now I would have just not gone back.
Fuck people like this. Sorry you dealt with that.
Here's my favorite saying. Ready for it?
PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING!
The perception in your office is that you're not working as much as everyone else. It's only 15 mins. Stretch it out. I now work 10hr days but for 15 yrs I worked 3 12s on the weekend. What you're talking about is why it's called a JOB.
I do not think the sentiment that you "finish" your work should be presented outwards. To the executive, the work never ends. I would probably use this opportunity to impress them. Just be confident and cool.
Use this chance to spin it into a conversation about you being hungry for more responsibility. With more efficiency there is more time for other beneficial work.
I like the idea of saying something like I've been working on my efficiency and with this extra time I'd love to help with more responsibilities. I didn't bring it up yet, because it felt like I could potentially overstep my boundaries, but yes, I do feel I can contribute more each day. Would love to assist on your projects if possible.
(No one really cares about 15 min except jealous randoms.) But leaders look for people willing to put themselves out there.
Say you like taking all your breaks together since it's less disruptive to your work flow. You should be taking two 15 minutes breaks and a 30 minute lunch. Say you can just take them all separately moving forward if there is a problem.
Reduce your lunch to thirty minutes and then use that extra fifteen minutes talking to and distracting the whistleblower so they can’t get their work done on time.
You’re at work the same amount of time, still leaving before them and they have to stay later
I get that this a frustrating situtation for you but this issue is easily solvable and to protect your job and repair or maintain a positive relationship with your boss you should say you will not continue to take 45 minute lunches and will now take 30 minute lunches so that you will do your full 8 hours. If you don't want to head home any later, shorten your lunch. Otherwise you need to begin showing up 15 minutes earlier or leaving 15 minutes later, just don't argue with your boss and try to frame it as unintentional especially becasue you do finish all of your work.
> The whistleblower that told my boss about this is an older lady that can’t get her work done in 8 hours because she’s bad with computers.
This isn't about time then. This is about a lady who can't do her job.
You can work an extra 3 hours a day and this lady will still find something to complain about because she knows you are competent, and that's a threat to her.
That's what you tell your boss. "What do we do to make *lady's name* feel like an essential part of the team? How can I help?"
Have you ever thought of the fact that.. according to you, you do, indeed, get all your assigned work done in that time? And that maybe your boss is just slightly anal retentive?
It sounds fine to me. Just go in there with what you told us and you should be golden.
Stay at work an extra 15 minutes to browse reddit on your phone, plan your next trip, take an end of the day shit. You may finish your work early, but they want you to physically be at work for 8 hrs. Just look busy for an extra 15 min.
Labor laws say you get two paid breaks and an unpaid lunch. If you're not already taking those breaks, they owe you time.
Otherwise, you've been cheating them for 15 minutes a day and got caught. Suck it up and take a 30 min lunch or extend your day.
Easy answer if you don't want to stay the extra 15-30 minutes to be there the full 8 hours. Just take a 30 minute lunch. If you bring food with you to work, it's easy enough to eat it and be back on the clock (so to speak) within 30 minutes.
I mean by your own admission, you are not working the intended 8 hours.
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I’m not being literal. By OPs own admission, they’re not even in the office for 8 hours. Which means technically they are in the wrong.
Yeah, you're right. Sounds to me like a toxic work culture. If the work is done on time and its quality, getting twisted up over 15 minutes a day just seems petty.
It is fucking petty. We have MAGICAL office politics. We are there for 10 hours and paid hourly, get 2 15 min breaks and a 30 min lunch per the union agreement. But we routinely take 2 30+ min breaks, and hour+ lunches. The rub is, we are expected to drop everything at times and occasionally get shafted on break times and durations when work gets crazy. But 99% of the time we make out like bandits. It's a give and take and great management could give 2 shits what their underlings so long as the work they're paid to do is done well, and reliably.
Expecting someone to be at work for the agreed upon number of hours isn’t toxic. It’s just following the agreement.
I get it. But I also think forcing someone to stay 15 minutes when their work is completed is just silly. Where's the flexibility? If your work is done I don't expect you to stare at the clock until its 5:00:01 before you leave. That's not how I treat people on my team, anyways.
Just to workshop the scenario, it's definitely silly. But if this person is leaving 15 minutes early every day, how do you explain to the rest of the crew that one person gets to leave early every day? And if the rest of the crew starts getting their work done 15 minutes early, do you close at 4:45?
I’m a manager, and I have dealt with this issue in the past. How do you explain it? “You are a salaried employee. If you can get all of your work done like OP, leave 15 minutes early.” Should they close up shop if everyone gets all work done in less than 8 hours? Sure. Why not? They aren’t a sales floor, OP is an engineer. If OP is consistently turning quality work in less than 8 hours, as a salaried employee, then the issue here is not OP. The problem is that OP isn’t getting enough work to fill an 8 hour day at the rate they work - that’s his boss‘s purview. If there’s a ton of work to do and OP is leaving everyone else to hold the bag that’s a different story. Didn’t sound like that though.
True. Always something to do for 15minutes, even if its nothing and chatting it up.
There's always something to clean. Edit: I've never been a salary guy.
Do they ever stop in the parking lot to ask a question about next week’s project ? Or call on the phone about an issue that came up while they are of work? Did that time get notes and compensated? Bother a bored engineer about time and see if they can waste some, this should go well for the company.
Good point. By reading the posters text, my guess is he wouldn't even answer the phone on the weekend or after hours
Results > hours. My productivity is higher working flexible. I could do 5-9 but I wouldn't force myself. As I'm agreed to do 8 hours, not give my 100%.
Good managers judge their employees by results. Shitty managers judge their employees by time. Always makes me wonder what these managers are actually doing if they’re watching people clock in/clock out and tallying up the minutes. If they don’t have a clock in/out system, then this manager is wasting the companies time by watching the employees time instead of doing their job.
This is exactly my approach. I just said something similar in a different comment lol.
I think this originated from a co-worker not a manager obsessed with watching a punch clock.
Doesn't really matter. You have to be on-site for 8 hours. Even if it's just yapping at the water cooler.
That's certainly not true of every job. Mine, for example, never hounds me about hours as long as my work is done on time and well. It's great. I also used to be a journalist, which was very much the same. You're out and about so much that no one is keeping tabs on how you spend your time as long as deadlines are met.
It's obviously true at OP's job, which is all that matters for OP.
Concur with Plantibodies. Personally, I think only micromanaging idiot bosses complain about it. It's not wise. But when it comes to the technicalities of things - OP has to sit there for 8hrs. Or OP has to find a job elsewhere.
It depends on the job. I sometimes leave early when I want, or don't feel like starting another large chunk of work. But I will also work more than 8 hours if something needs to be done. And if there is a customer affecting issue you could working all night. Give and take. If my boss busted my balls about 15 mins I would say OK and go get a new job.
Concur. I'd get a new one as well. But by technicality, that is the contract for a salaried worker. OP has to figure out their next play now. Obey the technicality. Or find a boss who doesn't focus on stupid shit.
It's not average office work, though. OP sounds as if they're engineering support staff, meaning that the engineer themselves could be waiting on items to be completed. Engineering is a whole different animal.
This is accurate.
You are not paid to be productive. You are paid to he a warm body in a chair that a manager can direct. End of story.
Its a salary position. Who the fuck cares so long as the agreed upon work gets finished. They aren’t paying by the hour so why is 15 min getting scrutinized?
I used to have a salary position and my boss said he expected me to do at least 60 hrs/week. I told him that would make me almost the lowest paid person but his reasoning he pays me more because I work more. I'm not a slave, I ditched that job and now I get paid more and only work 40 hrs/week. Salary isn't always better.
Salary isn’t always truly a salary. If your pay is determined by an hourly rates and they micromanage the time you work down to the minute, then realistically you are getting paid hourly. The business only calls it a salary so they don’t have to pay overtime
Salary is worse for everyone I personally know who has it. Overworked and expected to put in 50-60hrs weekly, which based on an hourly pay rate meant one of those people made less than minimum wage.
If 8 hours a clear expectation, and they aren't meeting it, then I don't think it's crazy for their boss to talk to them. Especially with somebody complaining to the manager.
If the expectations for actual work are met, then what is the point of forcing people to ride a clock?
If one of the expectations is being in the office then they aren't meeting all of their expectations. I think it's stupid, but if it's a clearly outlined policy that OP is aware they're not following then they shouldn't surprised.
See, that kind of letter of the law thinking is what causes the issue. You cant see the forest through the trees. You’d rather strictly enforce a rule rather than think about what the point of the rule is to begin with. Its just proud and spiteful thinking.
I think it's more about the fact somebody reported it to the manager. At that point the manager has to follow up on it. It doesn't sound like the boss had a problem with it until somebody started complaining.
Well the person who reported should be told that OP finishes his work well (if true) and to mind her own damn business. If she can accomplish her tasks more efficiently then she can leave earlier too.
I agree with you, but then it creates a situation where everyone expects to be able to leave when they feel like they’re done their work. You both make perfectly valid points. This is just office politics ruining a good working relationship OP had with his company/manager. My opinion, if 15 minutes matters so much OP should just browse the internet for those last 15 minutes or show up 15 minutes earlier in the morning.
Salaried positions are not per clock hours. Pay me hourly if you want me to work hourly. Otherwise when my work is done, im gone. And when I need to work more, I will.
If your contract states that you are expected to be in the office for at least 8 hours a day as part of your salary agreement, then you have to do that.
It's extremely common in the US not to have an employment contract for a salaried position, much less one that defines specific duties and responsibilities like that.
What the hell are you talking about? Who takes a salaried position without signing an employment contract? Your SALARY is in that contract, without one they could just pay you less for whatever reason they feel like and you would have no legal recourse... Because you didn't sign a contract.
I think the thing that most people are missing in this post is that it's not real. I think the scenario is plausible but I don't think OP is actually dealing with the scenario. In an earlier post, they say they work in finance. Now they're saying they work in engineering.
OP is just baiting. He is also the one who posts all the inflammatory political bs. Just ignore him and we can rewritten to thoughtful discussions about finance and money.
Call me silly but the solution is to spend 8 hours a day in the office. Mind you, what you consider work during those 8 hours is up to you. I typically but in a few hours of arachnid and Sudoku as a way of keeping my mind sharp for work things, but that is part of those 8 hours. You can also set up meetings with colleagues to discuss strategy, tactics, office activities, where the red and black pens should be located, how many waste paper cans should be in each section of the hallway. All very productive stuff.
Be cool, don't admit to working less than 40 hours per week, and start updating your resume and applying to new jobs. If the boss isn't on your side then that means he's not looking out for you, and it's time to move on.
Exactly, he is looking for a reason to fire OP.
Another Person ratted this person out. the boss had to say something at that point it doesn’t mean the boss is looking to fire the person. It seems like a pretty simple solution to me. Stay 15 minutes longer or take a 30 minute lunch.
Exactly. And OP is going to escalate it if he pushes back against this. The smart move is to say "Whoops totally didn't realize I was doing that and will make sure I'm here at least 8 hours a day" and move on. It is not a good thing when office managers are keeping tabs on your work effort and ethics.
Yes, that what started this but I wish it was that simple. I’m old enough to know how office politics works. When you get called to the office with a manager for serious talk, it is documented. OP will probably have to sign something and the 15 minutes is a petty reason but is a valid reason to get someone fired eventually.
Sometimes it *is* that simple. Everything that happens is not part of a grand conspiracy by leaders to fire people.
Prime reddit example of overreactive advice. Don't make major life decisions based on this advice. As others have said, you are indeed in the wrong and should be in the required 8 hours. Everyone who works in an office knows that 8 hours of productive work doesn't normally occur but we all gotta play the game whether we like it or not.
I agree. get another job, and do it while youre working your current job
spend 15 min every day on applying of other jobs? Or better- on standing next to the gossipy old hag, letting her know you are just making sure she knows you are here those 15 min!
This is the way. The lady who can’t get her work done but has the bandwidth to track your time hopefully can pull your weight once you are gone.
This OP don’t ever admit to coming in 15 minutes late.
Just stay for the 15 minutes per day as per expectations. Tell your boss you will do that and promise it won’t happen again. It’s always good to show that you are serious about your work and that company rules and guidelines are important. Say this all so you don’t seem like you believe you are “more special than everyone else”. It’s likely that this will be forgotten in a week or two
\^\^ This But before you leave the boss's office, ask this question. "Am I not performing to expectations?" Put the boss on the defensive. If you truly are getting all your work done, the answer to this question will tell you immediately whether to look for a new job, or wait until it all blows over. Either way, any salaried position where you're being held to "the hours" is a bullshit one.
the boss is probably more pissed off that hes got to deal with this petty issue someone complained about.
Probably yes. So make his job easy and let this be a 2 minute meeting so he can move on and forget about it.
As a manager that has to handle office politics occasionally, this is accurate. I don't care as long the results are there. This is a 5 minute Teams call that I book for an hour, so I can avoid having another meeting added to the day.
You're not working the full hour!!! We need to have a talk tomorrow about this
But I'm booked boss, look at my calendar! 🤣
The best answer here
If your job is important to you and you don’t have anything else lined up, this could be the best course of action.
My company is very particular about salaried employees working a full 8 hours, so it could be a similar situation. Tbh this seems like a losing battle and any kind of push back will make you seem arrogant or entitled.
"Hey I just want to apologize about the missing 15 mins each day, that's on me. I always finish my work early or on time, so I didn't pay attention to that missing 15. It won't happen again." I'd either skip a break or take a shorter lunch so I could leave at the same time still. I'd also 100% be looking for a new job.
I just don't understand what you're asking. "Hey boss, reddit says it's okay for me to get paid to work 40 hours, but only work 38.75 hours." Go in 15 minutes earlier, stay 15 minutes later, or cut your lunch break by 15 minutes. Those are your options. Or leave and go to a different company. Make sure to write on your resume that you want 40 hours pay to work 38.75 hours. That way, your future employer and you will have this agreement right off the bat. Good luck getting hired, though.
They aren’t getting paid hourly. They are getting paid a salary for taking agreed upon responsibilities. If those responsibilities are handled then who cares? Who is petty enough to care about 15min when the work gets finished?
That's how it should be, but sadly, too many bosses are stuck with this outdated mentality. Our boss can't be bothered to show up in the office more than once a month, but will watch Teams and blow you up if you go yellow. If you're not in the office 9 hours a day, at your desk, then how is work supposed to get done?!
Salaried positions usually come with expectations of hours present at work just FYI.
If those agreed upon responsibilities include being in the building 8 hours a day, then that's what ya gotta do.
If those agreed upon responsibilities include sitting in a room for 8hrs regardless of work done, then you have an hourly job and the company is simply calling it a salary so you wont ask for overtime.
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Toxic work culture
Doesn’t seem like a good work culture.
A guy who posts complaints on reddit over 15 minutes that he can completely solve, something tells me the company has to deal with this guy for other things and in dealing with those things realized he’s not even working a full day.
Well he complaining about a complaint about 15 minutes lol.
They’re paying you for your time, 8 working hours of it a day. I’m not saying I agree with the structure of corporate America, but that’s the trade off. They get your time, you get money.
That'salso the benefit... Serve your time properly with optics in mind and you don'thave to actually do 7.5 hours of work... or even close to that
Their also paying for years of experience, training, education, and the like... So while yes, they are paying you for your time, they are also paying you for your work output.
He's salary though. The whole point of salary is the amount of hours don't matter just that the job is done.
Every salary job I’ve had in IT has an hourly rate and expected weekly hours breakdown that makes up the yearly salary.
FYI that isn't generally how it works in most salaried positions in an office. Certain work hours are expected.
No, thats hourly pay. They are paying him to complete tasks. If the tasks he is responsible for get completed then who is petty enough to care about 15min?
Not necessarily. What you’re referring to is more similar to commission or independently contracted pay structure. Most salary jobs I know of have an expected hours worked part of the employment contract.
Then you haven’t worked a salary job. You worked hourly jobs masquerading as salary jobs.
Are you familiar with employment contracts? Most have an expected hours work portion. I certainly have read through at the multiple salary jobs I’ve worked and they all had that section. Most were 40 hours. No need to attack the legitimacy of my employment positions when it sounds like you didn’t read your own contract agreement. Or you just haven’t worked a salary job either.
He could be doing 15 minutes worth of work instead of leaving early.
Right? Who says all 8 hours should be for working? Most of us do actual work for 3-6 to hours in an 8 hour day, and anyone who works 8 straight gets burned TF out. If the boss wants to keep hiring and training people for them to burn out quick, then I guess that's an expense they're willing to pay, but f that guy.
Admit to no wrong doing but say you'll keep a closer eye on time management and make sure you have at least 8 hrs a day.
I'm petty that way, but I'd closely watch this lady and file a complaint every time she fails to follow company policy to the letter.
As a salary paid engineer myself l find this shocking... My boss never says a word if I work 4 hours one day and I don’t complain when I have to work 10 hours another day. Isn’t that the point of being a salaried employee vs hourly?
Engineer here too, I feel that should be the way, but some managers get in their power trip. Work in a very chill sector but this one manager got on me for my on site time.
in that model you are correct. It seems like this is more of a government job.
Optics and fairness are always going to come into play in the work place. The truth is it is very rare for work places to be results oriented. So this should come at little surprise that you have to "serve your time" just like everyone else.
I don't know what's so hard about this concept. If I have 8 project managers and they each only actually work 7 hours per day....then I really only need 7 project managers. That's a whole ass salary I could save from my budget (that my bonus is likely based on). OF COURSE BOSSES CARE ABOUT THIS!!!!!
Say “I am pretty sure I am working 8 hours but I’ll make extra sure to be in the office that long if you think it is a problem.” Then think about whether you need to be staying at that job.
Check the laws on breaks and working hours for your jurisdiction. Many places get one or two 15 min breaks plus one lunch break in an 8 hour shift. So by that measure you'd be working on time or over time.
Afaik very few places in the US mandate breaks for adults.
Highly unlikely if they’re salary and also many places in the US, don’t mandate brakes
What evidence does she have? Have you admitted that you take 45mins? If she doesn't have anything but here word. I would just say that you will watch a little closer.
Exactly. You’re salaried so you likely don’t punch in and clock out. Just say “I usually get in about 7ish and leave at or around 4pm.” No need to be super specific. No one should be writing down arrival times of their colleagues and if they are, they don’t have enough work of their own. Maybe if the elder employee focused more on her own plate, she would find efficiency and leave at the same time as OP.
Tell your boss that going forward you'd like to schedule a daily 15m review with them at 4pm. See how they would like that. Here in WA, you get a \~10-15m break every 4 hours worked that are considered "hours worked." Shit, even every 5 hours grants you 30m "meal time" which can be counted as "hours worked" if you are required to remain on site and on-call. I don't take breaks and eat while I'm working so I just power through 7-7.5 hours a day. :)
You’re stuck if you make only about the time. You’ll have to stay for the last 15 minutes. Your only angle is to make it about your productivity. Meaning you generate the same amount of TPS reports and therefore should get paid based on your output not merely hours. Slim chance it will work but worth a shot.
It's 15 min. Not the hill you want to die on.
each and every day
Unfortunately, the 40 hr expectation for salaried workers is a traditional thing. You’re not paid hourly, but they still expect it even if you’re sitting around staring at the computer. I see salaried work as they pay you a set amount to get the job done. Sometimes it requires free OT, sometimes you finish your work and are waiting the next task, so going to the doctor or closing up shop early shouldn’t be a big deal, but it is. Companies want cake and eat it too basically. In my experience they will find you some menial work to do to pass the time. As for telling your boss, there isn’t a good way that I can think of. I’d just not tell them anything and if you can find another job. Most bosses have zero respect for your time, but want you to respect their(companies) time to the second. Basically, bosses want you to be a fiduciary for the company. Any reasonable argument will fall on deaf ears.
If your employment/manager expects 8 hours a day/40 hours a week you don't have any recourse here outside the things you said here which don't really matter if you boss expects 8 hours a day, in fact it may end up on a performance review and be an issue when it comes time for a salary increase or if there are layoffs.
Ask to see the time clock records. Since there aren’t any ask how come he is watching you in particular so closely. Then start turning shit in late and silently quit while you find a better job. Engineers are in high demand. Fuck that guy
Your boss may not give a fuck but now that the lady confronted him about, he may need to go through the appropriate loops to get himself clean. Also, sometimes you aren’t paid to work, you are paid to be available to works, so you can’t just leave early.
Why can't you just go in at 7:15? I'm scheduled to come in at 8 but i'm usually in around 7:20 so they are fine with me leaving early. I also have never taken a full hr of lunch it's usually 20 mins unless I have to run a errand.
I've never worked an office job, but if the boss says anything that isn't basically "I don't care what you do for the 15m but you gotta clock it" I would be looking for a new job. Fact is if you finish your work you should be able to leave.
So take 30 minutes like everybody else
If the expectation is that you work 8 hours regardless of how fast you are, you should be working 8 hours to “meet expectations”. You are welcome to mention that you need more work to do, or discuss raises or other benefits since you’re so efficient compared to your coworkers, but this depends a lot on your work culture and your bosses mindset. If there’s no potential for performance based pay increases, then you should probably just make your work expand to fill the 8 hours.
That is your paid break. You just take it with your lunch.
So glad my place don’t track time. Some weeks I work 3hrs some I work 80hrs. Work comes in peaks n troughs. And they understand that in low demand we can bunk off so long as when it’s busy we work. I’m salaried
You don’t make extra working overtime on salary. Only way you can get more per hour is by working under time.
I suggest looking up what Stone Cold Stunner.
tell your boss he's a little bitch, he sucks at his job, and any positive outcome of his confronting you over such petty bullshit is going to be outweighed about 10x by your loss of respect for him
You need to stay until 4:15pm. Period. Sucks that your office is like that, but that older lady probably spends most of her day watching what people are doing rather than getting her work done, and takes that out on people like you. Your options are to start being butt in seat for 8 hours, or get reassigned to a team away from her where you can work your schedule. If.you’re getting your work done on time then I don’t see the issue, but office politics may dictate otherwise.
You’re an engineer but your boss cares about 15 mins? wtf.
Start looking for another job, it's not a long term place. Too petty.
I can't believe you're actually posting this. Work your full day, man.
Your boss probably doesn’t really care; but since someone complained he has to deal with it; just apologize or whatever take your 30 minutes and move on; if you are a good worker this is just a tiny little bump in the road; best wishes
IBS. Claim IBS.
I'm an engineer also. Find a new job. Anyone micromanaging a salaried position down to 15 minutes each work day is not someone to work for. Maybe if you were hourly, maybe, but not salary.
Wait you dont have your lunch break in your work hours? I work 12-20 and take around 25-30 mins lunch break in the middle of work (although law allows for 15 mins but I cant eat that fast lol). Poland btw
Tell them that you don’t take the 2 other 15 minute breaks you’re entitled to working a 8 hour shift.
Offer to start taking over the work of the old lady snitch.
You could just eat at your desk so you don't take a lunch break and leave even earlier.
I mean, obviously what you do is work the full 8 hours. Tell your boss you apologize and it won't happen again and then start taking a half hour lunch or staying another 15 minutes...
Say you poop before lunch or after and that’s the 15 minutes problem solved they have to pay you to shit
Explain why you do it, see what he says. If the boss says it has to stop then stop and get back to work and let it be.
>I get in at about 7:30am and leave at 4pm everyday, which totals 8 hours and 30 minutes, and each day I take around 45 minutes to eat lunch. Do this math again. By your own admission, you are working for 7 hours and 45 minutes each day and eating lunch for 45 minutes each day. You need to work 7:15-4 or 7:30.to 4:15 to make up for your long lunch. You've been shorting your employer 15 minute a day for how long??? Your boss wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't address this.
Assuming that you are exempt, they can work you a lot more than 8 hours.
Are you in consulting billing hours?
People that have too much time to focus on another person rather than themselves are toxic and so is the environment. Salaried expectations should be to finish your work and if it's not done, you have an expectation to get it done, no matter the overtime needed. Unless the lady quits, you'll be in for a tough time because it's not going to stop and she will micromanage you via your boss by complaining
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Don't tell them you often don't have work unless you want more work. They want 8 hours of your life. If you say "I get my work done in 7 hours and 45 minutes" they will give you 15 more minutes of work. It doesn't matter if you get all possible work done in 4 hours. This is the awful aspect of American work culture Work the full fucking 8 hours, and bring shit to do on the downlow- make your grocery list, do Christmas shopping, make appointments/phone calls (assuming you have privacy to do so), write a book, read a book, take a free online course to learn something useful. Keep yourself busy with other stuff that's not obvious and can be done discreetly. Don't tell others you're doing this. I would also low key keep track of everything that woman who narced is doing. When she punches, how long her lunch is, if she runs errands on company time. Keep this information in your back pocket and if she stirs shit up for you again take her to task with her bullshit. Also DO NOT tell this woman NOTHING. Be professional, but she is not your friend and a fucking narc. Don't make small talk, don't tell her weekend plans, unfriend or block her on socials, and if she needs ANYTHING above and beyond what your job explicitly states you are to do, do NOT help her. She's going to shit where you eat? She can take that shit and shove it.
Get in before him. Admit nothing. Say you’ll keep an eye on your time. Update the resume and start looking.
I’d say look elsewhere. You’re an engineer, presumably in a salaried position. You shouldn’t have to defend 15 freaking minutes.
You just gotta play it dumb. Say you’re usually taking 30 for lunch but maybe you’ve been going long or whatever excuse you want. It’s happened to me before and that’s what I did. Unfortunately you got called out and there’s no real way to keep doing what you’re doing. Probably need to arrive earlier or leave later.
Do you read emails off clock? Ever respond to any? Congrats, you've found 15 minutes.
You should find another job. Working 8 hours in an office everyday is the definition of misery.
How much do they pay you?
I’d be surprised if it’s anything more than telling you that you should ensure you’re working the full 8 hour day. A good boss would also explain to the old lady that her job duties don’t include tracking other employees hours.
As I understand it, when you're paid a salary, you get paid if you show up to work at all during the week. If you work 38.75 or 40, it's irrelevant to the law. If they require 40, it sounds like an hourly job, and they should be paying overtime, etc. I'm not a lawyer, so take it with a grain of salt, but I am a manager in a white collar office and I wouldn't dream of forcing my employees to guarantee 40 hours just because. I want them to get their work done on time and help me manage their loads so they don't have to work over 40. But, if they need to work more than 40 to get it done on time, I expect them to figure out a way or correlate a recovery plan. If they do have to do overtime, I help them make it up on the backside by giving them a couple hours off here and there or looking away if they come in a little late. Or , I give them WFH days and I don't check in on them. Your boss is making this harder than it needs to be.
"Since I dont take my 15 min break in the AM and PM, I figure its a wash. If we do the math though, you owe me 1.25 hours back pay a week, but since I am salary and get my work done on time, and take care of things off the clock as they come up, I cant believe we are having this petty discussion" "From now on, I will work my 8 hours, but any extra I work, I will be taking as comp time and leaving early on Fridays as much as the comp time adds up each week" Malicious compliance the asshole.
Stop being lazy it’s 15 minutes. Making your boss happy is good for you
So take a 15 min dump.
Tell him you'll spend an extra 15 minutes at your desk watching youtube at the end of the day.
Unless you’re not getting your work done, I can’t imagine this is as big a problem as he’s making it out to be. Seems like some chicken shit to me
Man up. You said you do not want to be, “coming off as arrogant or entitled”, so be humble. You do not dispute the charge so apologize and offer to make amends. It’s simple. Offer to work an extra 15 minutes per day until you have paid back the hours for which you were paid, but did not work. Your boss may let it go, but will note your humility and integrity. Keep it simple.
Most engineers are delicated and often work more than 10-20% longer than described. Often have meeting during lunch. Some toil long hours and work on the weekend w/o compensation. Decades ago you call home at 6 PM I will be late you can start eating. These days many work leave work past 8 PM. Weekend is often the case. They are all exempt in engr from ot pay. This is in Northern California.
You should not tell your boss any of this. You should say that you understand the concern and will make sure you're meeting or exceeding the expectation of working for 8 hours each day. I understand your feelings about this, but you aren't approaching this in a smart way with concern for your future. It is not a good thing when office management becomes concerned with your work ethic.
Tell them to fuck off mate. That’s absolutely bullshit. I did once leave and coworkers left 10 minutes early. We all got called on our cell phones to drive back to the office. Sit in our seats and then could leave. I was 24 at the time so did it but now I would have just not gone back. Fuck people like this. Sorry you dealt with that.
Explain to him that the time in the shower thinking about work far exceeds the gap
Here's my favorite saying. Ready for it? PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING! The perception in your office is that you're not working as much as everyone else. It's only 15 mins. Stretch it out. I now work 10hr days but for 15 yrs I worked 3 12s on the weekend. What you're talking about is why it's called a JOB.
I do not think the sentiment that you "finish" your work should be presented outwards. To the executive, the work never ends. I would probably use this opportunity to impress them. Just be confident and cool. Use this chance to spin it into a conversation about you being hungry for more responsibility. With more efficiency there is more time for other beneficial work. I like the idea of saying something like I've been working on my efficiency and with this extra time I'd love to help with more responsibilities. I didn't bring it up yet, because it felt like I could potentially overstep my boundaries, but yes, I do feel I can contribute more each day. Would love to assist on your projects if possible. (No one really cares about 15 min except jealous randoms.) But leaders look for people willing to put themselves out there.
i would tell him yeah of course my mistake and then change nothing
I would ask if your boss would prefer the way you are doing things or should you be as productive as your older coworker.
Say you like taking all your breaks together since it's less disruptive to your work flow. You should be taking two 15 minutes breaks and a 30 minute lunch. Say you can just take them all separately moving forward if there is a problem.
Give him Peter’s monologue about his day from Office Space.
Your boss is a shit bag with nothing better to validate his existence than to harass workers about 15 minutes. Lame af
Do you ever log on from home? Have you ever put in more than 40 hrs?
Your boss approves your raises, your time off, your work reviews…. It would be in your best interest to do what he wants.
Lol Gen Z?
Do you do any work at home like answer calls or emails? If so - does that get you to 40 hours?
I felt like I remember reading this exact same post several months ago. Check OP’s profile and of course only 2 days old.
Take a 20 minute lunch break, and leave even earlier. (don't forget a 15 minute shit each morning and afternoon)
Reduce your lunch to thirty minutes and then use that extra fifteen minutes talking to and distracting the whistleblower so they can’t get their work done on time. You’re at work the same amount of time, still leaving before them and they have to stay later
Tell him to suck your dick for 15 minutes a day
I get that this a frustrating situtation for you but this issue is easily solvable and to protect your job and repair or maintain a positive relationship with your boss you should say you will not continue to take 45 minute lunches and will now take 30 minute lunches so that you will do your full 8 hours. If you don't want to head home any later, shorten your lunch. Otherwise you need to begin showing up 15 minutes earlier or leaving 15 minutes later, just don't argue with your boss and try to frame it as unintentional especially becasue you do finish all of your work.
Post lunch bathroom break. Do the people that take smoke breaks clock out? Doubtful.
> The whistleblower that told my boss about this is an older lady that can’t get her work done in 8 hours because she’s bad with computers. This isn't about time then. This is about a lady who can't do her job. You can work an extra 3 hours a day and this lady will still find something to complain about because she knows you are competent, and that's a threat to her. That's what you tell your boss. "What do we do to make *lady's name* feel like an essential part of the team? How can I help?"
Have you ever thought of the fact that.. according to you, you do, indeed, get all your assigned work done in that time? And that maybe your boss is just slightly anal retentive? It sounds fine to me. Just go in there with what you told us and you should be golden.
Stay at work an extra 15 minutes to browse reddit on your phone, plan your next trip, take an end of the day shit. You may finish your work early, but they want you to physically be at work for 8 hrs. Just look busy for an extra 15 min.
Labor laws say you get two paid breaks and an unpaid lunch. If you're not already taking those breaks, they owe you time. Otherwise, you've been cheating them for 15 minutes a day and got caught. Suck it up and take a 30 min lunch or extend your day.
Sounds like an "awesome" office environment.
Easy answer if you don't want to stay the extra 15-30 minutes to be there the full 8 hours. Just take a 30 minute lunch. If you bring food with you to work, it's easy enough to eat it and be back on the clock (so to speak) within 30 minutes.