First to leave at work! Guilt trip.?

Question

In my office the day is supposed to end at 4pm. But nobody wants to be the first to leave., as it that will mark you as a poor worker. We are not getting paid past four so why stay. However: We all stay in our chairs waiting for the other to make the first premptive move (shut the computer, put away files, etc.).

How do you handle it?

Answer 1

if you're done for the day, just go. start putting everything away, fix your desk and say 'see you guys in the morning'. no point in staying and just sitting there for someone else to leave.

Answer 2

Why, worry what others are doing. If not getting paid after 4pm, and you are done for the day. Why, not leave.

How i would handle it? Shut down computer, put away files. Say, goodbye everyone and have nice evening. See you all tomorrow.

Ain't no guilt trip i see. If you are done for the day, you just done.

Answer 3

Are you exempt or non-exempt? If you're non-exempt, then you should feel just fine leaving. You're actually not supposed to work without pay. If you're exempt, you may find that much of the informal networking and brainstorming in the organization occurs after "quitting" time, so you need to participate in the interest of your career. If you happen to be non-exempt in an office with a lot of exempt folks, that may be what you're seeing. An intermediate alternative is to get up, grab a coke or coffee, and have casual conversations with co-workers. Signals that you're done working, but that you want to be part of the team.

Answer 4

Take public transportation or get into a carpool. Jump up at 4pm and say "Gotta catch the bus" or "I can't miss my ride" and "See you tomorrow at 8 (or whatever the starting time is)". If you have a child in daycare, say "I must be at the daycare center by 4:15." And, of course, work really, really hard before 4pm.