What would you do?

tell your boss that you will come in a few minutes earlier to make up for the time. If that doesnt work, then quit.

I am so with you.

It is a bummer that there are some people who are just out there watching the clock.

It is always the nameless, faceless who are willing to cause problems for people who are genuinely working.

Do you have any options for working from home to "make up your hours" Can you "shorten" your lunch break to make up for leaving at 4?

You don't say what time you get in, but it seems that if you can be there by 7:20-then leaving a few minutes before 4 ....

I would also have another discussion with the manager and as logically and straightforward as you can ask what are the expectations?

In my position, I can work remotely and, am on-call alot so a leave early here or there can be easily accounted for because I've put in my time.

I'm interested to know why your manager did not support you if you are indeed covering your hours. Another thought is whether or not the company allows flex time. We have a range where you can come about anytime between about 6:30 to 9 and leave at 3-5:30 ... but once you set your hours you have to live with them.

wish you the best,

cez

Since your on salary.. Can you make your own hours?

Because in essence that is what you are doing.

If you were hired to work to 4:00 pm and you agreed to this at

time of hire then the employer has the right to expect you to uphold that agreement.

Here are some suggestions to remedy your situation:

Can you or your husband switch your shift hrs? Can the day care keep your son an extra 1/2 hr? Can a relative or friend pick up your son from daycare

Last resort ---find another position elsewhere that can accomodate your personal schedule.

I am a mature woman also. I'm 53 and I managed to balance a professional career and 2 children all as a single mom

Where theres' a will theres' a way... It all depends on how much you like job

The whole situation is ridiculous. I hate to see all of these people, such as myself, who are "salaried" yet we have specific time goals at work. No managers seem to complain when you work over time, but if you don't put in your artificial shift schedule, you get harassed. You should not have to make any concessions to please some other manager since you haven't done anything wrong. Try and talk to the other manager and explain your situation, but if this doesn't work...LEAVE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. You sound qualified for other jobs, and even if you have to take a pay cut, an unhappy work life will ruin the rest of your life. Trust me. I used to have the best possible work ethic that you could have (I think it's still there hidden under all of this bitterness) and now I'm typing answers to questions during my work hours. Sorry, this answer is partly and answer, and partly just to vent my frustration. I'm supposed to be getting a call today to schedule an interview, if I get the job, I'll quit immediately, and if I don't I'll still quit, but I told myself I'd stay until the interview was over. Sorry! Good Luck, don't let anybody make you unhappy or angry at work. It's not worth it, and your health and family life is more important than money!

It's not a slap in the face, and you shouldn't take it that way.

You are lucky that the problem was brought to your attention, as your reasons for leaving "early" are completely legitimate. It's your opportunity to get those reasons out in the open, as well as the recourse you take to make up for leaving early.

Oftentimes, the best way to combat this type of petty behaviour is to become beyond reproach. If you leave 5 minutes early but arrive 20 minutes early, do a bang up job with your work and are generally pleasant to be around, no one will care. In fact, people will act like you deserve to leave early.

If you approach it as a slap in the face, though, it will quickly become one. You have nothing to hide, so when someone calls you out on leaving early and you go on the defensive, it looks like you're hiding something. As a result, your manager(s) will trust you less, and you'll have more over-the-shoulder watching.

If your job isn't flexible enough to accomodate daycare schedules, especially when it only imposes by a few minutes (assuming it is less than 15 minutes), then you should consider a new job. Most healthy workplaces allow some flexibility for a work/life balance, and those workplaces also assume that you will repay them by working harder and putting in hours when you don't have to.

Good luck.

Hello,

I would at first do what you did, get pissed. But being pissed is no time to take actions. Let things settle over the weekend and let your mind clear and give yourself time to cool off and think more rationally.

If you are doing the work expected of you on time and in a professional manor it shouldn't matter, however, myself, from working in a office environment for many years there is always someone looking out for what others are doing and if they don't like what they see, they'll complain, even if it is of no concern to them. Somebody is doing something they can't and they don't like it.

If your boss likes your work and understands your situation ask her for her blessing on your schedule and screw what the other idiot has to say, if the other idiot is her equal or higher than that's a little tougher. Maybe a meeting with this other manager is in order to explain exactly why you cut out a few minutes early, maybe they will understand and appreciate the fact you explained this to them. Or just come to a agreement with your boss to make up the time by coming in slightly earlier if possible.

Good Luck.

I'd take a few minutes and calm down, and start seeking solutions rather than focusing on my anger.

Can you come in a few minutes early to offset leaving a few minutes early?

Can you change the parking arrangements so that you pick up those 20 minutes?

Can you telecommute in the evenings for half an hour to make up for the lost time?

Clearly the problem is that one of your peers is threatened by you, and has found a reason to complain. The company has to enforce its policies evenhandedly, and so your manager, reluctantly, had to speak to you about the problem. I am sure that you can recruit her to help you solve it, if you put aside your anger.

Good luck!

You will find that the so-called "managers" or "bosses in the private sector are full of crap. All of them!

They are being manipulated by fat slob C.E.O.'s and corporate executives, and they can't put enough of the blood suckers in jail (i.e. Enron boys)!

The private sector keeps firing people with seniority to replace them with low paying people, and the idiots will work at barely above miniumum wage.

Nobody should be working today at less than $15.00 an hour!

Do the math, and see what it costs just to survive.

If I were you, I'd look at government jobs, especially those in the service area.

Give it up, or else it will ruin you.

Hi, I was just reading your question and every body's answers, and I really feel bad for you, because you sound very professional and I see no problem. But there is always one person out of work that will love to stick their nose in other people's business. Don't worry sweetie you will overcome this and many more obstacles~Keep up your good work!!

where I come from we work till six so I am not sure what to say, it depends on when you start.

So long as you work 8 hours a day you should be free to park on the other side of town if you feel so wierdly inclined.