Just want the paycheck- not trying to be president here

jenna8984

Work vent- A guy at work just gave me something quick to research for him and he said "I notice you leave a little early, so it's ok if you can't do it until tomorrow". Um my job is 8-5 with a one hour lunch. I work 8-5 and take a half hour lunch. I leave at 5. How does that make me "leave a little early"?? Sorry that I'm on salary so I'm not staying after 5 (unless my immediate supervisor needs something)

Then my immediate supervisor tells me that I need to go online to corporate portal and fill out my "goals" for the year. I looked him dead in the eye and said "I don't have any, my goal is to do my fucking job, which I do". He's my age so we always swear to each other, and he just said ok & walked away.

Sorry I'm here for the paycheck, I'm not saving lives, nor do I want to move up or excel. My job and tasks are ALWAYS completed on time, accurately, and I never call in or show up late so sue me that I don't wish to go above and beyond. Just pay me so I can afford my home and my vacations lol.

mysticl

I hate work goals. It's all just crap anyhow. I was once asked what my dream job was with the company so I told my boss. She told me I would never have the job. Now, I exceeded the minimum qualifications for the job so there was no reason I couldn't get it If it opened up but nothing like squashing the little ambition I had.  

KatieinBkln

I'm with you. Luckily my job seems to understand that. It's cool if people love their jobs and followed their passion into the workforce. Good on ya. I'm a bit more selfish with my passions, and my brain-space. Just because I like something, or I'm good at it, doesn't mean I owe it to the world to do that thing for money (or usually, when it comes to "passion" fields, for not very much money. See publishing, art, fashion, and teaching industries).

 I have a lot of interests, and whenever I'm forced to over-focus on just one (even if it's something I love!) I will not be fulfilled only doing that One Thing. So I do a job that is stimulating enough to get me through my day, and then spend my free time doing all the fun stuff I love doing. 

AddieCake

Recently, I had to go to Central Office after work and I have last period off, so I left during it so I could be done with my business there before the end of the actual school day and not have to stay later. That's the beauty of having last period off. You can leave a little early if you need to go somewhere. As I was walking out, a colleague looked at his watch. Pissed me off. Dude, you don't get to decide when I leave or even know where I'm going or what I'm doing. 

jenna8984

AddieCake said:

Recently, I had to go to Central Office after work and I have last period off, so I left during it so I could be done with my business there before the end of the actual school day and not have to stay later. That's the beauty of having last period off. You can leave a little early if you need to go somewhere. As I was walking out, a colleague looked at his watch. Pissed me off. Dude, you don't get to decide when I leave or even know where I'm going or what I'm doing. 

Exactly! As long as I'm doing my job, mind your business!

JCbride2015

Personally, I am super Type A so the thought of just doing the bare minimum at my job is sort of unfathomable.  It's hard for me to deal when I get partnered with somebody who cares less than me.  So sometimes I'm guilty of being an asshole coworker, I bet.  I'm really trying to be more understanding-- my experience this year with Partner From Hell really helped that.

But especially as to what time you leave (not quality of job), that is just not OK.  If you are an hourly employee and you work 8-5, no way, leaving at 5 is not "early."  I wouldn't stay longer if I wasn't being paid for that time, either!

@AddieCake I had the same situation but reversed.  I had first block free.  We were required to clock in (with fingerprint and everything) at 8:10am.  I generally arrived around 8:00am and was never once late for clock-in.  But the other teacher in my classroom would comment about how I was "late" every morning.  No.... I'm not late..... I clocked in ten minutes before I'm required to, and I have an hour and twenty minutes until my first student walks in the door.  Now STFU.

AddieCake

JCbride2015 said:

I had the same situation but reversed.  I had first block free.  We were required to clock in (with fingerprint and everything) at 8:10am.  I generally arrived around 8:00am and was never once late for clock-in.  But the other teacher in my classroom would comment about how I was "late" every morning.  No.... I'm not late..... I clocked in ten minutes before I'm required to, and I have an hour and twenty minutes until my first student walks in the door.  Now STFU.

Now that is some bullshit!

Ndelible

As a manager, I have to say that one thing that separates the wheat from the chaff is attitude.  I see it clearly now, and it makes a huge difference.  Just doing the job is not enough; having a good attitude enhances the quality of the work as well.  While I consider myself a good boss, I don't expect anyone to do OT unless it is needed and tend to be flexible, there is something about the one who runs out of the workplace that would make me hesitate to promote.  Of course, if that work and done well with positive attitude, that, I would put in the plus category.  Just another viewpoint.

Senecaf

I'm having the opposite problem. I changed roles in my company to allow for better work life balance/hours (40/week opposed to 55+) and I HATE it! I no longer have goals or any sort of mobility really. I am happy that I get to see my children but working just to work is boring the shit out of me.

That dude saying you leave early would piss me off. My time is mine and I just did my job all day. When I choose to leave is my business guy.

loveislouder

I work at a law office, where there are 3 assistants, my boss, his wife (as "office manager)" and his son. One of the ladies is retiring so on top of all my normal work, I'll be taking on all hers, while the other assistant will stick with her real estate because she "doesn't know how to do anything else" I

 was taking a 5 minute Facebook break today (not unusual, we all do it and bossman was watching the soccer game) and real estate girl started giving me a lecture about how she's more dedicated than me because summer is busy with real estate. Like bitch, I just watched you online shop for 45 minutes. 

 Now I take pride in my job, but I just discovered that while my 8 hours 5 days aa week nets me 650 bucks, bossman's son who comes in once a week for maybe 6 hours takes home 1200 plus travel time/mileage, it grinds my gears. 

 ETA: TK ate my paragraphs.

ElcaB

I leave at 5 o'clock on the dot almost every day and occasionally get some passive-aggressive comments from a coworker (who is anywhere from 7-120* minutes late daily). 

I leave right at five is because I have fitness classes to be on time for. I do this because I typically get to work 15-45 minutes early & usually take shorter lunches. So fuck you, passive-aggressive coworker! 

cupcait927

I only ever have a problem with people leaving early (meaning BEFORE scheduled stopping time, not right on the dot, because let's face it, I'm always out the door at 5) when they are continually late. My one coworker, who used to be a pretty good friend of mine, is always between 5 and 10 minutes late, yet leaves up to 5 minutes early every day as well. She's got a 10 minute commute to work where I have a 40 minute drive. I'm always 10 to 15 mins early and always wait until 5 pm to leave. It's obnoxious. Now, if I was getting comments about leaving right at 5, that would piss me off too.

flyingfoxes

I am bored to shit at my job, and have ZERO interest in getting promoted or managing people - because people are assholes and I don't want to manage them.  So I probably do the bare minimum as well - my work isn't my life fulfillment, my life outside of work is. 

jenna8984

april182015bride said:

I am bored to shit at my job, and have ZERO interest in getting promoted or managing people - because people are assholes and I don't want to manage them.  So I probably do the bare minimum as well - my work isn't my life fulfillment, my life outside of work is. 

@april182015bride Exactly! I have never understood the workoholic mindset. To me, work is just a means to be able to afford the things you love. I had the partner of my old accounting firm sit me down and say "You know, everyone else here is working long hours trying to get to partner one day and you don't appear to have that goal. I worked my ass off for yen years and now I'm here". I said "Why would I waste my life working to be rewarded with MORE work?!" I got fired/ let go for not having that desire and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. lol

flyingfoxes

@jenna8984 - I know exactly what you mean - if I got promoted, I would have to carry a work cell phone and be responsible for that - why?  Once I leave here every day, work is gone out of my mind.  I don't take it home with me, and that's A-OK.  Actually I know I should find a different job and let somebody else that wants to do this have it.  I plan on looking for a government job next spring after FI and I get married because I'll have preference once I'm a military wife. 

buttercup1958

I think I have the workoholic mind set. I work for three museums, one is local, another is a 40 min drive, and a hour and 40 mins.  I grew up in a workoholic family though so I think it feels more natural to me. I just feel like this is what I have to do to get into grad school and eventually/hopefully get my dream career. I love working, it makes me feel useful and I like to expand knowledge to the public. I love science and talking to people about it.