Anonymous wrote:There's no such thing as "paying your dues." And if people are starting to notice that you and your whole team are always in late and out first, guess who gets nailed for that? Not the people under you. The people above you are going to reprimand you for setting a poor example and for not being able to control those under you.

Know what I hate? When a mom uses her kid's as an excuse to come in late or leave early and feels like she never needs to make up that missed time. Why is her time more valuable than those around her without kids? Because the reason taking her out of the office is another human? Nope, doesn't fly with me and my employees know it.

When I need to come in late or leave early, I either adjust my schedule that day to makeup the hours or do it the next day. My employees do the same thing. I remember before I was a boss, the bosses I hated the most were the ones who worked 9-4:30 instead of the normal 8-5 hours everyone else had to work. And just so you know, in my experience, when your employees beat you into the office or are left there later than you, they're not really working.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for a large company and our hours are 9am to 6pm, however most people stay much later until 7/8pm many nights because we are all swamped. I oversee two junior staff members who blatantly disregard our "office hours" and tend to come in between 9:15-9:30am most days, and sneak out around 5:30-5:45pm because they think we don't notice. I am a working mom with two young kids at home, and typically get to the office around 9:15am (before the employees who report to me!) and am out the door right at 6. My issue is that these junior staffers should NOT be the first ones out the door each night and should be coming in on time. The problem is they use me as the example - sometimes I need to leave early or come in later for something kid related, and so they feel entitled to do the same but for things like going to the gym or getting a manicure or whatever. I am 38 and have paid my dues, and these employees are 24 and 26, so they have not. And, I wouldn't have a problem if it was once in a while, but it's every day now. Plus - they aren't finishing all of their work and often push off deadlines. Now that all 3 of us are in late and leaving early it's becoming obvious to others that we work shorter hours and must be the "fun team" because others work much later almost every day.

I am just not sure how to address this because again, I can't practice what I preach exactly. Do I say something to them or let it go? How would you approach it?

The bolded part is what you need to address. They are not finishing their work. The rest is irrelevant. Your age and family status compared to theirs is irrelevant.

+1,000 Thanks a lot for being the perfect example of why people dislike female bosses. Their hours have nothing to do with the problem here--focus on them not getting things done or meeting deadlines.

Why are your personal obligations more important than theirs?? You sound awful and resentful.

Anonymous wrote:I used to work with a lady like you, OP. GOT ON MY F'ING NERVES (and everyone else's) that because she had been there 20 years she could do whatever the hell she wanted in regards to coming and leaving. I was so happy to leave when I had my baby.

Anonymous wrote:All of you need to start working from 9-6. If you're not willing to do that, you shouldn't say anything at all. It doesn't matter if you're 38 and have "paid your dues."