Anonymous wrote:Why is anyone allowed to leave early? The only reason you should be on a train going home at 3:30 is if you clocked on at 6. You did your 8, plus your unpaid hour for lunch, and left at 3. And I seriously doubt most govt offices are open and running at 6 am.

Tell me you aren’t a fed without telling me you aren’t a fed. 6am is fairly busy most places; 6:30 is normal.

Everyone is driving, that is where. They moved out of the city with hybrid/telework and commuting by car is easier from the burbs.

Not a fed, just a healthcare worker who has observed that traffic absolutely blows worse than ever lately. Wish I could take public transport but would only add more time to the commute.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is anyone allowed to leave early? The only reason you should be on a train going home at 3:30 is if you clocked on at 6. You did your 8, plus your unpaid hour for lunch, and left at 3. And I seriously doubt most govt offices are open and running at 6 am.

Then you would be wrong. My large government agency is definitely open and running at 6 a.m.

What agency is this? Because it’s not SSA, OPM, CD, JD, DI, AD, NASA, BEP or DOJ. Because I’ve worked overnights in all of those buildings over the years doing updates and installations and the only people I see at 6am are bored security guards trying to stay awake the last hour of their shift.

Most feds are still working from home. None of my co workers returned back to the office. Maybe that's why the Metro is dead at 3:30pm.

Anonymous wrote:Why is anyone allowed to leave early? The only reason you should be on a train going home at 3:30 is if you clocked on at 6. You did your 8, plus your unpaid hour for lunch, and left at 3. And I seriously doubt most govt offices are open and running at 6 am.

Then you would be wrong. My large government agency is definitely open and running at 6 a.m.

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure you could also leave earlier not taking any time for lunch? I don’t work for the government, but I eat lunch at my desk (or bring my computer with me to the kitchen) all the time. Would not consider that a particularly high-quality break from work. So there you go, 8 hours, no lunch break at all.

Some federal agencies require all employees to take 30 minute lunch break. Even if you work through it and eat at your desk. Other agencies do not-- I thought there was a DOD lawsuit years ago about it from a non-lunch eater who couldn't get paid for the 30 mins and couldn't leave until 8 hours 30 minutes.

Anonymous wrote:I was at Gallery Place yesterday at 4 pm catching the red line to Glenmont and had to stand on the train. You must have a different definition of "empty."

I've noticed that the Red lines are frequently crowded. The Orange/Silver lines are getting there as well.

I was at Gallery Place yesterday at 4 pm catching the red line to Glenmont and had to stand on the train. You must have a different definition of "empty."

Why were YOU there OP? Ya lazy bum!

The unemployment line?

I don’t know how but trump did this!!!

I’m sure you could also leave earlier not taking any time for lunch? I don’t work for the government, but I eat lunch at my desk (or bring my computer with me to the kitchen) all the time. Would not consider that a particularly high-quality break from work. So there you go, 8 hours, no lunch break at all.

Anonymous wrote:Why is anyone allowed to leave early? The only reason you should be on a train going home at 3:30 is if you clocked on at 6. You did your 8, plus your unpaid hour for lunch, and left at 3. And I seriously doubt most govt offices are open and running at 6 am.

Clearly math is a struggle for you, starting at 7am with half hour lunch, which is an option, yields ending time at 3:30pm (4 with hour lunch). And yes many offices are running at 6am.

Feds can't afford to eat downtown, on the whole, doesn't matter whether they are back in office or not.

I carry my lunch and water (because the water in our building is awful) every single day.

Most people prob also leave earlier than usual OP but in diff time waves. I see nothing wrong with leaving early as long as you are reachable, esp if your commute is one hour or longer.