How to leave work on time

Corinne Mills, MD of Personal Career Management, gives her ten top tips on how to make sure you can leave work on time.

1. It’s important
   Most people are willing to stay late or work longer hours if there is an emergency or an especially tight deadline for an important project. However, when staff are routinely expected to work very long hours then this can be very detrimental. We all need time outside of work to rest and recharge our batteries, connect with loved ones and have fun. Otherwise we can seriously compromise our health and well-being and that is no good for us – or the employer.
2. Give yourself a reason to leave the office on time
   Sometimes it’s easier for parents to avoid presenteeism, as they at least have the excuse of needing to pick up their kids. If it helps, artificially manufacture a reason to leave, for example you’ve a regular evening class, you’re meeting someone, an event you are going to or you have a particular train you have to catch. Give yourself a reason to get out the door by a particular time and go.
3. Turn off your tech
   Leave your phone and computer alone when you are about to go out the door and outside of work. Otherwise you’ll never switch off especially if you work for a global organisation where emails are coming in at all hours. Problem is, if you start responding to these emails then other people will feel they need to respond too – and then everyone is working outside of work. If it’s a real emergency they’ll ring you. Most of the time it can wait.
4. Agree priorities
   If you are resentfully working long hours just to get through the workload, then go and see your manager at least once a week to agree your priorities and discuss what you feel can reasonably be achieved in the time available. Most people don’t mind working extra hours occasionally, but continually working long hours just to keep the day to day workload under control is untenable for you – and the organisation.
5. Assertive but helpful
   If your boss is insistent you stay late then you may need to be assertive – but try to be helpful at the same time. Offer to look at it very first thing in the morning, guarantee they’ll have the work by lunchtime or suggest that you go back and re-negotiate the deadline. Show you won’t be coerced and they are likely to back off. Your career prospects are unlikely to be harmed as long as you show that you want to be helpful and continue to do your work to high standards. Interestingly, it may even enhance your career prospects. Being assertive and dealing positively with a potential conflict situation illustrates your leadership potential far more than someone willing to be a doormat.
6. Virtual presenteeism
   Organisations are moving increasingly to virtual working where staff work wholly or partly from home or other location. Research shows that those who work virtually often work the longest hours of all – finding it difficult to switch off and over-compensating for their absence from the office by wanting to be super-productive to prove their worth. It is especially important that virtual workers give themselves a “home-time”.
7. It’s good for employers too
   Everyone is probably hoping someone will go home first – including your manager. It’s okay to have a life outside of work. Your employer should want you to have a life – if nothing else because miserable, oppressed, people are unlikely to be high performers, let alone good ambassadors for the company so it’s in their interests too
8. Be clear on your own boundaries
   It may be that you’re happy to work late at home as long as you can be home for the school run. Negotiate your own “on” and “off” times but be clear about keeping them distinct. There is always work you can be doing, but apart from emergency issues, most things will wait till the next day
9. Think about leaving
   There are some professions where, culturally, there’s just an expectation you’ll work late, particularly financial institutions, legal firms etc. It’s hard as an individual to challenge a whole industry or organisation’s norms of working. So if this is causing you serious difficulties, you may need to think seriously about changing sector or job if you want to have a reasonable life balance
10. Work/life balance
    You might be happy to work late – maybe it’s a positive sign that you really love your job. Just be aware that there are other things in life too and personal relationships, interests and activities need energy, attention and nurturing too – and it is these that will sustain us through the usual ups and downs of our career.

You might also be interested in reading the following articles with my tips:

8 Ways to make sure you leave the office on time

Is flexible working the best option for your career?

If you are looking to achieve a good work/life balance, Personal Career Management can help. We have a strong team of experienced career coaches who can help individuals assess their career options and formulate a long-term career action plan.

If you are interested in finding out more about how we can help you, please fill in our online contact form, or call us directly on 01753 888995.

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Article by:

Corinne Mills

Article by:

Corinne Mills

Corinne Mills is the Joint Managing Director of Personal Career Management, she is a career coach with 15 years career management experience.

View Articles by Corinne Mills