Also depends on the job. I briefly worked at a place requiring minimum billable hours. I had 2 young kids at the time. I would come in, work my billables, and go home - keeping a schedule that allowed some decent time with the family. At my first review I was told that tho my billables were adequate, I needed to either get in at the crack of dawn, or stay until nightfall just in case some partner needed his or her ass wiped. I left that job shortly thereafter.
Let’s be honest though; hours spent at work tells you nothing as a manager. I have interstate staff and rarely bother with checking their time sheets (they don’t do overtime usually).
I know how they are working from the work that comes over my desk from them- not what hours they may spend in the office. Or say they do. I trust them to make decisions worth big bucks- I should be able to trust them with keeping time sheets.
Did I mention micro management pisses me off? 
I am currently working long hours 30 minutes before start, and 30 minutes after end of day. I also tend to work some of my lunch. The only reason is so that I can get a few major projects finished. We are currently upgrading two servers, rewiring a couple buildings, and trying to get fiber run between buildings. Downtime has to be kept to a minimum. One server has been swaped out, and I am currently getting the other ready to go. The extra hour or so a day gives me time to work on the server without having users interupt me with day to day problems. Once these projects are done my job will be much easier, and I can start working 9 to 5.
My co-workers are working 9 to 5 now so I am in there when they come in, and still there when they leave. Nothing for them to be ashamed of. When they end up with a project that needs to be done they will be the ones working the long hours while I get to work a normal work week.
-Otanx
I hear y’all. It’ll just have to take effort to shake off the guilt. Thanks…
Keep working on it. If your supervisor is okay with what you’re doing (and they obviously are), I’d say just tend your own knitting. Guilt for doing a good job and putting in a solid day - you so funny.
I work part-time, and I love it. People are always saying to me variations of, “Gee, you’re so lucky to go home so early.” I just smile sweetly and say, “Yeah, I sure am.” They don’t know my situation, and I have no obligation to explain it to anyone. For all they know, I’m independently wealthy and working for a hobby.
I will say that, while I agree that your bosses must be pleased enough with your performance if you just got a promotion, there are places where face-time makes a difference. My company has stated in the past that, all else being equal on performance reviews, number of hours on the timecard is the deciding factor on raises and such. The assumption being that if two people working to the same level, the one putting in the extra hours must be getting more done.
Mind you, we have a minimum expected requirement of 45 - 50 hours a week (below which on a regular basis will mean no raise, a stalled career, and possible eventual termination) and 30+% turnover.
I’m generally in early and out later than most. This is primarily a way to avoid the bad traffic I have on my commute. I don’t care if other people come in later and leave earlier, long as everyone gets their work done.
In a previous job I came in later but also left later than the older managers (this was a union shop, the non-managers generally worked shifts). I got flack from some of the older managers, but I doubt that they put in a forty hour week and the loudest were the ones who, while good at their job, were generally coasting. In by 7 am but out by 3 pm. I told one of them on more than one occasion to go stuff himself. AFAIK neither of us were particularly serious about it.
I’ve always been curious as to how well this works. Most businesses, I would presume, would consider a 30+% turnover rate a problem. Doesn’t it take extra time/money to get new employees up to speed?
And for the vast majority of employees, a minimum expected requirement of 45 - 50 hours a week is considered a sweatshop. So it would seem you wouldn’t be attracting the brightest employees that way, either.
Yeah, I know, they’re probably law firms and think they’re special… :rolleyes:
[/hijack]
Oh, they ARE special. Special special special. I won’t work for one, after having one three-day temp stint in one. Never again, not for a day, not for an hour.
I consistently work 45-50 hours a week because I am paying for a vacation in about a month. The extra money means I will go on vacation with a 0 balance on my credit cards. The people you work with may have a similar reason for working so much. Also where I work overtime is a bonus that isn’t available to everyone…if your numbers are low and you aren’t being as productive as they expect you don’t get the option of working overtime, and if your numbers are really low you may get the option of unemployment. Every office is different and I am not sure how yours works but if it makes you feel inadequate try clocking a few extra hours yourself. It may be unnecessary but if it makes you feel better about yourself it might be worth it.
The turnover is a major problem for them actually, and well over their goal… I think it’s 19%? For the last couple of years they’ve been doing all sorts of bull&$%@ programs to try to stem the tide, but as they’re unwilling to make real changes so it hasn’t done them any good. I would be out of there myself except that I don’t have the energy to look for a new job.
In all seriousness, there is a lot to like about my job, and we do attract numerous very bright people on the strength of our reputation (number one in our industry, on the list of top ten IT companies to work for in the US, etc.). They’re very careful to tell everyone the hours expectation upfront, so it’s not a surprise. Still, they’ve been having more and more trouble attracting decent new employees, which drives the oldtimers away as more and more work is put on their shoulders. (Plus, this year they eliminated the free cold breakfast / hot lunch / cold dinner program.)
And no, we’re not lawyers. 
HR Outsourcing, actually. This is my busy time of year (55-60 hours a week, from roughly June to November), as I work in Health Benefits, and Open Enrollment approaches.