Work ethic question

[wyndslash]

For me it depends on 2 things:

1. the nature of your work
2. corporate culture

besides, aren't those things stipulated in the contract? there should be policies for those things. obviously, if you're in office work, then you have to stay there on your stipulated time because what if a client calls and nobody answers?

 

[wyndslash]

We work in a call center so there is a possibility that if he's not there I have to cover for him. If his customers call in unexpectedly and he's not there, there's the possibility that I have to cover for him. If none of his customers call in then in theory I don't have to cover for him. However, if the phones start ringing and there's less bodies to cover them, then it's more work for those who are here.

you work in a call center. obviously, everyone has to be there, otherwise what's the point?

 

[MoodyBlues]

We work in a call center

Well, now I'm even more confused. How can there be "nothing to do" in a call center? The very nature of a call center is that the phones can ring at any time. So how can there be no work? Even if there's a lull, even if the phones haven't rung for hours, even if it's Christmas Eve and your customer base will be out doing last minute shopping and not calling in for support, you still can't KNOW the phones won't ring.

My work was totally different. Each day I had a different number of projects/tasks I needed to tackle. Some were critically important and others were not. At my discretion, when there were too many things for one human being to reasonably do in one day, I'd pick and choose. I'd get out the most urgent jobs, like payroll for E-Systems, and let the less important wait until the next day, like a request by a data entry supervisor to add a particular [non-critical] function to a program. There was no mystery, no variables; the work was there when I came in and I had to decide how to get it all done. Your situation isn't the same at all.

Now I'm at a healthy, STRONG 99% in agreement that leaving early would've been wrong.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Well, on Christmas Eve we got 10 calls total for the entire shift. Normally we get 7-8 times that easily. So, it was definitely dead.

 

[330D]

In the United States we are so caught in the rat race. We have to keep up with the Joneses or we are thought of as failures. It is such an idiotic way of thinking. Many other cultures leave for a couple hours every day... Just for lunch!

I don't care what corporate culture dictates. I live my life for me and for my family. I have never been reprimanded by my superior for telling him (or her) I was leaving early or coming in late. I would find a different job if I was.

 

[A.Nonymous]

It might be a cultural thing. I'm Asian. The co-worker in question is a (by his own definition) redneck American.

 

[330D]

It might be a cultural thing. I'm Asian. The co-worker in question is a (by his own definition) redneck American.

I remember you saying you were... I consider myself a very hard worker, and absolutely responsible about my job, so don't get me wrong about my work ethic. I just feel like we are crazy for working our lives away like we do.

If you are a salaried employee and you can get your work done early and leave early... Do it!

 

[dan330]

We work in a call center so there is a possibility that if he's not there I have to cover for him. If his customers call in unexpectedly and he's not there, there's the possibility that I have to cover for him. If none of his customers call in then in theory I don't have to cover for him. However, if the phones start ringing and there's less bodies to cover them, then it's more work for those who are here.

salaried: work as needed... 2 way street. Get the job done. in general they work more than the normal 40 hr week. so leaving when you are done and have no important issues to care for, is OK.

but you are in a call center... that has scheduled you at certain hours. so, someone over seeing your area must be given notice of you leaving, so that your calls can be covered.. and your clients can be given an honest explanation of why you are out. Emergencies calls can be routed to your cell.

ducking out only when the boss is missing... 100% not right. they know they should be there.

so... in the OP's situation.
i am voting to side with him

 

[Stuntman]

We work in a call center so there is a possibility that if he's not there I have to cover for him. If his customers call in unexpectedly and he's not there, there's the possibility that I have to cover for him. If none of his customers call in then in theory I don't have to cover for him. However, if the phones start ringing and there's less bodies to cover them, then it's more work for those who are here.

Call centres agents at our company has specific shifts that they have to adhere to. We have a tool that forecasts the expected volume of calls and creates schedules to have adequate coverage for all times throughout the year. If an agent leaves signficantly early, the supervisors will know about it as the tool measures compliance with the schedule.

For certain special holidays (usually New Year'e Eve or Xmas Eve), managers may allow staff to leave early. For my department, on these special days, we usually get a go ahead from a manager that we can leave early. For call centres, they may be scheduled to close earlier than normal on these days.

 

[TurtleRunner]

I'm pretty sure your right OP, but like everything, it's up to the individual to decide if they want to risk it. I say that you do your thing, and let your co workers do their own.

 

[!on]

Depends on your contract, your payment plan, any possibility of not having finished all work, anyone else depending on you, how important your job is, if your company is covertly spying on you when the boss is out, or what plans your colleagues have or some other important issue that requires you to leave early.

Personally I have left early on very quiet times but done so on an individual basis, not all of us at once (that could be seen as a 'walk out'). I don't get paid for not being there, so times like those I'm doing them a favor.

If all of us walk out, even if it is quiet, then effectively we have closed early, & that is only authorized by the big boss! Just like booking paid holidays, we discuss this within our department so our holidays do not clash & keep inconvenience to a minimum.