KEY questions answered by the experts.

Q: I RECENTLY joined a new company and there is a culture of working late. Half the time they surf the net and I’m sure everyone just stays to make it look as though they are putting in extra work.

I’m sure everyone could finish by 5.30pm but I don’t feel as though I can shut my computer down and just leave.

What should I do?

A: PEER pressure means that no one wants to be the first person to leave the office, and people do seem to think that the longer the hours they work, the better their performance will be rated.

But most people would probably much prefer to be able to leave the office on time without feeling guilty.

As you have just joined the company, start as you mean to go on – as long as you have achieved what you needed to do that day, then you should leave on time.

You’ll probably find that the others will thank you for it. Try to look at it this way, if you have to work really long hours to do your job, then maybe this isn’t the right job for you.

Being able to leave on time is a sign of efficiency and being on top of things.

Before you leave at 5.30pm, ask your colleagues who are still there to see if there is anything they need any help with.

That way people will know that you are happy to muck in and help if things are busy.

The bottom line is that staying late in the office just for the sake of it is a waste of your valuable time, and if you do it you’ll only end up resenting your workplace.

JENNY UNGLESS
Life coach, Monster UK