The adventure of getting your first job is often filled with doubts and uncertainties that only seem to disappear with time and experience. That is why people tend to seek advice from those who have been in the workforce the longest. According to them, the best way to impress managers or bosses is to come to work early and leave late. The reason, supposedly, has to do with demonstrating obvious dedication and immediate commitment to the responsibilities of the new job.
However, there are already two experts who have taken a stand against this practice, and they provide arguments that may be useful in your work life.
Don’t stay late or arrive early
These tips, which contradict those of several workers with years of experience, were presented in an interesting article by CNBC. Through various testimonials, it justifies the position that staying late at work will not advance you or be beneficial to your professional development.
Brianna Doe, who participated in the article, confessed that during her first years as a marketing professional, she chose to follow this routine with the intention of impressing her superiors. However, after 10 years in the same position, she decided to go in a different direction.
Her experience of working long hours, stretching herself beyond what was necessary, only led to unnecessary stress and exhaustion. The lack of adequate rest did not compensate for the extra hours she spent in the office. So she decided to put an end to being the first to arrive and the last to leave. Doe asserted that work-life harmony was incompatible with such a routine, calling it an “outdated view of work.”
In his view, mental health needs to be a priority in today’s world, which means setting clear boundaries between work and personal life.
Doe’s position is supported by Stacie Haller, a career counselor with 30 years of experience in the human resources industry. Haller contends that behaviors like staying late are not as common as they once were. In her remarks, she praised Generation Z, which she described as a group of young people who understand that working excessive hours does not guarantee better performance or greater intelligence.
More practical advice
In her role as an educator for workers, Haller made it clear that the most important thing is not to be the first to arrive or the last to leave, but to have clear goals, to know your work team, and to have a mentor you can ask questions of and learn from. According to Haller, these strategies are more effective than working longer hours just to please the employer, a practice that can have negative consequences for the employee.
However, the expert stressed the importance of punctuality, as arriving at work on time reflects seriousness and professionalism. In addition, leaving on time helps to respect the terms of the employment contract and to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
