They are always on thin ice. Everytime I'm minutely annoyed I think “man time to start job hunting” because USUALLY, a small annoyance is followed up with inexcusable treatment on part of the employer.
I get to work early by about 20 minutes because I have severe car anxiety and always leave early because I am that person you pass every morning. I also eat at my desk and while eating I'll typically answer emails or work anything pressing that comes in.
So despite the 45 or so minutes of unbilled labor. I just got reprimanded for leaving work 15 minutes early.
First thought, one hope you liked that free labor cuz it's gone, second. I'm out at the next slight inconvenience.
Seriously I do not care about company culture or how good a rapport I have with a manager/team – you are all on thin ice to me. I know my worth and I know that it's far easier for me to get a new job than for you to replace me. Like I know I'm in a very privileged position because my work is a very confusing set of skills and that gives me a job security that not everyone can utilize – but regardless hiring and training a new employee is way more work than being the new employee!!
For context I do payroll for a conglomeration of marketing and advertising agencies (they do Superbowl level advertising) and I'm in charge of payroll and leave benefits for a specific set of agencies. But these agencies are across various states in the United States who gave different laws and regulations regarding both payroll and leave benefits – but I also do payroll for Canadian agencies across various provinces!!! Not only is finding someone will payroll experience hard, try finding someone with that type of experience PLUS leave management experience because that's usually HRs job.
I apologize to all my anti-work fellows for being that guy working extra, I made the unfortunate mistake of thinking 45 minutes was more than 15.