I made the jump from an hourly job to an exempt job at the same company at the beginning of the year, and I don't know this this is normal behavior. We are scheduled to work 8 hours a day, but the 2 people in my immediate department work 9-10 consistently, with no lunch (literally, they usually eat during meetings and don't take the time we are entitled to). They will frequently try to have “check ins” half an hour before it's time for us to leave, which last way beyond our schedules hours. We obviously don't get paid for overtime, and I've gotten some side eye when I go OK 5:00 let's pack up! My supervisor never turns off her work phone, and is answering emails from 5am-12am every single day. It never ends.
I have confirmed with others in our position at my organization that they do not have the same strange need to be at work all the time.
1. Is this normal for exempt positions? I know it's supposed to “even out in the end”, but I'm never getting that time back
2. What's a polite way of leaving after my work/day is done? I'm already doing more than is expected and I just want to split at the end of the day and see my family.
Thanks for any advice.