I [M28] work at what I consider to be my dream job. I am in an upper-middle management position and I usually feel confident and empowered in my decision making. I run a team of three assistants and about a dozen people under them.
My boss and I have a positive relationship, and they helped me rise the ranks to get to my position. They tend to be hands off because they operate several other groups similar to mine. They have always championed methods like “give and take” and “one hand washed the other” when it comes to employees going above and beyond or needing to be cut some slack.
However today I mentioned one of my Exempt (meaning no $ for working overtime) employees who was going home a half hour early since they stayed a half hour later earlier that week. This is part of a culture I have created because I don’t believe in working for free, and our workplace environment has some flexibility in which there is usually redundant coverage when employees would come in later or leave earlier.
My boss chewed me out after hearing about someone leaving early. “We have to stop letting that happen.” “This isn’t some come-and-go job.” “Exempt people need to stay and work until the work gets done.”
What happened to “One hand washes the other?”
Being in middle management, I am used to getting scolded by superiors as well as disappointed by subordinates. However, this incident just frustrates me. If I’m okay with not forcing my salaried employees to work overtime for no additional pay, then that shouldn’t be an issue. I can’t rant to any of my colleagues or coworkers about this, so I thought I’d get it off my chest here. Thanks for reading everyone.
TL;DR: My Boss gave me shit for letting a salaried employee leave early because they stayed late earlier this week, and I’m pissed off.