I'm leaving work at 5:30!
By Business Chicks | Jun 04, 12 01:54 PMIf Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg can - why can't you?
I think there’s still a feeling from some, that finishing your workday on the buzzer, or say any time before 8pm is a sign of laziness and show’s you’re not committed. We who race out the door at 5:30pm have convinced ourselves that all the ‘hard workers’ still slaving away at their desks are talking about us as soon as we hop, skip and jump out that door.
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg is familiar with that feeling. Sandberg has openly admitted that although she’s left the office by 5:30pm since she had kids, she was embarrassed and to make up for ducking out at 5:30pm, would send emails to colleagues late at night and early in the morning as proof that she was still giving her all to work. “I was showing everyone I worked for that I worked just as hard. I was getting up earlier to make sure they saw my emails at 5:30, staying up later to make sure they saw my emails late. But now I’m much more confident in where I am and so I’m able to say, ‘Hey! I am leaving work at 5:30.’ And I say it very publicly, both internally and externally” she says.
It seems that there are still plenty of work environments that judge work ethic by the number of hours spent in the office, however you should never feel ashamed to head home before it’s dark to spend time with your family, partner or just check in with yourself. It makes sense … the happier you are in your life, the more productive you’ll be at work. It makes perfect business sense to ensure you’re out that door close to 5:30pm.
Watch the video to the right to hear Sandberg's opinion.
It will take a whole army of people like Dheryl to gamechange, what I can say from research in Oz is this as fact for AUS women: if the women leaders in the biz have kids and act like a bloke never going home, OR exhibit Wonder Woman syndrome and have the luxury of the nany they can afford, then that sets the bar; that often, a aprt time women gets tricked into a part time job being a way to combine being a Mother and a Worked. That any 4 day per week role is really just fulltime on 20% less pay; taht if you want to WORK part time, then do not work more than THREE days per week. Only THEN will you see a reduction in your output; 4 days, and the expectation will really be therethat you deliver. That one day off? It's kind of tokenism. i have thousands of hours spent talking to women, all over Australia and globally, so these are facts for the MAJORITY but I always love the counter example, soI'd love to hear people who make a 4 day role give them the one day off they need, without feeling frustrated. Part time working women - so usually, Mums, also engage LESS in water cooler conversations and time wasting (social media personal daychecks on worktime, anyone...;-)) - than their carefree childless counterparts, because they're feeling more grateful for the job and want to get through stuff so they can leave KNOWING they have not time wasted. THAT time UNWASTED goes unrecognised, too!Reply
I have another problem which is doing something that I love to do ... and it is my own business. So sometimes I have to remind myself that although I do work hard, I also need a break to spend time with my husband and three children. I just want to show my husband that he is right to have so much faith in me! But it all makes sense, if you are grounded in your personal life, you then get bring all that positive energy during your working day.Reply
Great article. I know plenty of women, myself included, who feel guilty for leaving work even at 3:30pm to pick-up and spend time with kids. Having said that I'm firmly of the belief that we need to get out of the mindset that full-time hours or long work hours means greater productivity! Those who know they have to get a set about of work done in a shorter time are often far more productive, more focused, clearer on what needs to be done, and intolerant of time-wasting! Thanks for shining light on this important reminder!Reply
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