How to Leave Work on Time Even If You Feel Under Pressure to Stay Late

The rise in flexible working keeps happening. More and more people are becoming entitled to request this and are building their working lives around family and other commitments. But what if you're not one of these people, and you need to work full-time in an office? If you still want to have a life outside of work and not feel like you're selling your soul, there's a good chance you feel the pressure that comes from a culture of "presenteeism" (which is still widespread). You know what I mean. You've done your work but you're still expected to stay late, and you get subject to criticism or peer pressure if you don't. Here are some tips to help if you still want to see your partner and children in the evenings.1 Make Sure Your Most Important Pieces of Work are DoneOne of the key skills of effective working is to understand what you're fundamentally being employed to do, and to make sure it gets done. Often, people end up spending time doing things that are not central to their personal objectives or those of their employer. It's very important to get an understanding of this, because if you deliver on these tasks, then you're well on your way to showing that you're doing a good job2 If You Don't Have Enough Time, Say SoSome people manage to do this whilst others struggle. They seem to believe that no matter how little time they have, they should be doing everything they're asked to do. You may have a task that takes a whole day to complete, and yet you still think it's OK to say yes when you're asked to do it in two hours.


Remember - if you feel something will take too long or can't be done quickly, then say so. It doesn't mean you're being slow or lazy.3 Don't Let People Dump on YouIf you're prone to letting people do this, then stop right now. All it takes is to say no - and then stand your ground when people object. You can bet that the person who's harassing you will push back when they're asked to do something they don't want to do. So why shouldn't you? Keep that thought in your mind if this is something you struggle with.4 When It's Time to Leave, Just GoThis is the hardest part. You know you've done a good day's work, it's the end of the day, but everyone around you is still at their desks and showing no sign of packing up. You need to have the strength of your convictions, have the courage, and just get up and go. It's hard, I know, but once you've done it, you'll find that you gain the confidence to do it over and over again.5 Just take a standAnd when the inevitable negative feedback comes, then have your defence ready and state your case. Remember, it's other people's problem if they can't stand up to unreasonable bosses, not yours. Make sure you're doing a good job, and remember, no matter how much a boss pushes you, the people in your life outside of work need you too!