Working Late vs Coming to work Early?

Question

Why is it that working late is perceived as being better than coming in to work early when the amount of extra work time is the same? It seems as if working early would be better because your mind is fresh and not worn out or stressed out because you will be late for dinner or some other activity after work.

Answer 1

Working late is perceived as better because customers tend not to work early either and companies want people to be available to respond.  Also, if everyone else works a later schedule, then working early limits the time the majority of people can collaborate.  As for being fresh, everyone start off the same (fresh and not worn out) so that is no advantage or disadvantage.  (Someone coming in at 9 will have worked the same at 9 as someone coming in at 7 will have worked at 7 - no time at all and steadily down form there for both.  Also, one could argue that coming in late gives you more time for sleep and would make you fresher).

As for the stress, folks who come in late probably don't have that stress, or else they would come in early.

If you work on the east coast and have west coast operations or customers, coming in later would be perceived as better so you could coordinate with the folks three hours behind better.

Lastly, coming in later may only be perceived at your place of business if the boss is one of those folks who come in later and work late.  If you had a boss who came in early and left early, that would probably be the perceived better shift.

None of this is to say that one is inherently better than the other - it is a matter of personal preference.

Answer 2

id rather work late

if i had to go in early my mind wouldnt be fresh because in a morning i am not good

its everyones personal choice really

Answer 3

Because if you work late it is perceived as you are working until its done. whereas if you come in early you are only an houre early.

i think that makes enough sense for you to see what i mean.

i agree with you though, i'm in early and out like a shot.

Answer 4

I would rather start work early so that I could spend precious time in the early evening going for a jog.

Answer 5

well I guess since more people are late than early so maybe people may just see you working when you work late...lol

Answer 6

If you are talking about a position that doesn't involve having direct interaction with co-workers and you have specific job projects to accomplish by deadlines, then it shouldn't matter, but the confounding variables include whether you are paid wages as opposed to salary & what is your position in the company.

If you come in early, do you clock in and go to work right away?  With that Capricorn moon, I am sure you do, but  If your supervisor is not there to witness the early arrival, and you do not have trust established with him, then your word and productivity during that period of time is suspicious.  If the boss is a controlling person, this creates discomfort for him because there is a feeling of being out-of-control.  So even though arriving early, leaving on time may be the same amount of work or even better quality work then the arriving on-time, leaving late; it may not be perceived in the spirit of a cooperative attitiude.  

I apologize if I have crossed a line here by personalizing my answer.   However, from previous questions you have posted, I am making some assumptions about your work situation.

Answer 7

even though the mind is fresher in the morning...  to some people, myself included, getting up early in the morning is absolute torture.  

Answer 8

I prefer to work early actually, because working late is clean up time at Tjmaxx, haha, I like to get a head start and not come home at like 11pm

Answer 9

I would defiantly rather go to work early!!!  You have more down time and time for yourself when you get off earlier in the day.  Most people don't want to work early b/c they don't want to wake in the early am but you get used to and enjoy having more of your evenings free.

Answer 10

To be honest, I never heard any argument like this...

Answer 11

I'm a morning person so I would rather go in early if I have to go in at all.  I think that people work late so that others can remind them that they worked late because there are usually more people in the work place later as compared to earlier.  Working late can be an ego stroker for some people.

Answer 12

With my schedule, I come in from 8-5 M-T and 7-4 on Fridays.  I actually enjoy my Fridays more, despite having to wake up with the moon still glowing through my window.  I feel more alert when I get to work, which is also a very quiet time of the day.  And the added perk of getting out a little early to still have time to do the things you want or need to do after work such as heading to the gym, doing your grocery shopping, getting dinner ready, or just going home to relax.  I would much rather come to work early than stay later in the evening.  Staying later in the evening doesn't give you much time to escape from work when you get home before heading to bed and starting your day again the following morning.  You need the time to shower off the day and enjoy some time to yourself so you don't find work consuming your life. :)

Answer 13

That's how my company is.  It's a young company so everyone still sleeps in til 2PM on the weekends.  Personally, I like being up at dawn because I feel like I get more done in the morning than at night.  

I think it's perceived differently because so few people want to wake up early that nobody really sees you in there working so it doesn't seem like you're putting in all the extra time.  If you stay late on the other hand, everyone is already here and sees you staying late.  It's wrong, but that's my view.

I wish I could work 4 ten hour days personally and take a three day weekend!

Answer 14

i didn't know coming in early wasn't perceived as well, at my company you can come in early or stay late, all they care about is your work being done!  

Answer 15

because it sounds better but it really isn't working late sounds like your really dedicated to your job but getting to work early i guess makes you seem to eager