Does it reflect poorly on me as a leader for leaving work when the work is done, rather than sticking around to chit chat?

2020-10-06T18:11:30-04:00

So, I'm the platoon Sergeant for a Brigade Company S3 shop. I'm the type of person that works to live, not lives to work. So if our work is complete, I will leave at 1700 or whenever we are released. HOWEVER, I notice that some of my troops love to just stick around and chit chat. Like what are they waiting on? Does it reflect poorly on me if I leave? What are your thoughts?

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Oct 6 at 2020 6:16 PM

2020-10-06T18:16:10-04:00

In my last section (when I had soldiers - it's just me and LT in this one) the few times I got to let them go at 1700 (which would be early there), they'd just hang around the office. Or the rare 1630 release. I'm like "Wow you guys complain about working late but then you get to go early and you wanna hang out." Then they rush off.

If they wanna hang out in the parking lot and chit chat, let them. If they're hanging out in the office, I'd tell them to just go home, doesn't matter where they go but they can't stay there.

At this point when someone tells me to go home, I'm out the door. I'm not waiting around for someone to change their mind.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2020 6:25 PM

2020-10-06T18:25:05-04:00

We are salaried, there is no "must stay until 1700". If work is done at 1300 then it's done.
Those who stay forever are why morale is trash, and when CSM sees people hanging around doing nothing they immediately want to fill that time with work. Snake eats tail.
I believe if something new comes down after 1600, then it can wait for the next day (typically).

We expect Soldiers to stay late some days, we should send em home "early" when we can in expectation that it will be made up by late days. It will all even out if the leadership uses that thinking.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Oct 6 at 2020 6:31 PM

2020-10-06T18:31:44-04:00

I was a BN S3 SGM in predeployment train up and deployed to Iraq
I was a DIV SGM for a deployed Region command East Joint TACOP center
I was a DIV G3 SGM
We worked if there was work that NEEDED to be done, but if it was not needed, neither were the staff. as a young BN SGM, my CSM and CDR taught me through personal example..... GO HOME, get, be gone, it will still be here tomorrow and no one needs it tonight.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 6 at 2020 6:55 PM

2020-10-06T18:55:07-04:00

If the work is done and you’ve been released I think you should encourage your Soldiers to go live their lives. Then you go do just that. Sitting around after work is probably the contemporary equivalent of hitting the bar for happy hour that was part of my generation. I usually opted to spend time with my family. You should too. V

Response by SMSgt Robert Anderson made Oct 6 at 2020 7:50 PM

2020-10-06T19:50:55-04:00

I am a retired AF E8. My attitude about allowing subordinates to go home when the work, for the day was over, I would release them for the rest of day. However; if worked piled up on a weekday or a weekend they were more than happy to work overtime. At one of my assignments my OIC, who was a LtCol, had a luncheon for me as I had been reassigned. The LtCol made the comment that after he died and when he came back to the world and joined the AF said that he hoped to work for Sergeant Anderson. That was one of my finest moments in the Air Force and my life.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2020 8:05 PM

2020-10-06T20:05:58-04:00

I don't think it reflects poorly on you if it's after COB, work is done, and they've been formally released. I've been in units where no one wanted to stay a minute longer than absolutely necessary, and I've been in units where guys would hang around talking shop for an hour or more after COB. I know which unit had higher morale and espirit de corps. So it may be a good thing. On the flip side of that, I've also had soldiers hang around after COB because there were problems at home or in the barracks that they were avoiding. Assuming that this isn't the case with your guys and they actually just like talking to each other, maybe suggest they head to the club after COB to chit chat and unwind so that you can close up shop.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 6 at 2020 8:27 PM

2020-10-06T20:27:00-04:00

1. You are paid by the month, not the hour. 2. You're "Business" hours can be up and over 24hrs. 3. Ever think that these might be friends/buddies and either don't want to go to the barracks or maybe have a fight with the wife and don't want to go home? 4. You are an SFC- Once the MSG/NOCIC says the day is done- you do what you want and let them go their own way.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Oct 7 at 2020 8:33 AM

2020-10-07T08:33:10-04:00

They are on their own time. I would just let them be. If you occasionally step into a conversation that wouldn't be the end of the world. But you have transitioned from worker to supervisor. Nobody wants to shoot the breeze with "The Man" hanging about. It's good to have a good repour with your people but you are still looked on as the boss so you can't be in that space as often as they are. You aren't part of that bubble. I wouldn't overthink it.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Oct 7 at 2020 8:38 AM

2020-10-07T08:38:17-04:00

If they were WORKING it would be a different story. Last I checked it was generally frowned upon to fraternize with subordinates.

If you are concerned with security or misuse of equipment and resources (e.g. bandwidth or power), then by all means kick them out and close the shop at COB.

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Oct 7 at 2020 9:22 AM

2020-10-07T09:22:30-04:00

If the work isn't urgent/ life threatening go home. You had a family before the Army and you will have one after -- the work will be there in the AM. Set the example for your Joes

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2020 12:33 PM

2020-10-07T12:33:17-04:00

If they want to hang out and shoot the scheisse after work hours, then that's on them. I don't see it reflecting badly on you. There have been days where I stuck around, and other days I didn't.

Response by SGT Robert Wager made Oct 8 at 2020 1:10 PM

2020-10-08T13:10:56-04:00

If you release them for the day, you are the last one out the door. Tell them they don’t have to go home but they have to get out of the office. Lock the door on your way out.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2020 1:40 PM

2020-10-08T13:40:47-04:00

As a leader, my only rules for myself were "Do more than my people." That meant making sure I was at work before they were - and leaving after they did - even if it was only by a minute.

As long as the work is being completed to standard (or above) and you aren't sliding past your folks as you leave while they continue to work, then in my opinion, you're golden!

Response by MSgt Nathan Krawitz made Oct 8 at 2020 2:33 PM

2020-10-08T14:33:40-04:00

"We do more before 7 AM than most people do all day." Sound familiar? Then why the insistance on such a long workday?

Most military bases start letting folks go around 1530 because that's you end of day. If you have a 1700 end of shift, you started later in the day, you have a compressed work week, or someone just wants it that way.

Deployed life for many individuals is arduous and doesn't come close to a 40-hour work week. At home, shorter work days and more overall free time off should be used to balance this. Of there's only 20 to 30 hours of work and training available, then go home. You impress nobody if you or your troops are staying longer doing nothing or just doing busy work. Jobs tend to get built-in waste, or, work expands to fill the time alloted for it. You can keep everyone doing tasks that take a few hours, or reward them for doing the job efficiently and correctly buy letting them go home when done right.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2020 8:43 AM

2020-10-09T08:43:31-04:00

If they’re socializing (chit-chat), and they’re your troops, maybe you hang out with them for a little while and get to know them and let them get to know you. A lot of Soldiers make statements such as “my leadership doesn’t care about me.” That may not be the truth, but it’s a perception. Spending a few minutes with Soldiers goes a long way in building trust within teams. Just my thoughts. Hooaah!

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2020 12:15 PM

2020-10-11T12:15:25-04:00

If there is nothing going on there is no reason to be there in my opinion. Also, I refuse to answer my phone when off unless it’s actually important. I give 100 percent when I am at work so my family deserves 100 percent when I’m home.

Response by SPC Carmen H Ramirez made Oct 12 at 2020 11:51 PM

2020-10-12T23:51:08-04:00

I don't think so.