Best Buy gets it. And stop watching the clock

By Ryan Healy

College taught me the true meaning of independence. I attended classes when I chose, I studied at my convenience, I partied at my leisure and I relaxed when I needed to relax. You would assume that since I am now an "adult," I would at least have this same sense of independence in the corporate world. But working in this antiquated "count-the-hours" corporate structure, I am controlled and monitored more than I was by my parents in high school.

"I'm going to leave at 3:00 pm today, my wife is out of town and I need to pick my kid up at school or he will miss baseball practice." This is just one example of the countless excuses to leave early that I have heard from my superiors.

Why do my managers and superiors feel a need to explain their need to leave early to me? I don't care! Leave early if you have to. You have a life! I have a life! Work is just a part of life! I don't need to know if your kid is sick or if you have a doctors appointment. We are all grown ups here…I trust you.

I can't blame my coworkers for this. I find myself coming up with ridiculous reasons for leaving a little early as well. We work in a corporate culture that believes more time equals more productivity and the people who work the most hours are the ones "going the extra mile."

Read the rest at the Brazen Careerist…