How To Work Effectively with Workaholic Bosses

Many people have bosses that are permanently glued to their desk chairs. These bosses are there when you get to work and there when you leave. So how do you ever go home without looking like a slacker? This is quite a challenge. You defintely should not sneak out and hope to avoid an awkward encounter. You should also avoid "faking it" by throwing your over coat on your chair like you just stepped away but you have really left. That could waste colleague's time if they are looking for you. An employee's first priority should be conveying that you are working hard and that you are good at your job. This requires communicating clearly and frequently about your progress and results. If you deliver what the boss needs consistently, then hours should not be a problem. Even if you do not consistently match your boss's long hours every night, it is important to work late during crises or when a major project deadline is looming. Further, extra hours at night may gain more recognition than extra hours at dawn in an empty office. Also it is important to understand what assumptions you are making about what your boss wants. If he is a morning person, he may just work better in the morning hours and not really expect the same from you. Additionally, generational gaps in the work force (often between bosses and their subordinates) exist and "face time" is certainly a phenomena that baby boomers value as opposed to Gen Y'rs who can work on their phones from anywhere on the globe. Nonetheless, great boss/employee relationships are all about setting expectations and finding what works for you both while still getting all your work done.