[bc-chris]

back in the day when i did construction it was very very clear - you are ready to start work at 7am... if that means you need to get to work 15 minutes early then so be it.

i was the primary forklift operator so i was always at the site around 6:40am, get the machined warmed up and get the tools onto the floor for the guys so they could start work at 7.

everyone worked until 4:50pm and then would put their tools back and be done by 5pm. i had to stick around to ensure all tools were returned/put away and do a final walk thru of the building - so i was usually done sometime between 5:15- 5:20. i got an extra 1/2 hour pay - so i was all good with that.

i guess the main thing my employer stressed was you come to work to WORK - not sit around and bs.

now that i own my own business i totally 'get' where my old boss was coming from. the nice thing for me is the guys that i employ get paid by the piece - so if they aren't working they aren't making $$

oh - and with the age thing - i don't think it's a generation thing. i find that people are the way they are. i know people that no matter what time they need to be somewhere they are ALWAYS late and others that are ALWAYS early - it's just them