now i'm punching in and out at work instead of writing down my hours on a timesheet. i've never had to punch in and out before. i consider it a step down. a step up would be straight salaried instead of hourly but punching in and out really is a step down. just think about what kind of jobs do that. the only thing more demeaning is getting food for someone and making coffee. i'm the only one in the office who has to punch in/out 'cos someone in payroll can't be bothered to do the math and add up timesheets so i have to punch the clock. i guess what i find weird is that we even have a punch clock in the office. the good thing is that it's made me get to work earlier. i tend now to get there 20 minutes earlier than what i said my hours would be (it's not really strict which is what i loved about this job) and the clock is 10 minutes behind so i'm there 30 minutes before what i said my hours would be. the downside is that i can't use the bathroom during my lunch break or else i'll punch back in late. lately i've been eating lunch in my car. i pass the restroom as i leave the office and when i come back. instead of just using the restroom on my way back, i have to walk all the way back to the office to punch back in from lunch, then walk back down the hall to use the restroom just to ensure that officially my lunch break doesn't go over. it also means i can't combine the standard 10-15 minute rest breaks everyone is entilted to with lunch. i don't smoke so i never take off from the office for a proper break. my version of a break when i need a stretch is usually just to get up and walk to get some water or use the restroom even though i really don't have to. the days when i did run over the company standard lunch break time of 30 minutes, i would just consider it as dipping into my 10-15 minute rest break. i hate 30 minute lunch breaks because it's impossible to leave to get lunch, eat, and come back within 30 minutes. just walking to the car in the parking lot and back when you return is 10 minutes at least. i could take 60 minutes like i'm used to if i wanted to but then i'd just have to work longer and get out 30 minutes later. i'm getting to like this getting out of work 30 minutes earlier than i am used to...too much so to go back to 60 minute lunch breaks. everything is a give and take.