Is it acceptable to leave a meeting early if it runs overtime (assuming it isn't urgent)?

Question

There are some managers in my office who are notorious for holding meetings that go overtime. I understand that it is not possible to predict the length of the meeting down to the minute, but neither could the other meeting participants. If you schedule a meeting for an hour, the attendees will likely plan accordingly. If the meeting ends up taking 90 minutes, that screws up everyone's schedule. Some people may be able to accommodate that, but others will likely not.

Many managers notorious for meetings that run long are also known for making it sound like they are ready to end the meeting, but it ends up lasting another 30+ minutes. Thus, even if you do need to leave soon, you feel like "he's almost done, I might as well stay."

Thus, I am wondering if I just set a hard end for myself at the time the meeting ends at. If the meeting says 1-2 PM, I will leave at 2 PM, and I will not stay one minute later unless the meeting is urgent, or unless it is a very slow day. No matter how close the end seems like it is, you can never tell. And if I do end up walking out right before the end, then I didn't miss much! If the meeting leader wants everyone there till it ends, shouldn't they schedule a longer meeting? It's better to get out earlier than expected than to get out later than expected.

Of course if there is a deadline looming, or if the meeting is otherwise urgent, then of course I would not walk out at the end of the scheduled time.

Answer 1

Good question.



Rather than staying later than expected or leaving a meeting when it should be over, try to eliminate the guess work.



If you have an issue with something, it is best to isolate the problem and then make a suggestion for a solution. This is a productive way to work efficiently and set expectations.



Before the meeting even begins, state that you understand this meeting is set for one hour and that one hour is all the time you have scheduled for this meeting. Then, ask if there is anything that pertains directly to your job, to be addressed as you do not want to miss anything after the hour is up when you must move on to other work.



That is what I would do.



Or, enlist a co worker to help you out: When the meeting begins, state that you only have an hour before you need to do other work. Then, ask Mr Co Worker if he could let you know about any information you miss after 2pm when you leave.



Setting a 60 minute meeting that ends up being 90 minutes, time and time again is ridiculous. Either the powers that be need to wrap things up in one hour or call a 90 minute meeting from the start.

Answer 2

90% of management meetings are unproductive. The other 10% are likely too long in producing anything near productive. You might like to inform your management team that as part of that team, it is your responsibility to bring this to their attention and then they should all review the purpose of meetings, the desired outcome and then keep strictly to the agenda for achieving the end result. The chairman should control the meeting, not the boss or whoever called it. So if 12 managers attend a meeting for 1. 5 hours, that's 18 hours of management salary taken to produce a result that might have been achieved within a short and sharp 30 minute meeting, or by video link. Do your own sums, but the percentages are based on common mismanagement of time and money.

Answer 3

Yes, I did it all the time. You say something like I've got another meeting or some kind of conflict and ask one of your co-workers to touch base on anything important that you might miss.

Where I worked a few of the managers or directors often got chatty and off base, we all knew who they were, and so we sometimes had our own countermeasures......like page me, buzz me, at 2:00pm so I can escape from blabbermouth. You've got to be careful/thoughtful though.

We even had a campaign at work about reducing meetings, the length of meetings, publishing an agenda beforehand so people could come prepared, and most important strict enforcement by the admins to knock on the door and announce that the next group needed the room. Helped quite a bit.

Answer 4

it is annoying when meetings constantly go over, particularly when you are due to go home. I would say that if you have a good excuse (children), then it is acceptable for you to politely excuse yourself. however if you have no real excuse then I would say try to stay on at least sometimes, because if you don't it will look bad on you. they cannot expect you to stay extended hours all the time. they should manage their time better, but you cant tell them this LOL

Answer 5

If the time-frame around meetings in your workplace is impacting on your responsibilities and overall schedule, it would be beneficial for you to speak with your Manager(s) and share your concerns. Suggest streamlining the meetings and re-setting the meeting boundaries so everyone adheres to the allotted time. Be proactive and get the meeting culture/attitude changed.