How do I tell her I’m annoyed?

QI have a small business. I recently appointed a new member of staff who is good and works hard but invariably leaves at 4.45pm, which is a quarter of an hour early. I don’t want

to lose her but she’s paid to work until 5pm. I’m not sure how to approach this. Pat, Reading

AI think it’s worth thinking about a few things before you raise this topic with her. Is there work that needs to be done but which isn’t because this employee leaves early? Is she leaving others to carry out the work? Does she skimp on lunch breaks and not take the legally required minimum 20 minutes? If the answer to any of these is yes, then you have your reason to talk to her. But if she does what’s required and it has no effect on anyone else, it may not be worth raising. And have you asked, for instance, why the extra quarter of an hour is important to her? Or noted, perhaps, whether she’s coming in early to make up the time? Look at the whole picture, as a little flexibility never goes amiss.