Working hours: 830am - 6pm versus 930am - 7pm. Is there a difference?

Well, logically, there isn't. It's still the same number of hours. But realistically, it's a huge difference.

Firstly, it takes discipline to come in on time. It takes discipline to wake up on time, to leave your house on time, and to enjoy the rush hour squeeze in the MRT. It is all too easy to wake up late and avoid the peak hour jam. And arrive in office an hour later.

Secondly, people generally only notice what time you leave. Compare someone who makes the effort to come in by 8am but leaves at 6pm - to someone who arrives at 10am and leaves at 7pm. Chances are that people will think that the person who left at 7pm is more hardworking compared to the other that leaves on the dot, even though the former made the effort to come in early and actually clocked one hour more.

Thirdly, one hour of 'work interaction' is gone for the latecomer. From 9am to 10am, what if another colleague had to ask the latecomer something urgently? Basically, work involving the latecomer has to be put on hold for that hour until he or she comes in. Conversely, the earlycomer gets to enjoy one hour of undisturbed productivity.

Lastly, claiming for transport home is obviously unfair. If employees can only claim for their cab fares home if they work beyond 930pm, the latecomer has a big advantage - basically, by the amount of time he came late to office in the morning. Because this is the amount of time he is working less to qualify for this allowance. 

So, remember to give early birds the recognition they deserve. And come to office early.