[blitzar]

> Is this really that unusual?

Extremely.

Lets obviously ignore the large percentage of the workforce that are waiting tables, stacking shelves, have to use a punchcard and have their hours tracked to the nearest minute etc. for whom stepping out for an hour to run an errand probably means they get paid a couple of hours less at best or fired if its done without the permission of their supervisor ...

Professional 'knowledge' workers - there are workplaces where its ok, there are workplaces where you would put your career into reverse at 100mph by not being present from 7am to 8pm for your 9am-5pm job.