be there at 9 to clock in, and do as much work in the required time you must be there so that you don't feel ripped off.

I'm fortunate that I don't need to worry about this. In my old job, I have to be at the workplace within some interval [8:30-9:00 AM]. If I was late I would be fined. My current job isn't as exacting as my last one. I just come and go whenever I please. They let me do that because they know that I'm not irresponsible about my job ...

Neither .You should be ready to work, for 9am.

If you're walking in at 9am, you're late and deserve to be bitched out.

Whatever happens first! ;)))

Beginning the work day.

It would be nice if commute was taken into consideration.

I don't know about other people, but I usually start actively working as I get to my place of work.

The latter, I want to be the Best Employee™

If your job is to crank out 30 widgets and you crank out 30 widgets, fussing over 9:00 versus 9:03 is needless micromanaging