Company's Cruel Late & Sick Policies Backfire, Bosses Cry About It

On top of squeezing every last drop of value out of workers' labor, huge faceless corporations are always finding clever ways to scam their employees out of wages using exploitative work policies. Redditor u/Alternative_Hunter34 hopped on to r/antiwork to tell the internet about how their company's late and sick policies ended up biting them in the ass due to some deliciously malicious compliance. 

Basically, OP's employer imposed a new late policy that meant you'd lose a whole hour of pay the moment you clocked-in late. Instead of more employees showing up on-time, late-comers started showing up a whole 55 minutes late. The bosses were baffled, but it's pretty simple—if you already know you're not going to make it on time, why would you come in five minutes late to then essentially work for free? Might as well grab a coffee and take your sweet time. OP's employer's sick leave policy was equally as illogical. Keep scrolling to see the whole post and highlights from the comment section. 

Author image for Mel Dawn Mel Dawn
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  • 01

    OP explains how their employer's unfair policies totally backfired

    Font - We'll do the late policy first. We have to clock in at a machine, and in the past, the rule was that if you were late, you'd lose money in 15-minute blocks until you clocked in. Management started crying because suddenly no one who was late was late by less than 10 minutes (generally stopping to grab a drink or have a cigarette on the way in, because they've already lost the pay right?) And decided to take action! Now you late... I don't know anyone who has been late by less than 55 minut
    via u/Alternative_Hunter34
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  • 02
    Font - Whole focus group happened, and people pointed out that heavy-handed policies invite exploitation, we asked how they expected people to (who for whatever reason, were running late that day) work for no pay and they just shrugged. In the end, anyone who knows they're going to be late for work now knows to just slow down and relax, grab a coffee, and stop at a shop. No rush. Well done Management! Now, onto absence.
    via u/Alternative_Hunter34
  • 03
    Font - Absence was a fairly big issue a few years ago, and they didn't like it. Action time! On top of a 2 day no sick pay rule, they now have a no excuses disciplinary policy. 2 days off, and you get a disciplinary. Standard chain of disciplinaries that leads up to you getting sacked... The problem is... Now, if I get sick, and l'm off for 2 days, I might as well make the most of it.
    via u/Alternative_Hunter34
  • 04
    Font - I'm in no more trouble for being off longer; there's no maximum time. Whether it's 3 days or 18 months, I come back and get a stage 1 disciplinary. So l've done my 2 days unpaid. I'm now getting my sick pay; it's been a while since the last holiday, and there's a long slog to the next one... How much time can I afford to have off? Again, focus group, heavy-handed policies invite exploitation, shrugs. If you're going to beat us for minor infractions, which sometimes can't be helped, we're
    via u/Alternative_Hunter34
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  • 05
    Font - Overall, the company noticed a trend of 10-15 minute lateness and 2-4 day absences which they didn't like. After having brought in new policies to combat this, the company now has a trend of 45-55 minute lateness and 1-2 week absences. Further policy changes are being discussed. I can't wait for the results of that...
    via u/Alternative_Hunter34
  • 06

    Redditors replied with similar experiences

    Font - Frymanstbf · 3d I used to work for one of the big cell phone providers in customer service. The late policy was that if you signed on more than five minutes late, your first hour became an hour of vacation time, or if you didn't have any left, an hour unpaid. Once you were late, your schedule updated to show that first hour was either vacation or unpaid time off. I didn't realize exactly how it worked at first and then when paycheck time came, I couldn't figure out why I didn't have an ex
    via r/antiwork
  • 07

    Wait, isn't this illegal?

    Font - tiredhealthcareboi • 3d Depending on your country, this is a form of wage theft and absolutely not legal or allowable. People on hourly are paid from the second they engage in work related activities not when the company decides. Report this to whatever your labour relations department is. Chances are this will have officials swarming over the company. 5 Reply 1 6.7k 3 +
    via r/antiwork

    One Redditor pointed out that OP's company might have been engaging in wage theft. Using a late or sick policy as a tool to withhold wages is some next-level shady business that feels pretty illegal. 

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  • 08

    OP is from the UK

    Font - Alternative_Hunter34 OP · 3d UK company and unfortunately entirely legal. The company is very large, operates globally, and has these things locked down pretty tightly. It's been argued before in courts when individuals have been sacked for continued lateness, absence, etc. Always in the companies favour unless they do something explicitly underhanded. + 2.9k
    via r/antiwork

    OP explained that they're from the UK, where work policies are usually in the employer's favor.

    "If UK," u/LordBlackletter chimed in, "then your average hourly wage has to be over the legal minimum wage. If they are docking a hour pay for 5 minutes late then (depending on your payrate) you might not be hitting that."

    In response to this, OP said, "We are over the minimum by a significant degree, which is the main reason we all still work there. Wages aren't the problem, just the hoops we have to jump through, and shit we have to put up with in order to get them."

  • 09
    Font - Harrison_w1fe · 3d This is what happens when you try to control people. Honestly this is how humans work. As someone who has 2 kids, if you try and make a stifling rule, humans will do everything they can to get around it. G Reply 1 1.1k 3 +
    via r/antiwork
  • 10
    Font - Ar_phis · 3d 3 Awards we're going to make our infraction worth the punishment I love that sentence 6 Reply 1 11.6k 3 +
    via r/antiwork

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Tags

sick policy jobs malicious compliance bosses relatable work anti work unfair Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit late policy
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