'Early is on time, on time is late': Boss accuses employee of being the 'queen of tardiness,' employee stands her ground

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Aug 21, 2023 8:00 AM EDT

Bosses who are annoying about promptness should be focusing their attention on far more pressing matters. Whatever happened to focusing on their own tasks and responsibilities? Whatever happened to ensuring that the employees on their team are supported and fulfilled (well, as fulfilled as they can be given the circumstances of work)? Whatever happened to minding their own dang business? In work-related matters such as this, we often go back to our mantra that if the work gets done and gets done well, there shouldn't be any objection.

 

As far as this employee goes, she was also more than prompt! Her shift began at 9:30am, and she often arrived between 9:20-9:24, which is more than enough time. However, she has one of those horrible bosses who believes that "early is on time" and "on time is late." Is there anything more old-school and more eye-roll-inducing than that mentality? The employee shared her story via this thread on Reddit and also shared that their boss is lucky considering that he lives in the same building as the company's offices. He doesn't have to deal with the same commute that she does! Furthermore, he clearly is just feeling insecure and unnecessarily wants to assert his power. He may be a big boss, but he is a small man.

 

Keep scrolling below to see how the employee responded to her boss's critiques and to see how folks reacted in the comments section. When you're finished, feel free to check out this post about a boss's girlfriend who told employees how to do their jobs.

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  • 01
    Font - #1 "Was I the Queen of Tardiness?"
    via Jason Leung
  • 02
    Font - Was I the queen of tardiness this whole time?? Boss asks - more like reprimanded - me to come 15-30 minutes early for work. From the very beginning (I'm talking about for more than 5 years), my clock starts at 9:30 am. He outta nowhere raised his voice at me today, asking me to come earlier. He claims that I always come at 9:30 am sharp when that is no way in true, tf. My average arrival time at work is 9:20-9:24, and I'm not even exaggerating on this.
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 03
    Font - Our office is not a place where people have workloads the moment they get in. Our office is, in fact, a place where you only do real tasks 1-2hrs a day. Most of the time, I am idle. While it is true that he is always early, that's because he lives literally in the same bldg! I travel by train for 20 minutes - not that I am trying to justify my tardiness
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 04
    Font - EDIT: Holy cow, I didn't expect this to blow up. Just to clarify the post cuz some people are confused; my shift starts at 9:30am-5:30pm. I am a salaried employee, never paid OTS and such. We're a small business, my co-workers are assigned in the warehouse while I, in the main office with my boss where the office is located in the same bldg he lives in.
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 05
    Font - The title was purely sarcastic. That is because my old boss thinks that Early is on time, on time is late, and he genuinely thinks I come in at 9:30am. I'm kinda tired of proving it to him that that's not true.
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 06
    Font - We do not have a clock card machine or punch clock, we just have to show up HONESTLY before 9:30 for years - CCTV will have to vouch for us if he makes a scene, alas it was the first time today he acted up it was weird.
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 07
    Font - I straight up told him when my shift ended that I cannot come earlier because of my train schedules and he was just silent. Guess silence means okay? Thanks everyone for the interesting comments, I've learned something today.
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 08
    Font - vuurzwam 1 day ago Is he planning to pay you for the extra time? Or can you leave earlier at the end? 5.0k Reply Share
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 09
    Font - Apprehensive_East147 OP 23 hr. ago Am here just to see th... No and no 2.7k Reply Share
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 10
    Font - acidveggies 23 hr. ago Then with all due disrespect, he can himself. go 4.7k Reply Share
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 11
    Font - suddenlysilver. 23 hr. ago I appreciate your professionalism in this matter 1.5k Reply Share
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 12
    Font - techramblings 23 hr. ago You are under no obligation to arrive early just to assuage his ego. If you are scheduled to start at 9:30, then 9:30 is when you start, no earlier. Likewise, if you are scheduled to leave at 5:30, then that's when you leave. Also, raising your voice at an employee is unprofessional. If he has a grievance with you, he should address it in a respectful manner like an adult. 1.5k Reply Share
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 13
    Font - 49 Buster69er 23 hr. ago My job wants us to clock in 15 minutes early unpaid. If you clock in 645am you dont get paid till 7am. I clock in at 655am. If they every say any bs to me ill ask them, can i clock out at 315pm and you pay me as if i worked till 330pm? 687 Reply Share
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 14
    Font - Aeroknightg2 This is wage theft. Document it and email the NLRB. 22 hr. ago 643 Reply Share
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 15
    Font - 15 BAM Beatlemaniac614. 23 hr. ago Get it documented on paper/email/text that he required you to come in earlier, and start clocking in at that new time. Wait for the chaos. 237 Reply Share
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 16
    Font - ggm3bow 23 hr. ago Your Boss is one of those baffoons that was fed the "hustle" all of it and licked their fingers thinking they are some type of elite employee by bending over for companies and corporations that would drop them like a fly in a second. They'll stick to this skewed mentality even as their home and and ate workplace fall apart around them. 200 Reply Share
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 17
    Font - DragonflyWide5234 23 hr. ago He wants a show of submission, via unpaid time at desk. He is probably insecure. 187 187 Reply Share
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 18
    Font - wasbee56 22 hr. ago nope, companies get what they pay for, it's not a charity deal. works both ways. if you're there at the start of your shift, you're on time. if there are tasks that need to be done earlier, then they need to adjust your schedule and PAY you for the time. jeez give some people a little power and their weirdness comes right to the surface.
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 19
    Font - HeCalledWithQTHunny 21 hr. ago the correct response is "so what time do you want me to clock in" If his answer is 9:30 then you then you tell him, "that's when I will be here"
    via u/Apprehensive_East147
  • 20
    Font - servantoftinyhumans. 22 hr. ago My boss tried this, I started claiming it as lieu hours as I'm entitled to do by law, he freaked out and placed a whole of restrictions on lieu hours, now I come in 3-5 minutes before I start work and leave the minute I'm done.
    via u/Apprehensive_East147

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boss workplace-stories employee work stories toxic-workplace work toxic-boss Horrible Bosses reddit thread late Reddit toxic-work-environment
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