Unreasonable Manager Demands Employee Call Her When They Leave Their House And Show Up To Work 10 Minutes Early

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Sep 14, 2023 8:00 PM EDT

There's something to be said for arriving places early. If you leave early, you're much less likely to be late; imagine that! Life is less stressful when you've got your eyes on the clock before you leave your house, and you're not running ten minutes late to everything. 

That being said, I disagree with the mantra that if you're early, you're on time; if you're on time, you're late, and if you're late, don't even bother showing up. It should be perfectly acceptable for someone to show up exactly when they're supposed to without being super early. If you want someone to arrive at 6:45, don't tell them to meet there at 7. One employee took to Reddit because their manager expects them to show up to work ten minutes early to cover for her. She has a second job and doesn't want to be late, but she's taking this "show up early" demand way too far. 

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  • 01
    Font - r/antiwork u/drdolots0 10h ● Boss expects me to text her when I leave my house
    via u/drdolots0
  • 02
    Font - My boss has repeatedly tried to get me to come in 10 minutes before the start of my shift so she won't be late for her other job. At first she demanded I do so (until I spoke with her boss lol). She dropped it for about a month. Last night before I came in (7 minutes before the start of my shift, exactly) she called me 5 times back to back. When I came in she asked me to text her before I leave the house from now on "if you're going to be late." I corrected her and let her know that I was
    via u/drdolots0
  • 03
    Font - too happy with my refusal lol. I'm literally never late, I usually arrive a few minutes early. I just don't see myself continuing to do so if she's going to harass me when I don't do her bidding immediately lol. It's so frustrating being told I'm doing something wrong and not being courteous. I'd say calling me 5 times in a row when I'm driving on the interstate and trying to keep an eye out for my exit is discourteous but WHATEVER.
    via u/drdolots0
  • 04
    Font - Toolatrecrew • 9h "So you want me to start my workday by texting someone at work? So you will start paying me when you receive my text? If I text you when. I leave at 8 to arrive at 8:50 you start paying me at 8 right?" Reply 1.6k ...
    via u/Toolatrecrew
  • 05
    Font - drdolots0 OP. 9h That's what I don't think she gets. Like that is work, we are not friends. You're my boss. Requesting this and framing it as a "favor" to her was so gross imo. She also tried to get everyone to help her move out of her apartment by saying it was a moving party. No one showed up. Free labor and a nice little power imbalance is her cup of tea. 41.3k ...
    via u/drdolots0
  • 06
    Font - Common-Ad6470 . 9h Sounds like she has 'power' issues, i.e. thinks she has some but infact has none. 4438
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  • 07
    Font - drdolots0 OP. 8h That's the vibe I get too tbh, thanks for listening to the vent! 261
    via u/drdolots0
  • 08
    Font - Catfactss 5h ● You could feign ignorance and speak to her boss. "Manager X keeps asking me to do Y but I don't think that's right, do you? She seemed pretty convinced when I asked to please stop doing and was insistent this that this was OK so I just wanted to check." Do it by email. CC Manager. Respond to passive aggression with war. 4 111 +
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  • 09
    Font - LVCSSlacker • 9h It's definitely a them problem. Reply 905
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  • 10
    Font - chrisk9. 5h Also simultaneously being at work and late for work is a sign of the times 分116凸 ...
    via u/chrisk9
  • 11
    Font - UbettaBNaked • 9h ● So crazy she's your boss but still has to work a second job ... Reply 320
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  • 12
    Font - CompetitiveFortune55 • 7h Yeah this says a lot .. there is a pressured chain reaction because of this boss trying to make two jobs work, and it is unfair for OP. 132
    via u/CompetitiveFortune55
  • 13
    Font - Just Getting_By_1.7h Why don't you set your phone to block her when you're off the clock, since you are off the clock? Reply 83
    via u/Just Getting_By_1
  • 14
    Rectangle - drdolots0 OP. 7h I do! This is great advice though. I usually unblock her before my shift so I don't forget lol. ↑ 77 ↓ ...
    via u/drdolots0
  • 15
    Font - Opposite-Level-8346.9h Why don't they just change your start time, if that's workable for you? If it's not, or they won't, then too bad for them. I'm not taking their side, but hr rules are stupid. Also, if you're salaried tell them to fi off. Don't do things for free ... Reply 62
    via u/Opposite-Level-8346
  • 16
    Font - drdolotsO OP. 9h I would be okay with it if my start time was changed but this was already a discussion with the general manager. I am an hourly employee. Not sure why she thought it was a good idea to start pushing for me to work unpaid hours again (I never agreed, but she has tried before). General manager told me it was her responsibility, not mine (obvi haha). She tried to frame it as a "favor" but she is my boss and it just feels so unethical to frame it that way with the power imbal
    via u/drdolots0
  • 17
    Font - Update: I discussed it with the GM this morning. Don't have to come in early to accommodate the front desk manager. Because, as he said, "you are not a manager and that is extremely hypocritical of her considering she is the only one late every week." So that's that, folks.
    via u/drdolots0

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Tags

management boss antiwork toxic-manager toxic-workplace manager toxic-management toxic-boss managers Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit toxic-work-environment
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