Boss sends passive-aggressive message to team about leaving before 5:00pm, employees retaliate: 'I will be petty'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Mar 7, 2024 8:00 AM EST

When will these bosses get off our backs? Those of us who are at the bottom of the food chain are starting to develop back pain over here.

We've been seeing a lot of instances lately about employers stirring up a fuss about their team members leaving the office early, even if it's just a few minutes before the end of the day. Apparently, it doesn't matter if all your work is complete and there's nothing left to get done for the day. It doesn't even matter if you got to the office early for a meeting or to get a head start. The funny thing is that the expectation is for employees to always go the extra mile and show up early, but when it comes to leaving just a few minutes early, these authority figures seem to immediately lose their cool. 

This thread was posted to Reddit by u/MonkeyMobile635, who shared his boss's passive-aggressive message via Teams. Keep scrolling below to see how he and his teammates responded and what they plan to do moving forward. Does this call for a little malicious compliance? We think so! For more stories like this, here's one about a lawyer who stopped coming in early because his boss tried to pull the same shenanigans.

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  • 01
    Boss doesn't like us salaried employees leaving the office a few minutes before 5.
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 02
    Search 5:02 PM was still there. I don't mind packing up and Guys, we close at 5:00. I had a security matter and thank goodness getting gone at 5:00, but I've noticed we are creeping earlier and earlier. Let's not over do it. Type a message A ! 2 >>> 8 D Today Sull
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 03
    My boss finally said something through Teams about us leaving a few minutes earlier than 5 p.m. previously he had told my coworker in "confidance" he doesn't like people leaving early, but I think he was using her to get the message across. I wasn't going to stop until he said something directly.
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 04
    Yesterday, he called the office 5 minutes before closing, but he called my co workers desk phone, not mine, which she wasn't at her desk to answer because she was in the restroom then we both left. One coworker stayed behind only because she doesn't want to walk out with us imo. He could've easily called our cell phones but imo purposely called an office phone to check if we had left. He wrote this on teams afterwards which I had the pleasure of seeing as soon as I came in this EARLY morning.
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 05
    I've previously posted about this in the jobs community. I come in 10-15 minutes early, and every month we have our board meeting requiring us to be here an hour and a half before start time. I understand this is a non-exempt position, and we'll be required to work extra hours, but doesn't that also call for more flexibility? I think it's more of control thing.
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 06
    i might as well be hourly which imo would o no be better because I'd get paid for any extra hours worked. I'm just annoyed beyond belief. I will be petty though and come in at my start time on the dot from here on out and leave at 5 on the dot. Thoughts on this?
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 07
    capital-minutia . 5 hr. ago I gotta be honest - stop coming in early. Do not allow any effort to go to work until :00. At 5:00, also stop providing effort. Be sure to leave work for unpaid breaks and do not answer calls/chats during breaks. This is not a relationship of 'give and take' this is a relationship of 'I paid for you, do my bidding, my way'. Treat it as such.
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 08
    Also, this guy who stayed late & your boss are pushing against you & the other person who left early. It won't get better. I am going to guess, with no evidence mind you, that the late-stayer doesn't like you two and is in the boss's ear about your 3 minute early escape.
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 09
    And, because I'm that type of person - I would verify that you actually meet 'exempt' status, there are very specific criteria. Read this whole section, as there maybe other small rules your boss is breaking. Like:
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 10
    When you have those 'unpaid' for meetings, also check on that - I believe the salary only pays for specific work functions and you may be entitled to payment for other duties.
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 11
    Update resume, get networking, and watch this place burn - because it is on its way. Good luck on the bounce! 541 Reply Share
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 12
    Sum-yungho 5 hr. ago If the dipwants you to follow the rules of you needing to follow the schedule, then stop showing up early. Show up EXACTLY on time and leave EXACTLY on time, no matter what. I'd also document everything and get dirt on this canoe. Dust off your resume while you're at it. It's always okay for those clowns to make you show up when you dont early as have to, but when you leave a little early, they want to throw a fit. 133 Reply Share
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 13
    TheCupcakeScrub. 5 hr. ago "so we have to leave at 5 exact? Alright ill only walk in and punch in at 9 exactly" Reply Share 84
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 14
    OJJhara 5 hr. ago Malicious compliance is the way here. Do not come in early. Leave your desk for all breaks and lunches. Having said that, it's reasonable to be expected to work during your scheduled work hours.
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 15
    The Quicktrigger - 5 hr. ago If a boss starts getting about time it's time to throw it right back at them. Clock in right on the dot, don't do any prep or any work before clock in, leave immediately at 5 regardless of the task.
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 16
    If they wanna split hairs about time you do the same I had a boss say I took my breaks too long since it was a long walk back to my desk.
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 17
    So I spent a month having perfect time management and kept track of my bosses breaks and lunch times and every minute they went over.
    via u/MonkeyMobile635
  • 18
    After a month I sent an email to HR including his original email criticizing my time management and the record of all the time he was outside his break times. He didn't like it but he backed off about people's time after that
    via u/MonkeyMobile635

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workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work toxic-boss Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit company toxic-work-environment
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