'Don't clock in, don't get paid': Company stops paying employees who fail to clock in on time, leading to a legal dispute

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Mar 11, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

Different workplaces have different ways of ensuring their employees are doing their jobs properly. One of the main aspects of the job that managers usually take note of is when their employees arrive, and when they leave, so there are a few ways a manager can track his employees' working hours. They can use an app that employees would clock in and out from, they can use a physical card and clock at the office, and they can just use the good ol' trusting system in which they trust their employees to fulfill their requirements.

As much as I wish more employers would go for the latter option, most of them go with the first or the second one, and that's fair enough. But never have I ever heard of employers who threaten employees that if they forget to clock in or out, they won't be paid. Mainly I guess, because it's illegal. That is what the employee in this Reddit story has to deal with. After a number of employees repeatedly forgot to clock in or out, management decided that they would not deal with it anymore and told employees that if one didn't clock in, one didn't get paid. 

Scroll down to read what people had to say about that. Once you are done with this story, click here for another story of a receptionist who almost got fired because of an IT problem.

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  • 01
    "Don't clock in, don't 9 8 get paid" QUARTZ 3 10
    via Canva
  • 02
    My work has set a new rule. You'll not be paid when you have forgotten to check-in or - out
    via u/VHopeARMY
  • 03
    As the title says. My company of gas stations has a new region manager. We already had a problem with people just not bother checking in or out in the app as we were told to. This way
    via u/VHopeARMY
  • 04
    they can keep count of our worked hours, so when we have overworked or gone home early they can edit the schedule and keep everything in order.
    via u/VHopeARMY
  • 05
    So when people forgot or dont bother doing it, they just message their own teamleader and they have to check the security footage to see if they even have worked the hours they
    via u/VHopeARMY
  • 06
    were scheduled for, then adjust it on the computer so they can get paid. Some of my coworkers from other locations dont even bother doing it or forget it completly. So
    via u/VHopeARMY
  • 07
    they had enough and said that if we dont check in or out, or both, they wont pay us for what we worked. I talked face to face with my team manager about this and she says
    via u/VHopeARMY
  • 08
    she agrees with the region. manager bc they already have much administration work on their hands, and this will lighten the load a bit. I argued we are all people and we can forget things,
    via u/VHopeARMY
  • 09
    but she said that is impossible. Checking in or out should feel like needing to eat. You should feel that you have to do it.
    via u/VHopeARMY
  • 10
    Everyone disagrees with this new rule. And one co worker is even taking legal actions against this, because this is just illegal
    via u/VHopeARMY
  • 11
    I am leaving in 4 days but i will keep contact with some coworkers i became freinds with. So i am curious how this is all gonna fold out.
    via u/VHopeARMY
  • 12
    Ps: this is in the Netherlands btw. We already know which people and authorities we can contact about this.
    via u/VHopeARMY
  • 13
    Ediwir 11h ago Heh. I had an older coworker who was notorious about this. Bad with tech and all of that. One day she got called in the manager's office and told straight out her last shift wouldn't be paid.
    via u/Ediwir
  • 14
    you not, the union rep poked her head through the door right then and went "what's this?". Tone changed VERY quickly.
    via u/Ediwir
  • 15
    777joeb ⚫10h ago They can fire you for not following instructions, but they MUST pay you for every hour worked, period.
    via u/777joeb
  • 16
    I'd say the primary reason for signing in should be to keep them from stealing wages. But I also would never put any piece of software from my job on my personal device.
    via u/777joeb
  • 17
    Shadow_84 • 11h ago Squatter Is the app on your phone? Cause if so what's their plan if you forget it or it dies? Also, if they want me to use my phone to check in I'd be saying no way
    via u/Shadow_84
  • 18
    1-5 Numerous-Expression2 • 11h ago I for got to clock in. Am I getting paid? No? Alright. See ya tomorrow.
    via u/Numerous-Expression2
  • 19
    whereismymind86 • 7h ago Look...they definitely have to pay you...but asking your boss to check security footage because you regularly forget to clock in is...kind of insane.
    via u/whereismymind86
  • 20
    I've never worked anywhere where that would be normal...where you don't immediately clock in when you show up, before doing literally. anything else.
    via u/whereismymind86
  • 21
    GenghisFrog •9h ago They have to pay you. They could write you up or let you go if it becomes a constant thing, but they always have to pay you for the time you were there.
    via u/GenghisFrog
  • 22
    fulltank1 • 11h ago You should absolutely "forget" to clock in or out and join that lawsuit your fellow employee is doing cause that's a slam dunk case if yall have any of this in writing from your management
    via u/fulltank1
  • 23
    Wanda_McMimzy • 9h ago Great, that's illegal. What's next on the agenda?
    via u/Wanda_McMimzy
  • 24
    Chordant 4h ago As a manager dealing with scheduling issues all the time, the irresponsiblility is certainly a problem. But if you work, you get paid. Trying to deny pay will just get your employer in trouble.
    via u/Chordant
  • 25
    I would ped if I had to sit there and watch security footage to see when someone walks out the door in order to pay them, if that's what managers are expected to do when someone forgets. It's frankly easier to just
    via u/Chordant
  • 26
    fire folks who are repeat offenders. I would agree something needs to change to hold folks accountable, but not paying them ain't it.
    via u/Chordant
  • 27
    DRM-001 7h ago Not being funny but that's the point of a clocking in/out system so that YOU get paid. It's not anyone else's job but your own to prove when you were there or not.
    via u/DRM-001
  • 28
    Additionally, most companies also use these records for head count's during a fire (drill or not).
    via u/DRM-001
  • 29
    Mishuev ⚫4h ago As someone who forgets to eat | think this is bs
    via u/Mishuev

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workplace-stories employee job retail tales-from-the-workplace reddit story entitled customers workplace Reddit funny entitled people
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