Entitled manager bans overtime calling employee a 'time thief,' then blames employee after turning down last-minute million-dollar project: 'Let's agree to disagree, this has been one big miscommunication'

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Isabella Penn
Mar 13, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

After being abruptly banned for working overtime and being called a 'time thief' by a new manager, one employee decides to maliciously comply with the new rules. Even though he's never worked overtime by more than 30 minutes, those 30 minutes add up in the long run. Because of this newly instated rule, projects start falling through the cracks. But the employee actually has no choice but to let this happen, considering the new strict rules.

Things get worse when the new manager comes running to the employee, asking him to take on a last-minute million-dollar project, to which he says no. Why? Because he didn't want to be a time thief. And, he had plans. His refusal prompted an HR meeting the very next day. Keep reading to see how this employee came out on top. 

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  • 01
    Posted by u/Away_Location 17 hours ago No overtime, no problem
    via u/Away_Location
  • 02
    Been working at this job for some years when I got a new manager. A month or so into her working there, she came into my office and told me I wasn't allowed to work overtime anymore
    via u/Away_Location
  • 03
    and if I have any issues, we can discuss it. The way she said it sounded like she was expecting this to really hurt me. I sent an email to confirm the conversation we had and her response basically said, "Correct, no more time theft!"
    via u/Away_Location
  • 04
    I didn't really like that accusation. I usually stayed a little late by 30 minutes at most to finish up projects. A lot of projects come in last minute and other managers were thankful for my help. So I quit
    via u/Away_Location
  • 05
    staying to finish projects and wouldn't start a new one if there wasn't enough time. No real issues but some projects started falling through the cracks. I let the other
    via u/Away_Location
  • 06
    managers know my manager told me no more overtime and I'm just following orders. Fast forward barely a month later. As I'm leaving for the day, she
    via u/Away_Location
  • 07
    rushes to me asking if I can work on, you guessed it, a last minute project. It's potentially worth millions! I explained how I've got plans and I'm not about to be a thief.
    via u/Away_Location
  • 08
    Next day was too quiet. In the afternoon, I get a request to have a meeting with my manager and HR. Usually you get a written complaint beforehand so I'm still a little off guard. I
    via u/Away_Location
  • 09
    could at least be a little prepared. At the meeting, my manager reads off grievances like it's an intervention. She frames it like I have antisocial behavioral issues, insubordinate, and I don't go the extra mile. If
    via u/Away_Location
  • 10
    you let her keep going, I wouldn't be surprised if I was somehow to blame for the company not reaching it's goals. When she finally finished (she had to have started writing that the night
    via u/Away_Location
  • 11
    before and into the next day), I asked if it's okay if I had my say. I pointed out a lot was just her opinion and I'm overall well liked. I always do exactly what she says.
    via u/Away_Location
  • 12
    However, my manager likes to constantly move projects around while I'm working on them and I'm not allowed overtime. She denies ever saying this so I forward the email to HR. My manager
    via u/Away_Location
  • 13
    then starts backtracking she didn't mean it permanently. HR takes me off the call a bit. When they come back, it's just HR and I start by saying I'm not signing anything. They
    via u/Away_Location
  • 14
    tell me let's agree to disagree, this has been one big miscommunication, and they appreciate all the work I do. I asked to confirm if this was going to be held against me in any way and they said no.
    via u/Away_Location
  • 15
    They went on to say if I can stay late sometimes, great but it's also okay that I leave after my 8 hours. My manager later quit in less than a year.
    via u/Away_Location
  • 16
    Cheezburger Image 9893160448
    via LinkedIn Sales Navigator

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boss workplace-stories employee manager malicious compliance work entitled overtime bad bosses Reddit company toxic-work-environment
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