'So...6% pay rise for everyone?': Company mandates 42.5 hour work week, does not offer overtime

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Apr 5, 2024 4:00 PM EDT

The 40-hour workweek is one of those institutions that has remained the norm, no matter how much has changed in our world. Ever since the Labor Standards Act in 1940, we've been doing 9-5 or some variation on that. Even though we have computers and robots and fast cars, we still work as much as our 20th-century counterparts. Though lately, it's seeming like even more. Companies start creeping from 9-5 to 9-6, and forcing overtime even when they're not paying for it. 

It's a bleak world out there, especially in the case of this recent story from a worker who was forced to up their weekly working hours for no good reason. Being asked to stay a little late because there's a pressing project is one thing, but being regularly asked to stay past the normal day is an entirely different thing. And not a good thing. Read on to get the gnarly details. 

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  • 01
    "Make sure you quit without notice"
    via Benjamin Child
  • 02
    r/antiwork u/chelsea-27099. 5d My company just announced we are going from 40 hours a week to 42.5 hours a week
    via u/chelsea-27099
  • 03
    At an all hands last week they just casually announced that we all need to hit a target of 2040 hours worked per year. They actually tried to spin this as a way to "promote equity" because some employees work much more than 2040, so the rest of us need to work more to take some of the burden off those people.
    via u/chelsea-27099
  • 04
    After the meeting, the COO sent out an email with a link to a Time Off calculator, where we can find out how many hours a day we need to work in order to earn X number of vacation days and still hit 2040 hours. I've already started interviewing at other places L(ツ)」
    via u/chelsea-27099
  • 05
    Edit: There's a lot of people in the comments like "the math though." I was really I off when I wrote this post (still am) and didn't explain all the gory. details. Here they are: My company "gives" us 10 days of floating holidays and 10 days of paid time off. You might think that sounds good, until I tell you that federal holidays and sick time come out of that pool of 20 days.
    via u/chelsea-27099
  • 06
    I put give in quotation marks above because now with this new 2040 policy, you must work 8.5 hours a day to retain that time off. If you want to continue to work 8 hours a day, guess what? You still have to hit 2040 in a year so you would only be left with SEVEN DAYS OFF A YEAR. Again, including New Year's, MLK day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksg-WHOOPS THANKSGIVING IS CANCELED BECAUSE WE'VE REACHED OUR LIMIT. Oh did you get COVID? YOU, WORK THROUGH IT.
    via u/chelsea-27099
  • 07
    I didn't even mention the part where last summer, we were told that sometime in 2024 we would all be moving to an unlimited PTO plan! Instead of that announcement, we get this policy. To answer some other questions: no we are not getting overtime. The vast majority of us are salaried, exempt employees. Yes we are a consulting firm. Yes of course this is in the US.
    via u/chelsea-27099
  • 08
    teresajs • 5d That's an increase of 6.25%. Ask when your salary increase of 6.25% will be taking effect. I recommend you start using some of those floating holidays while you interview elsewhere.
    via u/teresajs
  • 09
    Ill-Simple1706.5d Nah, interview on the clock
    via u/Ill-Simple1706
  • 10
    MelkorHimself. 5d I guess you'll be taking five 30-minute dumps per week at work.
    via u/MelkorHimself
  • 11
    Oddessusy 5d . Make sure you quit without notice when you find a new job.
    via u/Oddessusy
  • 12
    Private62645949 • 5d - Better yet don't quit and let those figure it out. "What you didn't get my resignation letter? aye USPS done | up"
    via u/Private62645949
  • 13
    Lassitude1001 • 5d You should have counter-offered with a 30 hour work week instead. We want less time at work, not more.
    via u/Lassitude1001
  • 14
    Legirion • 5d Isn't 40 hours a week for a year 2080 hours? So you're 2040 is actually 40 hours less...
    via u/Legirion
  • 15
    Few-Chapter 3316 • 5d It sounds like OP likely works in consulting, law, or public accounting, where commonly, you are required to put in a certain number of BILLABLE hours each year/quarter. Time spent on internal/ housekeeping type tasks, internal meetings, trainings, PTO, etc. are nonbillable and do not count towards your billable goals. So if they expect you to bill 40 hours, your actual week may be more like 45-50 hours as all the internal stuff is basically on your own time.
    via u/Few-Chapter3316
  • 16
    spewaskew 5d I know I'm giving them more credit than they deserve, but this may be a strategy to trim the workforce without layoffs which cost the company in unemployment insurance, etc. I've heard of companies doing weird things to cut staff.
    via u/spewaskew
  • 17
    shontsu • 5d So...6% pay rise for everyone? because some employees work much more than 2040, so the rest of us need to work more to take some of the burden off those people. Or, crazy though, hire more people!
    via u/shontsu

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antiwork workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace workweek toxic boss work coworkers hours PTO workplace overtime company vacation toxic-work-environment
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