Boss enforces checking emails every 24 hours even when off work, employee maliciously complies and submits OT: 'Make sure you put it on your timesheet'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Apr 2, 2024 8:00 AM EDT

You can't expect your employees to work off the clock and not call it overtime! And if you were silly enough to enforce rules such as this without being clear about OT, that's your problem!

This part-time employee tested his manager's rules about checking emails every 24 hours even when off the clock. Furthermore, he often would not be scheduled for shifts for weeks at a time, yet he had to be responsive via email all the time as if he were a full-time employee. That's a whole lot of nonsense. Thankfully, this dude was not willing to take it any longer, and so he decided to check his email for a 15-minute window every 24 hours, as requested. However, every time he did this, he added it to the timesheet and even encouraged other employees to do the same. 

Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from folks in the comments section. For more tales of pettiness, check out this post about a bridezilla's hilarious comeuppance.

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  • 01
    "Must check History Bookmarks my work email every single day? Ok!" + Q Search mail 4 C : Inbox Primary Dev
    via Stephen Phillips - Hostreviews.co.uk
  • 02
    Must check my work email every single day? Ok! S OC So I was working for a small private ambulance company that ended up getting bought out by a larger corporation. To folks that have done this kind of work, no it wasn't the company you're thinking of, but this new corporation wanted to be just like them.
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 03
    So corporate sends out a directive that all employees must check their work email at least once every 24 hours. No exceptions!
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 04
    Now I'm a lowly part-timer, so it would occasionally be weeks in between my shifts. The fun part is, I usually played Field Supervisor on my shifts I did work.
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 05
    So in order to be in compliance with the corporate directive, I set my work email to update every day at the same time on my phone. I would then log my 15 minutes of email checking on my paycheck so I would also be in compliance with state and federal payroll laws. I also made sure to inform as many employees to do the same.
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 06
    Didn't check your email while you were on shift because you were too busy trying to figure out what made grandma's ambulance ride to the doctor medically necessary? That's ok. Just check it when you get home. Make sure you put it on your timesheet, though!
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 07
    It took a couple pay cycles, but eventually I get a call (on my day off), asking why I'm logging 1.75 hours on weeks that I didn't even work. I explained that I was just following their corporate directive.
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 08
    I was told at that point that I no longer was able to log those hours. I told them to give me that in writing as that goes against labor laws. Needless to say, the directive to check email every day got revoked.
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 09
    Oh, but I did put down 30 minutes on my timesheet for the call as it took 22 minutes.
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 10
    Edit to say: Thank you everyone that's up voted and given awards. You guys are the true heroes!
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 11
    Paladin_Aranaos Beautiful malicious compliance. Especially the request of the directive in writing for the labor board... they LOVE written rules that violate laws. 6.4k Reply Share
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 12
    OtherLtDan OP. Corporate HR loved dealing with me. 2.7k ☐ Reply Reply Share
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 13
    sweerek1. Would have only been better if y'all had a minimum number of hours to charge... one common perk of unions 627 Reply Share
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 14
    thurmin This was a sweet read with a lovely finish. 478 Reply Share
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 15
    Garden gnome1609 This is my favorite kind of MC. No, I don't work for free...ever. Not for one single second. My workplace wanted us to submit a form daily through an app before we walked into the door of the building. I told them I don't work before I punch in and I don't use my personal phone for work so if they want me to use an app they'll have to provide me a phone and pay me for my time to submit the form...suddenly I don't have to do any of that stuff. 205 Reply Share ...
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 16
    Some states require a minimum of hours reported for any work. Massachusetts, for example, will require employers to pay minimum 4 hours for any shift, or work related activity. If you have to come in on your day off for a 30 minute meeting, you'll get paid 4 hours. Edit: stupid autocorrect Edit 2: apparently it's 3 hours now 166 Reply Share
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 17
    An-Old- Well done. Isn't it amazing that important corporate directives that inconvenience the workers are no longer important when it costs the corporation money? 160 Reply Share
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 18
    Wadsworth McStumpy Oh, but I did put down 30 minutes on my timesheet for the call as it took 22 minutes. Perfect. I can almost see your boss sighing and saying to HR "Just 1 pay it."
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 19
    FireWireBestWire People on salary LOVE to try to get hourly employees to do simple work like that off the clock. No thank you. Anything you tell me to do is work, and I will be punched in to do anything for you.
    via u/OtherLtDan
  • 20
    Littleavocado516 You hooked me when you said "small private ambulance company". like this is why I'm going to nursing school to get out of private EMS. Cause at least I'll get paid a little more to deal with
    via u/OtherLtDan

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workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job malicious compliance email work malicious-compliance-reddit paycheck reddit thread Reddit company toxic-work-environment
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