Worker reprimanded by manager for not arriving 15 minutes before their scheduled shift: 'I argued with him'

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Apr 5, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

Typically, when working a shift job that relies on a schedule, you'd expect your obligations simply to be present when that shift starts until when that shift ends—nothing more and nothing less. Yet, it's common in many industries that rely on the "almighty" schedule for managers to expect you to be present and ready to work (sometimes even actually working) before your shift starts. Usually, this expectation will be somewhere around five minutes before the start of the shift but occasionally will stretch out to 10, 15, or even 30 minutes beforehand. It, of course, is illegal in most places for your workplace to actually require you to be present without being paid, so usually, these obligations are verbal or implied only, depending on your silent obeisance and desire to keep the status quo.

That's what this worker ran into when their manager, who was irritated about actually having to help a customer, reprimanded them for not being there 15 minutes before their scheduled shift. The workers took to this online community to share their thoughts and experiences, telling their story in a thread that went viral, generating a massive amount of responses from readers. See their original post, along with some of the top responses below.

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  • 01
    CHI "Immediately reprimanded at work today for not being here 15 minutes before my scheduled shift started."
    via Helena Lopes
  • 02

    "Immediately reprimanded at work today for not being here 15 minutes before my scheduled shift started."

    I've been at this job for 3 months now and have always been scheduled at 9am. I get here every day at 9am. Today I got here at 9:00am and by the time I walk in there is already a client my boss is helping at the front desk (I think him having to do my job is what triggered this).
    via u/sydneyghibli
  • 03
    He wraps it up with her within a couple minutes and then afterwards turns to me and asks "what happened?". Confused I ask him what he means and he says "you're supposed to be clocked in 15 minutes before your scheduled time in". I argued with him saying "I'm always here at 9, and my schedule says 9. If you need me here at 8:45 please schedule me to be here then"
    via u/sydneyghibli
  • 04
    It's a seasonal job so I couldn't care less about talking back to stand my ground at this point. Edit: I've NEVER had him mention this to me prior to today. Since some of you are under the impression if I get here at 9 I can't possibly be ready to work immediately. It takes me approximately 20 seconds to sit down and log into my computer. If I have to put my lunch in the fridge add another 20 seconds.
    via u/sydneyghibli
  • 05
    Edit 2: I am not mildly infuriated at the fact he wants me in earlier. I am frustrated at the lack of communication about it because I've been getting here at 9am for 3 months with no issues (he approves my time sheets) and then suddenly being reprimanded.
    via u/sydneyghibli
  • 06
    Far-Whole-8612 11 hr. ago Had a guy that was just a senior employee with no power tell me if I wasn't half an hour early everyday I was late. drove me crazy even the boss was like no tell him to off. But he proceeded to tell me every day when I showed up ten minutes early I was late. This went on an entire 651 year.. Reply Share • • •
    via u/sydneyghibli
  • 07
    • more_pepper_plz 10 hr. ago Sounds like a sad boring person with nothing going on in their life - what a shame 312 Reply Share Far-Whole-8612.10 hr. ago He was it was crazy how after he retired everyone was so much happier and the crew bonded better than ever he was the problem 132 Reply Share • • •
    via u/sydneyghibli
  • 08
    gunsforevery1 · 11 hr. ago I had a boss like that that insisted we be here 10 minutes before our shift. Not sitting in our car or in the parking lot. But in the building at our "stations". We all started doing that but clocking in 10 minutes early and then it turned into, don't clock in til your shift starts. You need to be in the building at the start of your shift. 5.4k Reply Share • • •
    via u/sydneyghibli
  • 09
    spiritsprite2 9 hr. ago It's called wage theft. Companies get fined for that if reported. 4.9k Reply Share gunsforevery1 . 9 hr. ago Yes. And we did not let them do that. They got away with maybe 2 days. Then we all started to arrive 10 minutes before our schedule shift and clocking in and going to our stations, like they wanted us to. They didn't
    via u/sydneyghibli
  • 10
    like that so they went back to "clock in at your scheduled shift/be in the building at the start of your shift". So we would clock at 9, and then walk to our stations rather than going to our stations at 8:50 and not clocking in until 9. 1.7k Reply Share
    via u/sydneyghibli
  • 11
    AHOY TeslasAndKids 11 hr. ago I worked for a company that opened at 9:00. It was policy you couldn't clock in more than 7 minutes before your scheduled shift. Soooo they scheduled people at 8:50 so they could be in, sat down, and ready when the store opened. How hard is that? 4.1k Reply Share . . . • sydneyghibli OP 11 hr. ago Apparently difficulty level 9/10 2.0k Reply Share • • •
    via u/sydneyghibli
  • 12
    woodenhare 11 hr. ago. This me right off. It's blatantly disrespectful and stinks of superiority complex that bosses think you "ought to" give up 15 minutes for free every day, but if you're ever one minute late, they absolutely will rake you over the coals. It's MY 15 minutes, mf. 2.2k Reply Share mckulty 11 hr. ago No he said "clock in 15 minutes early". OP gets paid for the time. 425 Reply Share • • •
    via u/sydneyghibli
  • 13
    WordSpiritual1928 · 11 hr. ago What a . If he wants you to be there at 8:45 then your schedule should say 8:45. I've had plenty of jobs back in the day that did that. It doesn't take critical thinking skills to understand this. 642 Reply Share WishboneDistinct9618 11 hr. ago • And legally, he can't do about it until he schedules him for 8:45. 186 Reply Share
    via u/sydneyghibli
  • 14
    AHO KidenStormsoarer 11 hr. ago "if you'd like me to be here at 8:45, I will need that in writing, on my schedule. I look forward to the overtime pay." 238 Reply Share . . . sydneyghibli OP. 11 hr. ago I don't hit 40 here. That's why I have 3 jobs gotta find enough jobs to pay the bills. while in school full time. 84 Reply Share • • •
    via u/sydneyghibli
  • 15
    • Invigill 10 hr. ago I always reach at work 15 minutes early but sit in my car till the last minute to start work. lol 41 Reply Share
    via u/sydneyghibli

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workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employment-discussion job work mildly infuriating workplace Horrible Bosses employment in the workplace
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