Employee refuses to give in to Karen coworker's demands to show up early for unpaid work: '[I] do not work for free'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Aug 9, 2024 8:00 AM EDT

Showing up early for work is a personal choice. If it makes it easier for you as the employee to have a few extra moments in the workplace to center yourself before getting started with your daily tasks and responsibilities, that makes total sense. However, if you're someone that can show up right on time and get started immediately, that works too. No one can say anything otherwise. Remember that: if you're being pressured to show up early to work, it's time to pull out that contract and advocate for yourself. Being expected to get to work well before the start time to do more tasks is more than enough justification to advocate for getting paid to do that extra work.

This Redditor already arrived 5-10 minutes early every day per their manager's suggestion. However, their Karen coworker felt that 30-45 minutes early should be the requirement and even tried to get the Original Poster (OP) in trouble for not complying with the rules. Keep scrolling below to see how folks reacted to this nonsense in the comments section. For more, check out this post about a coworker's company-wide letter of resignation.

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  • 01
    "My coworker is pressuring me to start 30+ minutes before my actual start time"
    via runnyrem
  • 02
    My coworker is pressuring me to start 30+ minutes before my actual start time
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 03
    I work in hospitality, specifically hotel hospitality and we recently had a meeting regarding "handovers" and how we should show up a little early to ensure that we can get up to speed before our shift starts and the other staff can depart from their shift on time.
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 04
    Don't get me wrong, great idea and my manager specifically said it should only be 5-10 minutes which im more than happy to do.
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 05
    However, a couple of days after that meeting. My coworker kept looking at me in a disgusting way, which i ignored. This went on for a few more days before she eventually took me into one of our vacant meeting rooms and said
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 06
    "Me and (the manager) are upset that you are not committed to the handover schedule we set in last weeks meeting.." and begins
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 07
    bereding me for not showing up "At least 30-45 minutes before shift". For those who have worked in Hotel hospitality before, you know that even on a bad day.
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 08
    There isnt 30-45 minutes of stuff to catch up on. I explained this to her and how in the meeting the manager even said 5-10 mins was more than enough. She then got angry and frustrated and exclaimed "I will be reporting this to (the manager)".
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 09
    Basically saying that my manager wasn't upset with me, she was just saying it to make me feel more pressured. I'm really unsure what to do now. Luckily i have a few days off to think and ask you guys. But i really am unsure what my next action should be.
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 10
    okayyeahnah 15 hr. ago Unless they want to pay you for that time it doesn't belong to them. Put this in writing to your manager and get confirmation in writing about the start and handover time.
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 11
    XR171 15 hr. ago Also document what your co-worker said. What's best is doing it in writing to your manager. Something like "Per Karen I should be showing up unpaid 30-45 minutes early for handover. You stated
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 12
    handover. You stated this should only take 5-10 minutes which I repeated to Karen who then said she would report me to you. For the sake of clarification how long should handover take?"
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 13
    Washington_Dad___ 15 hr. ago Don't start one minute sooner than they are willing to pay you. If you get it in writing that they want you to start working 10 minutes before shift make sure you track all that extra time on your end since they would legally owe you money for that time.
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 14
    Any-Cartographer-675 OP. 15 hr. ago Is this legally viable in the UK? I know the US and UK have different employment laws etc. If that is the case i will just keep track of the 5-10 mins
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 15
    ive already taken then draft them to my manager at the end of every month/when i leave
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 16
    Everybodys Meemaw 15 hr. ago Do not work for free.
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 17
    nabulsha 14 hr. ago This is thevonly answer, even 5 to 10 minutes every day equals hundreds over a year easily.
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 18
    gingergal3 15 hr. ago First, confirm that your manager said what she claims the manager said. Don't let your coworker pretend to be an intermediary. Go right to the source. Second, get the policy in writing from the manager.
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 19
    Anastariana 14 hr. ago Sounds like she wants to slack off and leave 1/2 an hour earlier and make you do her job. Check with your manager, then tell her to poff.
    via Any-Cartographer-675
  • 20
    blocpownsuit . 14 hr. ago If she's so adamant about a handover she can stay 30 minutes late.
    via Any-Cartographer-675

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karens workplace-stories hotel work stories toxic-workplace job work karens in the wild entitled reddit thread Reddit karen entitled people toxic-work-environment
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