'Help the boss out? No thanks': Employee demanded to clock out despite having to stay at work for another hour, she accuses company of wage theft in response

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Aug 25, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

We are firm believers that hourly employees should get paid exactly the amount they are due for their work, not a minute less or more. Clocking in and out of a job is the perfect way to track the hours and make sure employees are getting paid exactly what they are owed. That means, of course, that as long as an employee is physically on the job, they should be getting paid for it, and they only clock out when they are entirely off the job premises.

The fact that the workers in this Reddit story willingly gave up a daily hour of pay is beyond us, and we cannot understand what they are thinking when they clock out of work despite having to stay there for another hour. If they work a 9-5 job, why on earth would they clock out at 4, but stay at work until 5? Who gave them that idea?

That is exactly the question their coworker (OP, original poster) tackled in her Reddit post when she wondered if perhaps she should do the same. Luckily, she didn't cave to this weird demand and decided to stand against it.

Scroll down to read the full discussion. After you are done, click here for a story of an employee who got fired mid-meeting with their boss.

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  • 01
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  • 02
    is it wrong to stay clocked in if we have to be here until 5?
    via r_a_v_e_n-
  • 03
    It's not an official rule or anything, but all the office people here except me clock out when it gets dead and theres nothing to do (around 3-4pm) and just hang out on their phones until 5pm when we're allowed to leave.
    via r_a_v_e_n-
  • 04
    I stay clocked in, because if I'm not allowed to leave then I feel like I should be paid. I do kinda feel guilty for being paid to browse reddit, so I'm not sure if the other guys are right. Thoughts?
    via r_a_v_e_n-
  • 05
    Biochemicalcricket • 1d ago Are you allowed to go? Then clock out and leave. Are you required to stay? Then it's on the clock. Simple way to break it down even for a manager that is not a lawyer
    via Biochemicalcricket
  • 06
    . r_a_v_e_n- OP • 1d ago Not allowed to leave, so I no longer feel guilty lol.
    via r_a_v_e_n-
  • 07
    iaminabox 1d ago Can't leave? Yup, on the clock.
    via iaminabox
  • 08
    mdubelite • 1d ago Meh, it's not wrong because you're being paid to be there should anything happen that you're qualified to handle. The coworkers clocking out are in the wrong... from an employee point of view...
    via mdubelite
  • 09
    r_a_v_e_n- OP • 1d ago IKR. Like, why would you want to not be paid?
    via r_a_v_e_n-
  • 10
    volumptuouspuzzylips • 1d ago I don't understand why your coworkers clock out??
    via volumptuouspuzzylips
  • 11
    r_a_v_e_n- OP • 1d ago I asked a couple about that bc I really dont and they all said something along the lines of "labor is too high gotta help the boss out on cost, being on the phone here is the same as being at home anyway"
    via r_a_v_e_n-
  • 12
    DontDelete Mee ° 1d ago F :. Do they get profit share?? They're working for free unless they're allowed to leave.
    via DontDeleteMee
  • 13
    r_a_v_e_n- OP • 1d ago Lol no. I'm pretty sure this place will go under within a year. Most months we're barely breaking even, the boss knows this because I give him financial statements twice a month. I'm just chillin until the place closes, then I plan on taking advantage of unemployment while looking for a new job. It is pretty cushy having 2 hours or more a day of free time
    via r_a_v_e_n-
  • 14
    volumptuouspuzzylips • 1d ago Nah they're crazy. anyone would agree being on ur phone in office is not the freaking same as going home ☹ good for u not givin in. Very strange dynamic yall have there.
    via volumptuouspuzzylips
  • 15
    sneezhousing • 1d ago If you're required to be there it's illegal to have you clock out. I wouldn't do it.
    via sneezhousing
  • 16
    r_a_v_e_n- OP • 1d ago He never asked anyone to clock out, people just do and I think theyre insane
    via r_a_v_e_n-
  • 17
    sketchee • 1d ago Yeah they could get the company in legal trouble by doing it. They're still working and tricking the company into not paying them.
    via sketchee
  • 18
    WickedJoker420 • 1d ago Paid by the hour? Clocked in while I'm there, period. Salary? Well, it doesn't f matter then anyways.
    via WickedJoker420
  • 19
    Spankydafrogg ° 1d ago That's wage theft if you clock out and are required to stay. The manager knows and should be updating time sheets to be the actual hours on shift. If any of you report this practice, anonymously even, the company will be audited for several years and forced to pay back pay to anyone affected by it, even if they don't work there anymore. So. Do with that what you wish.
    via Spankydafrogg
  • 20
    Edit to add that when I was managing people, I'd even clock them in if they worked unauthorized hours, because I was obligated to. I'd also pay them for any missed rest breaks, because I was obligated to. Managers know this.
    via Spankydafrogg
  • 21
    RatherRetro • 1d ago If you got hurt at work somehow, work would not be liable because you were off the clock, also i think that is wage theft?
    via RatherRetro
  • 22
    PurpleStar1965 • 1d ago - I'm in HR do not clock out. If you are required to be there, the employer is required to pay you. That is the law.
    via PurpleStar1965
  • 23
    GayHusbandLiker • 1d ago Your co-workers are literally stealing from themselves omg
    via GayHusbandLiker
  • 24
    sockscollector 1d ago I would do something useful for those that are paying you though. Just a little something, and look busy is so hard, but worth the money. Are you allowed to be paid for being on your phone?
    via sockscollector
  • 25
    r_a_v_e_n- OP • 1d ago I really try. Realistically I can knock out all my work in 3 hours, I just go painfully slow at everything and try to stretch it out to 4 or 5. Then I start doing random things like cleaning the office, cleaning the bathrooms, walking around and try to talk to the guys in the
    via r_a_v_e_n-
  • 26
    back to see what they're doing. I'm not supposed to answer the office phone until it rings 3 times to let the guys answer first, I've been trying to answer it at 2 rings now just so I can talk to human beings on the outside and appear busy. And today I ripped out words in the front yard because I was so bored I wanted to cry.
    via r_a_v_e_n-

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salary boss workplace-stories employee manager job tales-from-the-workplace coworkers reddit story workplace paycheck Reddit company funny money
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