Boss accuses employee of not working their hours, employee turns the tables and provides proof to HR that the boss is the one not working their hours: 'Do we need to get HR involved or are you going to calm down?'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Sep 29, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

It's often said that we accuse others of the thing we're most guilty of, our own guilt subconsciously directing our thoughts in that direction. For instance, your boss who is constantly hounding you about your hours and accusing you of having not worked them is probably not working their full hours themself, either slacking off at their desk or making excuses for leaving early that they wouldn't accept from anyone else, amounting to hours of time over the course of a month. 

This, of course, takes forms in many different shapes in our social and political interactions, even our parents trying to prevent us from sneaking out at night (despite the fact that we never cared to do so) is really just because that's something they would have done at our age.

This boss consistently made an issue of their employee being "tardy" which eventually escalated into a confrontation that needed to involve HR. The employee had done their homework, however, and was not only able to prove that they had actually worked more than their required hours but that their boss had not been. Which, of course, their boss was even less thrilled about.

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  • 01
    Boss: "Well since you are raising your voice, I think we better get HR involved" Employee: "If you want?"
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)
  • 02
    "You are raising your voice" Background: Facilities Manager at a mission critical campus. I lead a team of 9 engineers, electricians and carpenters. I've been working here for 11 months. The past month my 10 year old beagle had a bone marrow infection that's taken 30+ days of antibiotics to finally clear
    via EcksonGrows
  • 03
    it. During this time I asked my boss for some grace, I'd be leaving early and arriving late on days my wife asks for my help. My boss constantly raises his voice and yells. Well the past few weeks have been a nightmare. Tons of projects at work, tons of things falling apart. I'm not eating lunch, I'm approving invoices at home etc.
    via EcksonGrows
  • 04
    Each week my boss has asked me why "I'm so tardy" (I was 15 minutes early and left late for the past 10 months) today I couldn't handle it and raised my voice and said Me: "The same tear filled reason as last week, in my email it says the end date is (in 10 days) I'd appreciate if you'd stop asking me, it's upsetting"
    via EcksonGrows
  • 05
    Him: "Well since you are raising your voice I think we better get HR involved" Me: "If you want?" He then dressed me down infront of HR about how late I always am* I let him spin his tale, then pulled out my computer and pulled up a calendar that I've been documenting my departures. arrivals alongside his.
    via EcksonGrows
  • 06
    Turns out I'm +20 hours this month and he's -15. He ended the meeting immediately. Later in the day he decided to go in on me on a department call about something that I'm tertiary involved with, raising his voice the whole time. I said when I finally could get a word in:
    via EcksonGrows
  • 07
    "I see you are raising your voice, do we need to get HR involved or are you going to calm down?" We'll see how long I make it here after Update #1 1:1 adhoc meeting with Director @ 6:30 am.
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  • 08
    Laid out my concerns, Director admits that I'm being treated unfairly and is asking for my patience as he works it over with my direct manager.
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  • 09
    I mentioned a huge part of my grievances moving forward is going to be lack of positive recognition for me and my team, and that if it's not coming from him it needs to come to us in the form of compensation (I raise the tide ANYTIME I CAN for my team). He asked that I do my best to be the adult in the room for my team and he'll make it happen.
    via EcksonGrows
  • 10
    My response: "Director, it's really not fair to put me in a power differential like that unless you explicitly say to him that I'm not to be retaliated against when I check him moving forward" Him: "I'll speak with him today" Me: "I need it in writing to protect my employment" Him "no problem"
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  • 11
    So chat, we'll see how this turns out, the FM checking the Senior FM on a flaming dumpster fire of a portfolio Update# 2 1:06 pm
    via EcksonGrows
  • 12
    1:1 never happened, Director stepped in and mitigated. Direct manager cancelled the meeting and is acting completely different towards me now, being open about certain things that he was keeping close to his chest. Hasn't raised his voice a single time - let's see how long this lasts.
    via EcksonGrows
  • 13
    Director hinted at large changes but - I've heard that before. Although something major happened prior to this so it might be surrounding that. I honestly didn't expect much backlash from this as it takes a of a lot to get into any hot water. Finagled a WFH day every other week though.
    via EcksonGrows
  • 14
    I've got applications out don't worry, I never stop applying.
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  • 15
    sarcasmismyga... Good for you, at least he knows you don't take any from him. And HR now knows as well. And if doing the extra work from home and not eating lunch doesn't make him happy then stop doing that. Personally I suggest just coming in on time, leaving on time and blocking ALL calls, emails
    via EcksonGrows
  • 16
    and texts at home while looking for a better-paying job instead. He can deal with the work instead and it's dumb because given what you're doing people like you DON'T grow on trees now, do they? Yeah, go find a job where they actually value you. People like your boss are the reason certain places can't retain talent.
    via EcksonGrows
  • 17
    mar421 I trapped my old boss with the "let's talk to hr" bs. You might be good for now but be warned that your boss. will look for anything to fire you, document everything.
    via EcksonGrows
  • 18
    RealSpaceGeek I had your job and was in a similar position. I moved to another firm where it was the same, so I moved again. Then 4 more times. So far, I haven't found an FM position in 6 years that doesn't involve someone in the chain being a hothead who screams while red in the face as a matter of course.
    via EcksonGrows
  • 19
    mrf_150 I've worked in FM for about 20 years. I have found that 80% of FM are ex- contractors whose buddy got them the job where the louder and more dominant they appear the more they feel they can get things. done.
    via EcksonGrows
  • 20
    The other 20% I have to be experienced professionals that are struggling to get things done and working in a stress filled environment where quick responses to issues are hampered by red tape. Document, document, document.
    via EcksonGrows
  • 21
    TrickEye6408 Had a boss (director) that threatened to take me to hr once. Told him to set it up and my calendar is up to date. He said we would meet with them on Monday. Weekend came and went as did Monday and the rest of the week. He ignored me the whole week. Friday
    via EcksonGrows
  • 22
    afternoon he reached out and told me he was going to leave the issue in the past and to have a good weekend. got fired a year later. I'd been writing paper and recording calls. Never got a chance to use it
    via EcksonGrows
  • 23
    fenriq Lol, pretty sure he's going to spend every waking second cursing your name to anyone who will listen. Good, let him seethe and behave like a petulant child, maybe you'll get a fat settlement out of it all eventually.
    via EcksonGrows

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