'They call me 5:01': Overworked employee refuses to stay late after 5:00pm, boss makes a nickname out of it, employee owns it

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Dec 5, 2024 8:00 AM EST

Employees should never be pressured to stay late, especially when they are not getting paid overtime to do so.

Here, we have an overworked employee who became known around the office for refusing to give in to his toxic boss's requests. Even when he was pressured to stay late for unpaid work because of a last-minute assignment, the Redditor still packed his belongings and left at the end of the day. When his boss and coworkers caught wind of this pattern, they bequeathed the Redditor with the nickname "5:01" because he pretty much always left work immediately on the dot. Thankfully, this dude had enough self-confidence not to change his ways but rather to embrace that he was the type of employee who only worked when he was being compensated fairly. It seems like it's his coworker who should learn a lesson or two from this guy.

Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from folks in the comments section. For more, check out this post about another employee who refused to take on extra work at the end of the day.

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  • 01
    10 9 .8 11 12 1 76 5. 23.
    via Unsplash+ (Hans Isaacson)
  • 02
    5:01. That's my new nickname. So... My boss and co-worker have decided to give me a nickname!
    via [deleted]
  • 03
    As the title suggests, they call me "5:01", because I leave almost bang on at the end of my day, which starts at 8:00am and ends on 5:00pm.
    via [deleted]
  • 04
    For context, at this particular establishment, overtime is unpaid. So, for every minute I'm there after 5:00pm, my time is unpaid. Well, as my boss would put it, paid in benefits, which I
    via [deleted]
  • 05
    have not used nor do I plan to, as they're of no use to me. And he absolutely will not change his stance on that.
    via [deleted]
  • 06
    So, as a result of that particular policy, I make a point of doing almost no overtime. In dire straits to get a job done? Unfortunately,
    via [deleted]
  • 07
    we're not a non-for-profit organisation, and I'm not donating my time, so it falls under the 'not my problem' policy I've established.
    via [deleted]
  • 08
    And as a result of my stoic approach, they've given me a rather demoralising, and frankly, humiliating awesome new nickname, which I'll be taking in my stride.
    via [deleted]
  • 09
    And after the last shenanigan of them not being able to pay my wage one week, I'm now looking for alternative employment. Or,
    via [deleted]
  • 10
    maybe nothing at all. I'm not going to take being treated as sub-human just because I refuse to give my time away to make someone else money.
    via [deleted]
  • 11
    You can call people lazy all you want, but that's just because you've spent your life working, trying to prove to yourself, that you're not, and now you regret it.
    via [deleted]
  • 12
    Hey everyone. This absolutely exploded far beyond what I had considered it would. Allow me to add some context to the post.
    via [deleted]
  • 13
    We're Australian. I do believe there is labour laws against not paying overtime. The benefits I had alluded to, can essentially be summed up as "big discounts on stuff". That's it. While it's inferred that I leave on the dot at 5:01, it's
    via [deleted]
  • 14
    more like 5:10/5:15. Sometimes later. Hence the mild irritation. Call me Mr. 5:10, for sakes. There's very little downtime on the job, so it's hours of solid work. No, I'm not a clock watcher.
    via [deleted]
  • 15
    I can answer some more tomorrow. You guys are the best. Thank you for listening to, and acknowledging, my rant. :)
    via [deleted]
  • 16
    lawott2 I agree, the less-than-subtle expectation that you spend more of your time there than you're paid for is horses
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  • 17
    On a personal level, though, there's a certain degree of pride in the nickname. You're not being exploited, or manipulated, or caving in to pressure to have your life
    via [deleted]
  • 18
    to pressure to have your life stolen from you. If you ever find it getting to you, you can just keep in mind you've got better things to be doing; you can let them know you've got a life and interests outside of work.
    via [deleted]
  • 19
    Edit: Alternatively, you can mention that 5:01 still means you have to shave a whole minute off your exit time.
    via [deleted]
  • 20
    taylrhm_porkrll... Common ground between us. My boss complains that at 5pm he sees nothing but dust clouds and spinning
    via [deleted]
  • 21
    chairs. On my way past reception I like to now make a little meep meep sound and pretend I'm the road runner, leaving nothing but a dust cloud. You are not a volunteer. Good luck in your search.
    via [deleted]
  • 22
    TravisFlexThem... am just disappointed that your name is 5:01 and not 5:00. Those are rookie numbers. Don't give them that extra minute of your life. if it is not paid.
    via [deleted]
  • 23
    klaad3 It's not lazy to refuse to work for free. Your time is valuable. I put some hours in for "free" at my job but will leave early some Fridays when I feel like it so it evens out. Kinda sad your co- workers don't value their life more.
    via [deleted]
  • 24
    ryan2489 Sounds like an awesome nickname. The fact they they couldn't pay your wage means they should be reported to the department of labor. Then you can call your boss "Mr./Mrs. Fined By The Department of Labor"
    via [deleted]

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workplace-stories employee work stories toxic-workplace job work toxic-boss overworked-employees overtime reddit thread Reddit company toxic-work-environment
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