Boss calls 20-year-old woman working her first job "ungrateful" for not working unpaid overtime: 'Now I'm worried they're going to cut my hours or make my life harder'

You work to get paid and you get paid for your work. It's a pretty simple concept really, which makes it all the more confusing when you're being asked to do things like work unpaid overtime. The compensation goes hand in hand with the act of the work itself, and when you're suddenly expecting someone to be "grateful" at the "chance" to work, or questioning their dedication and work ethic, you're instantly violating the terms of the entire agreement. They might try to tell you that your work should be about "more than just the paycheck" but that's just silly—that's the entire point of the work.

Though, unfortunately, although you won't be "grateful" at not being paid for your time and effort, you'll find yourself putting up with it, gritting your teeth in frustration but determined not to call attention to yourself and have the all-seeing eye of Sauron focused in your direction. With each instance of getting away with it, the employer will become increasingly emboldened, convinced that they're in the right to ask staff to do so. But, say one thing once and you'll be branded as "difficult" and find yourself being increasingly iced out of the company.

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"They called me 'ungrateful'..."

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_{The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.}
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This 20-year-old woman was asked by her employer to work unpaid overtime. She had been working to build a reputation for herself as someone who was willing to go above and beyond. After being asked to stay late to stay and clean up, she was more than happy to help, rightfully automatically assuming that she would be paid for the time. Desperate to make a good impression but frustrated by the injustice of it all, the young woman turned to this online community to share her frustration and seek readers' advice.
You'll see this happen a lot in retail and service, where regional and upper management have passed sweeping and strict rules about staff claiming overtime, often giving managers an extremely hard time when they try to claim overtime for their staff. Eventually, managers will relent and cave. Being squeezed by their own bosses, they'll resort to the unethical practice of not recording their workers' overtime and occasionally adjusting their other recorded hours.
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"...and said I wasn't a 'team player'"

via Getty Images For Unsplash+

_{The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.}
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"Got called 'ungrateful' for not wanting to work overtime for free"

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