Employee gets fired for standing around for 5 minutes after showing up to work 2 minutes late: ‘This isn’t working out’

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jun 14, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Micromanagers need to understand that looking busy does not necessarily make you a good employee. In fact, the best employees are productive, efficient, and thoughtful without needing to perform for the approval of their supervisors. If that means wrapping up all one's tasks and responsibilities before the end of the work day, then so be it! In fact, we are of the firm belief that this kind of productivity should not only be allowed but it should be encouraged. As Sheryl Lee Ralph''s character says on Abbott Elementary, "I do my work, I go home." Looking busy until the final milliseconds of the work day should not be part of the job.

With all this in mind, micromanagers need to also spend far less time monitoring everyone's lateness and far more time making working conditions feel safe and ideal for their teams. Lateness happens. If it's rare and especially if it's only a few minutes late, no one should pay any attention to it because the tables will turn very soon and micromanagers may end up being late themselves due to unforeseen circumstances. So to all the managers reading this: Be careful how strict you are with your employees!

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    Cheezburger Image 10516952320
    via Unsplash+ (Eduardo Ramos)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This employee was chastised for finishing their tasks five minutes before the end of their shift and not having anything to do during that last short period of time. Matters were made worse when they were reprimanded for being just two minutes late to work the next day. Somehow, their manager felt that those two events were proper cause for termination, 


     

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    I (used to) work at a company and ever since I was hired I always had the feeling my boss did not like me. He was very cold towards me. I never got proper training I was just thrown in the deep end and had to use my own personal knowledge on products.
    via West-Personality-919
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    I would do tasks that was not asked of me like cleaning up mess and volunteering for extra work. I take pride in my work and I like assisting the public. I arrived 2 minutes late to work
    via West-Personality-919
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    today and gave notice to my boss about the traffic. Everyone at my job got an email about the payment systems changing but did not receive an email. I asked my supervisor and he brushed it
    via West-Personality-919
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    off. Then I asked again and my boss said in front of all my coworkers and customers 'everyone got the email except you, there is a reason for that follow me' I followed him to his
    via West-Personality-919
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    office, my supervisor joined and my boss said 'this is not working out we've put in your one week notice'. I was in disbelief and asked why, he said 'because you came in 2 minutes late'. I
    via West-Personality-919
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    questioned him further, and he said because I was 'standing around for 5 minutes before clocking off' I just left and cried in the car. I have fully dedicated myself to this job for past months and I was fired just like that..
    via West-Personality-919
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    Cheezburger Image 10516952832
    via Ahmad Gunnaivi

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    Fairie-Fae 3 hr. ago Don't sign anything they give you cause it sounds like they are trying to put you in as quitting.
    via West-Personality-919
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    Gingereej1t 4 hr. ago Wait, they put in your one week notice, as in they are firing you in a week? Because usually that's how you phrase a resignation
    via West-Personality-919
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    Available_Grape_3855. 3 hr. ago Don't cry about it, they are as and the universe is doing you a favor. Run far away and find something else that makes you happy :)
    via West-Personality-919
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    AnamCeili 50 min. ago Definitely don't sign anything, if they ask you to. And try to get the firing in writing -- maybe send them an e- mail saying something
    via West-Personality-919
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    like "Just to clarify -- you are firing me because you believe I was 2 minutes late to work one day (insert date here if you know it),
    via West-Personality-919
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    and because you believe I was 'standing around for 5 minutes before clicking off' on another day (insert date here if you know it). Please confirm." And definitely apply for unemployment!
    via West-Personality-919
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    Ambitious_List_7793. 1 hr. ago Congratulations on your escape! You'll find a job that appreciates having you on board.
    via West-Personality-919
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    LikeABundleOfHay. 3 hr. ago What country are you in where this is legal? Aren't their any laws against this where you are?
    via West-Personality-919
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    Complex_Damage1215. 3 hr. ago Yeah that sounds about right. Sorry your workplace was awful.
    via West-Personality-919
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    somecallme_doc. 55 min. ago Go file for unemployment. You will win it. They will fight it but lose because they don't actually have anything or have done any of the steps they should of.
    via West-Personality-919
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    Kayastorme 18 min. ago Do not work that last week for them
    via West-Personality-919
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    SC 1 hr. ago OnHollow. I believe fully that this manager is not the best at the job. However two sides to every coin. I cast no
    via West-Personality-919
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    judgement based off the little information provided. If I were to cast judgement, who cares, this is reddit.
    via West-Personality-919

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workplace-stories employee work stories toxic-workplace job work overworked-employees Horrible Bosses bad bosses company toxic-work-environment
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