Manager demands front desk employee arrive at 7:53 but won't pay them until 8:00, resulting in 7 minutes of unpaid labor each day: 'Do I tell him I know the law and stand my ground?'

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jul 3, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

When you're working hourly, things that seem small add up over time. When you break it down, a half hour might feel like not much, but when you spread it across multiple paychecks, it makes a huge difference. This is why, as an hourly worker, you have to be diligent about keeping up with your hours. You have to track them and calculate them to make sure you're getting everything you're owed. It's easy for managers and business owners to neglect what's going on under their noses. 

Either they're just oblivious and aren't keeping track of details or they're maliciously trying to pull the wool over your eyes. In both cases, it's up to you to hold them accountable. This is your burden as an hourly worker. That, and probably not having PTO. And a few other things. You know what? You have it bad enough as an hourly worker without worrying about wage theft.

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  • 01

    Manager demands I clock in every morning but am not paid.

    We round the nearest 15 minute, totally legal. However, because I have to set up my work station before 8am, I come early (with their understanding) and I clock in 15 to 10 minutes early. I've done this for 5 years. This amounts to about 2 hours of overtime a paycheck. This week my scab of a manager send me a message telling me that I can no longer
    via u/Esorra9321
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10522299904
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • But unfortunately, we live in the world that we live in and workers have to constantly be on the defensive about their paychecks. In this situation, an employee was being taken advantage of and wasn't quite sure what to do about it. Read on for the details. 

  • 03
    clock in when I get to work, that I have to WAIT until 7:53, this technically means I will have to work every morning before 8 but the pay won't start till 8. I didn't throw a fit or want to look triggered so I responded by simply asking if they wanted me to start setting up after 8am from now on because I'm unable to work unpaid. She responded that 7 minutes is enough time to get everything done that I need to.
    via u/Esorra9321
  • 04
    She's salaried, btw. I am waiting to speak with my actual employer, however I don't know what my next steps should be. If he backs me up that's great. I can also just start coming at 8AM.
    via u/Esorra9321
  • 05
    But if he tries to make me come at 7:53 I really can't leave this job for another 6 months. I'm under an arbitration agreement. So I do it and then report unpaid wages? Do I tell him I know the law and stand my ground?? I know it's technically illegal...time rounding cannot benefit the employer unfairly. I know my boss knows the law but he allows this manager to do his dirty work.
    via u/Esorra9321
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10522300672
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • 07

    Commenters came in with ideas.

    Low-Act8667 • 5d ago . They are eliminating your OT. It's common. So, you clock at 0800 and if asked, you say that your posted hours are 0800 to whatever. You don't work before or after.
    via u/Low-Act8667
  • 08
    tconners ⚫ 5d ago • As an hourly employee you do not start working until you clock in, and you stop working as soon as you are clocked out. Full stop. If you are scheduled to begin working at 8am, you clock in at 8am, and you begining working. Setting up your work station = part of work, you do not do this off the clock.
    via u/tconners
  • 09
    If they need your workstation to be set up BY 8am, then they need to schedule you to come in early enough to have it set up by 8am.
    via u/tconners
  • 10
    Sweetie PieJ · 5d ago . Come in at 8. They're going to get 15 minutes less of labor if they won't pay for it.
    via u/SweetiePieJ
  • 11
    SquiffyRae 5d ago I'm of the opinion that if you need to "set up" something, that is a fundamental part of your job role. If you're working in blue collar work and need to have a toolbox meeting or perform pre-start safety checks on machinery, that is a part of your job.
    via u/SquiffyRae
  • 12
    If you work in a white-collar job, if you need to start your computer up, that is part of your job. Same thing with leaving at the end of the day. If you need to park up a vehicle, pack up your toolbox, save your work and shut down your computer that's all part of your job.
    via u/SquiffyRae
  • 13
    If you have a set finish time, you should be ready so that you're leaving on said finish time. You're not working till 4- 5pm and then spending another 5 minutes saving your work and shutting your computer down
    via u/SquiffyRae
  • 14
    imaninjayoucantsee... • 5d ago Ask for everything in writing, then contact your state's labor department.
    via u/imaninjayoucantseeme
  • 15
    bringin-downdahouse 5d ago . Why do you "have to set up your work station before 8am"?? You should clock in at 8AM and start working setting up work station is part of your job and should be done while being paid.
    via u/bringin-downdahouse
  • 16
    Born-Savings4126 · 4d ago yep i've had a job like that my Project Manager declared that we get to work at 6:30 but pay didn't start until 7 i started showing up at 7. he asked why i wasn't there at 6:30 and i told him it was because i don't work for free. then they decided to
    via u/Born-Savings4126
  • 17
    structure our per diem pay differently, requiring us to work min. 10hrs/day to receive. Project Manager would tell us to clock off 15 minutes before our 10 hours, effectively nulling our per diem pay. i heavily disagreed, outted him out to owner of the company, got my Project Manager fired, and got myself a hefty raise.
    via u/Born-Savings4126
  • 18
    butterscotchdeath1 4d ago My job does the 7:53 clock in for 8:00 start, but it also does the 3:53 clock out for 4 pm so it works for me. They want me ready to go before I clock in, but I stop customer work 15-20 minutes early so I can wrap up paperwork and be ready to clock out on time.
    via u/butterscotchdeath1
  • 19
    KSknitter .4d ago We have the same at my work, I leave 7 minutes early every day because I am coming in 7 minutes early.
    via u/KSknitter
  • 20
    Taowulf 5d ago • If they demand you "work" before you log in, take it to whatever labor board covers your area. She is begging to be busted, this is very no bueno. Oh, and at least two of the call centers I worked in (Xerox and Ibex) both lost class action lawsuits for this very thing.
    via u/Taowulf
  • 21
    FractionofaFraction 5d ago As ever: get them to put this cr p in writing. Otherwise document everything carefully yourself and keep getting paid for every minute you work.
    via u/FractionofaFraction
  • 22
    Acc... . . 5d ago Edited 4d ago Clock in at 8. Work til quiting time than leave. If productive, non set up work isn't started til 820, that sounds like the managers problem, not yours If this manager wants to push the issue, insist that he put it in writing. Follow what he tells you, (in writing) and if any of its illegal or even smells wrong sic the dept of labour on him for wage theft
    via u/Accomplished-Fox-486
  • 23
    • Saltycook 4d ago DO NOT WORK OFF THE CLOCK. If you have text/ email proof of them saying you need to set up your station without clocking in, turn it into your local state's labor board.
    via u/Saltycook
  • 24
    TinyEmergencyCake 4d ago Clock in at 8, start work at 8. Never ever work for free, not even one minute.
    via u/TinyEmergencyCake
  • 25
    unndunn 4d ago . This week my scab of a manager send me a message telling me that I can no longer clock in when I get to work, that I have to WAIT until 7:53... Nice of him to put his wage- theft in writing.
    via u/unndunn
  • 26
    Edit to add: Thanks for all the responses. To clarify a couple things, I work the front desk. Setting up includes taking out signs, cleaning, signing in the computer and printing the days paperwork. This all has to be done by 8.
    via u/Esorra9321
  • 27
    I'm under an arbitration agreement which means I can't take them to open court, but that doesn't mean I can't go to my state or federal. They are definitely cracking down on overtime, however I've been exempt from that till now. For the people who work on the back, clocking in at 7:53 isn't a big deal because they just clock in and then go hang out in the kitchen getting coffee for another 15 minutes.
    via u/Esorra9321
  • 28
    The manager in question is definitely on a power trip, and the business is small with no HR. I've already emailed my boss with screenshots and asked him if I'm going to continue coming in at 7:45 or 8AM, and that I can't work without compensation. It would be like 30 hours a year unpaid. I also have two previous instances where I submitted a timesheet when our power was down and my manager cut my actual time to 7:53 and I've printed all the evidence from that.
    via u/Esorra9321

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