'Unless you're getting paid OT, don't work 12 hour days': Company fires employee, forces coworker to take on 2x their work for no pay increase

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jul 13, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

Nobody likes to be undervalued, especially at work. Odds are, you bring a lot to the table when it comes to your job. You put in your all every day and sometimes even go above and beyond the call of duty. You realize your skills and you're good at implementing them, and you have satisfaction in this. But self-satisfaction only goes so far. You'd probably like to be rewarded monetarily for your efforts as well. This is kind of what a job is all about, or else it would be called volunteering. 

So it's understandable that employees gripe when they feel like they're not getting recognized for their work. This is especially true when you step up to the plate more than is strictly necessary. Maybe there was a big project you used some of your free time to help with. Maybe you came in early and stayed late. Or maybe you took on the work of a former coworker. 

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  • 01

    My coworker quit without notice and now I'm doing two jobs for the same pay

    This happened last Monday. My neighbor just didn't show up to work and when our manager called him he was like yeah I'm not coming back. No two weeks notice, no explanation nothing like the guy just vanished.
    via u/HungryBuffalo4568
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10527831040
    via Unsplash+ (Andrej Lišakov)

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

  • That's what happened in this story where an employee was suddenly saddled with way more work than they were used to.  But when they buckled down and took on the extra assignments, they realized it might have been all for naught. Read on for the story to see what happened. 

  • 03
    The problem is we were working on the same project and now all his stuff got dumped on me. I'm literally doing double the work but getting paid the same amount. When I asked my boss about it he said 'we'll figure something out' but it's been a week and nothing's changed.
    via u/HungryBuffalo4568
  • 04
    I'm torn because on one hand the extra experience might look good on my resume but on the other hand I'm working 12 hour days and I'm exhausted. I've got some savings built up mostly from jackpot city so I could probably afford to push back a little but I'm scared they'll just find someone else who will do both jobs without complaining. Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you handle it?
    via u/HungryBuffalo4568
  • 05

    Commenters came in with ideas.

    synth_fg. 1d ago You work at the same pace you always have You prioritise the important/ urgent tasks and anything else can wait until it becomes urgent
    via u/synth_fg
  • 06
    If the project is delayed you notify your boss of the projected delay and let him worry about it Under no circumstances do you do extra hours or compromise the quality of your work by cramming more in
    via u/synth_fg
  • 07
    wafflesandgin · 1d ago • Unless you're getting paid OT, don't work 12 hour days. They're counting on you to comply with the additional workload because it saves them money.
    via u/wafflesandgin
  • 08
    Things have to start not meeting targets for them to either pay you more for the extra work, get another person on the project, or you end up following your coworker's example and just not show up one day.
    via u/wafflesandgin
  • 09
    HMS_Slartibartfast · 1d ago • Don't provide free labor. If they don't pay for 12 hours, don't work 12 hours. Provide a daily notice of how much your project is slipping by email. Continue to
    via u/HungryBuffalo4568
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10527831552
    via Unsplash+ (Andrej Lišakov)

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

  • 11
    annotate this is due to being short one person. This isn't an "excuse" or "complaint" email, it is instead giving your boss support for getting an additional person to help. Should be very clear, something like "Completed
    via u/wafflesandgin
  • 12
    tasks a, c, e, f. Tasks b and d could not be worked on. b requires 2 people to do and d requires 4 hours that were not available. Please provide update on when we will have someone to assist with b and who will be handling d." Notes like this will help when you need to justify not hitting a project timeline.
    via u/wafflesandgin
  • 13
    . emmjaybeeyoukay 1d ago tell your boss you're overloaded and THEY need to prioritise and reschedule the deliverable dates on the project. if they go "we are" then ask when you can reasonably expect new deadlines. Vague comments mean they probably are not doing anything".
    via u/emmjaybeeyoukay
  • 14
    Don't threaten to quit; go looking for a new job (heck ask your colleague where they went and see if they have another job). Give your manager a "we need to discuss my job" and make sure HR is there. I suggest if in the USA in an "at will" state you do so only after you have secured another job offer.
    via u/emmjaybeeyoukay
  • 15
    Tell them either you get a new colleague or a significant compensation increase immediately (not at the end of project) and if not forthcoming hand in your prepared resignation. Lets face it they're going to burn you out to complete the project and keep you overloaded to maximise their profit. Don't play into their games.
    via u/emmjaybeeyoukay
  • 16
    zeeblefritz • 1d ago "I'm scared they'll just find someone else who will do both jobs without complaining." If they haven't found 1 person to do 1 job what makes you think they will find 1 person to do 2 jobs?
    via u/zeeblefritz
  • 17
    Mr_Mojo_Risin_83 • 1d ago Do your normal amount of work. Such that your project will be half completed at the finish date. You're only one person.
    via u/Mr_Mojo_Risin_83
  • 18
    jesus_chen · 1d ago Stop. There is no such thing as "the extra experience will look good on my resume." Do only what you are paid for and in the current situation it's time to ask for a raise for that.
    via u/jesus_chen
  • 19
    StolenWishes · 1d ago You can continue to be a scared slave, or you can stand up for yourself. Those are the choices.
    via u/StolenWishes
  • 20
    TTMM-2020. 1d ago You have all the leverage yet you act the opposite. Work your 8 hours at the same normal pace. If they want more from you, they better cough up overtime pay or bump in hourly/salary rate. Any promises not in writing aren't worth a thing.
    via u/TTMM-2020
  • 21
    If they threaten to fire you, you get unemployment and they get 200% more work and that project goes to cr p. Again you have ALL the leverage.
    via u/TTMM-2020
  • 22
    High AltitudeMoose 1d ago • If the extra experience will improve your resume then do enough of it so you understand it, then update your resume and start looking for another job that pays more. Unfortunately your fear of finding someone else is probably justified given how. brutal the job market is right now.
    via u/HighAltitudeMoose
  • 23
    • macfarley 1d ago The idea that you have to make up for what they did is the boot on your neck. Stand up and don't accept the premise. Do the work you were before, it sounds like you were already doing more than one person should be expected already, that's why the other guy left. Staffing issues and productivity are the company's problem, not yours.
    via u/macfarley
  • 24
    ImportanceHoliday · 1d ago . Work at the precise same pace you were when the coworker was still there. If your boss says anything, you say, "I was already working as fast as I can. Unless someone is hired to replace NAME, the work will take twice as long as it did with two of us working."
    via u/ImportanceHoliday
  • 25
    _Chaos_Star_ · 1d ago If you keep working twelve hour days it'll become expected. Work normal hours, ask for priorities. Let some things fail, you're one person down.
    via u/_Chaos_Star_
  • 26
    shadho 1d ago So don't. Do your job and go home. Do it well. But don't make up for management's inability to retain employees and backfill them when needed. Not only are you not paid to do that. You're not paid the employee's salary who left. So why do their job?
    via u/shadho
  • 27
    Seriously stop. You're not a hero. No one cares. No one will remember you doing this. Stop.
    via u/shadho
  • 28
    Anon419420 · 1d ago • Why are you working 12 hour days for a project that requires 2? Your job obviously can't afford to lose you if it's that important that you're working (hopefully paid) overtime everyday. Just do the most urgent things put others on the back burner until you get to it. If
    via u/Anon419420
  • 29
    manahement asks, tell them you can't do the work of 2 people in the time that they pay you. It's only been a week. They'll either find someone while you keep your quality of life, or you have a good excuse to start looking for a job. The only red flag I see here is that you're willingly working these hours instead of standing up for yourself.
    via u/Anon419420

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