'Manager acts like I’m on call 24/7': Office worker files HR complaint after manager crosses boundaries, after repeatedly calling and emailing employee outside of working hours, then threatening to fire him for ignoring his calls

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Sep 16, 2025 6:00 AM EDT

If Dolly Parton were to write another song about working hours in 2025, we think she'd fall off her songwriting stool. We all know working 9-5 is just a term used to make a contract 'sound pretty'. If this employee had to collaborate on a song, he'd probably name it something like: Working 24/7, 7 days a week ft. my boss doesn't understand boundaries...Something along those lines. But Dolly would have to obviously approve. 

This employee is fed up, after being contacted by his boss during Friday night family dinners, Sunday lunches, and practically any other hour he feels the need to do so. The thing is, it's not even like it's urgent…He just has zero respect for his boundaries and life outside of the workplace. To the point that this employee is forced to contact HR, after his manager threatens his job through a voicenote, following his refusal to answer any more of his calls on the weekend…

It's all takin' and no givin'.

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  • We understand some people live to work, but in many cases, a lot of people are working so that they can live. They prefer to leave their work life in the office, to establish a well-balanced life and time for the people around them. They should be able to have those moments uninterrupted by some entitled boss whose spreadsheets just can’t wait until Monday morning! 

    ‘Wants to move ahead, but the boss won't seem to let me, I swear sometimes that man is out to get me’ - Dolly xoxo
     

  • 01
    "He'll call me at 9 at night to check something, text me on Sundays asking for updates"
    via aandnphoto

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    AITA for reporting my manager to HR for constantly calling me outside work hours?

    I work a pretty standard 9 to 5 office job. Nothing special, just data entry and admin work. My contract literally says my hours
    via StarryEyedGal_
  • 03
    are 9 to 5, Monday through Friday. The problem is my manager acts like I'm on call 24/7. He'll call me
    via StarryEyedGal_
  • 04
    at 9 at night to check something, text me on Sundays asking for updates, and he even called me once during a family dinner to
    via StarryEyedGal_
  • 05
    ask about a spreadsheet I had already sent earlier that day. None of this stuff is urgent. It's always things that could easily
    via StarryEyedGal_
  • 06
    wait until the next morning. At first I tried being polite and answering, but it got old fast. I decided to set some boundaries
    via StarryEyedGal_
  • 07
    and stopped responding after 5 unless it was something urgent. He didn't like that and started leaving me voicemails about how
    via StarryEyedGal_
  • 08
    I needed to be more committed if I wanted to grow at the company. After the third weekend in a row of him blowing up my phone, I
    via StarryEyedGal_
  • 09
    Calling
    via gettyimagespro

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 10
    finally went to HR and filed a formal complaint. Now he's cold with me at work and a couple coworkers think I overreacted and should have just ignored the calls.
    via StarryEyedGal_
  • 11
    mariehotwife84 NTA. If your contract says 9–5, then that's when you're expected to work. Your boss trying to guilt trip you into unpaid overtime is toxic. Good on you for going to HR.
    via mariehotwife84
  • 12
    Remote-Passenger7880 Your coworkers are dumb. You tried the ignoring route and his response was to threaten your job. NTA.
    via Remote-Passenger7880
  • 13
    knight_shade_realms You did ignore the calls You did try to address it with him NTA for going to HR. Your contract specifies your work hours and he was insisting on extending that to your personal life
    via knight_shade_realms
  • 14
    Business_Loquat5658 The fact that he's being cold means HR agreed with you and told him to knock it off. Now he's pouting.
    via Business_Loquat5658
  • 15
    Timb1044 Every time he calls you after 5pm put in an overtime request for 3 hours. If you having to do work expect to be paid.
    via Timb1044
  • 16
    Timb1044 I bet the ones who saying just overlook it not getting the calls It eady to say just do it when it not your time or money.
    via Timb1044
  • 17
    LoopyMercutio NTA- You didn't overreact. Now you need to head back in to HR and talk to them about his attitude/ actions and retaliation, because his new treatment of you is what he is doing now.
    via c
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10554062336
    via prostock-studio

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 19
    18k_gold Do you get overtime? If you do, put 1 hr OT for every call. Not answering is always the correct way but since that didn't work, and he ignored you about calling after hours. HR is the correct move, now just be careful about retaliation, document everything.
    via 18k_gold
  • 20
    Dana Marie75038 NTA. This things need to be documented for your protection in case you get fired.
    via DanaMarie75038
  • 21
    kittyhm You could have done worse. Charged the company 1 hour minimum for every call or email you had to respond to. Manager would have been in a lot more trouble when the overtime was clocked.
    via kittyhm
  • 22
    TheRealMemonty NTA. He needs to learn appropriate boundaries.
    via TheRealMemonty
  • 23
    Polyps_on_uranus I jad a coworker who would text me everything I did wrong that week after shift on friday, and then block communication until monday. So I was left to stew about it. I was a hard worker and gave 110%, and she just danced aroind the classroom. HR did nothing, so I quit. That classroom sure looked empty after I took all my stuff
    via Polyps_on_uranus
  • 24
    Pristine_Society_583 He needed the reprimand, or he would only have escalated.
    via Pristine_Society_583
  • 25
    trivalmaynard Had this exact experience. These people literally have no lives and need to be told not to act like their employees don't either
    via trivalmaynard
  • 26
    jaywh45 NTA 9-5 MEANS EXACTLY THAT.
    via jaywh45
  • 27
    ricoxoxo In my experience. Call out the guy to HR and will get results. But you also put a marker on you, too. HR is not your friend. They are there to protect the company, not employees.
    via ricoxoxo

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247 boss hr manager complaints weekends horrible coworkers horrible-manager extra pay workplace After Hours boundaries calling messaging over time report emailing
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