'Suddenly they could rework the timeline': Manager demands team work unpaid overtime for a long-standing deadline, employees all respond by calling in ‘sick’, forcing manager to backtrack the timeline’s so-called ‘urgency’

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Oct 4, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Let's play a fun little game. 

Question: What is the one thing worse than a horrible manager? Answer: A horrible manager who demands you work unpaid overtime because he didn't let the team know about a deadline that's been brewing for ages. 

Question? How to make him sweat? Solution: Ensure you're whole team calls in sick and find out just how 'urgent' that deadline really is.

Well, that's exactly what this genius group of coworkers did, after constantly being exploited by their unorganised manager. A man who used 'teamwork' and 'commitment' as an excuse for everything. Well, buddy, it seems your team must be a bunch of great listeners, because they sure used teamwork to orchestrate this, and are all very committed to watching you face the consequences. 

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  • Now has this harsh lesson taught the manager a.) Treat your employees with respect and they will respect you back. b.) Your employees are smart enough to know what requests aren’t even legal or c.) You can’t exploit others to clean up your mess for you.

    You’re totally right! That was a trick question. The answer is d.) All of the above? 

    Because a bunch of happy and well-rested employees are a lot more helpful than an office full of empty desks and chairs. 


     

  • 01
    Angry boss shouting through the phone
    via minervastudio

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

  • 02

    Company tried to force everyone to work unpaid overtime, half the department called out sick the next day

    My manager called a "mandatory team meeting" yesterday afternoon where he announced we all need to stay 2 hours late every day this week to meet a deadline that management knew about for months.
    via notanerdlikeu
  • 03
    When someone asked about overtime pay, he actually laughed and said "This is what being a team player looks like.
    via notanerdlikeu
  • 04
    It's what separates the people who grow with this company from those who don't." Someone else pointed out that forcing hourly employees to work off the clock is illegal.
    via notanerdlikeu
  • 05
    Manager's response: "Nobody's forcing you to do anything. We're just strongly encouraging your participation in the team's success." So naturally, half the department (including me) called out "sick" today.
    via notanerdlikeu
  • 06
    Sick man blowing his nose
    via sydaproductions

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

  • 07
    Manager is freaking out in the group chat about "lack of commitment" while the rest of us are sharing memes in our separate chat.
    via notanerdlikeu
  • 08
    Amazing how a deadline that was "absolutely critical to the company's future" suddenly became something they could "rework the timeline on" when enough people refused to be exploited.
    via notanerdlikeu
  • 09
    Know your worth, folks.
    via notanerdlikeu
  • 10
    Internal_Air6426 Sounds like the perfect response. Management tried to steal from labor. So labor punished management. That's how it should work except that it should have been everyone who called in not just half.
    via Internal_Air6426
  • 11
    reala 728 "This is what being a team player looks like. It's what separates the people who grow with this company from those who don't." this is quite literally the opposite of growing with the company. its growing the company while remaining a spec on some spreadsheet.
    via reala
  • 12
    Pbandsadness Even asking them to work off the clock is massively illegal. I wonder if HR is aware of this.
    via Pbandsadness
  • 13
    Two woman leaving the office
    via Sora Shimazaki

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

  • 14
    RopeAccomplished2728 Someone should tell the manager "Well, would you be fine if the company decided to deduct 1 week's worth of pay from you and told you that "It is good for the team"? Would you still work there knowing that you wouldn't get paid for it? What if they took away any bonus you were to get? Since it would be "good for the team.""
    via RopeAccomplished2728
  • 15
    In the end, the only people that are expected to actually work for free in hope there is a return on their investment are the owners of the company. Everyone else, while there may be other reasons, ultimately is there for money. Pure and simple.
    via RopeAccomplished2728
  • 16
    Aggressive Lake191 You know who is going to get in deep trouble for this (plot twist): The manager. He mismanaged his crew and is going to cause the deadline to be missed. In most places it would all fall on him. Prediction: Overtime will be offered.
    via Aggressive_Lake191
  • 17
    david8601 See what the collective power of "no" can do?
    via david8601
  • 18
    mercurygreen Yeah, I'd have messaged my HR team IN WRITING asking about it. It's also pretty amazing how fast they can backpedal once someone puts something in writing.
    via mercurygreen
  • 19
    Magnet2025 "The lack of prior planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part." Especially an unpaid emergency.
    via Magnet2025
  • 20
    dvillin The manager was right about one thing. This deadline did force all of you to come together as a team. Against him. Good Job.
    via dvillin
  • 21
    An empty office
    via victorzastolskiy

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

  • 22
    JTEL918 Real team players give their team a heads up months ahead of schedule so they can adjust priorities to hit their deadline on time.
    via JTEL918
  • 23
    Battlecat3714 ...the least he coulda done was attempt a lame bribery of 2 large cheese pizza's from Little Caesars offering to "feed" ya'll w/ a lame a pizza party....employees can't even get the decency to be offended w/ that excuse anymore?
    via Battlecat3714
  • 24
    Atophy Can the company 'team play' your car and mortgage payments? If not, they pay you for your time !
    via Atophy
  • 25
    Mierdicomics Lmao reminds me when my boss asked if I could do overtime, and when I asked how much it was paid suddenly there was no need for me to work extra hours
    via Mierdicomics

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antiwork empty-office workplace-stories manager petty-revenge-reddit calling in sick coworkers askreddit working-together horrible-manager workplace workplace drama planning Reddit over time
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