Woman refuses to come into job early to work unpaid hours, turns unfair workplace culture on its head: 'My coworkers who have been there for 30 years have always come in before shift'

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Oct 11, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

In most workplaces, the people who've been there the longest end up shaping the culture, even when that culture stopped making sense years ago. Maybe everyone still uses the same "lucky" stapler for important documents, keeps the thermostat set to the preferred temperature of the resident human furnace, or collectively pretends not to notice the mystery jar of pickles that's been in the shared fridge since 2019. In my own office, we all get a weekly notification for a company meeting that hasn't actually happened in years. No one bothers to turn it off; we all just quietly know to ignore it.

One woman didn't find out until after she'd been hired that her coworkers were used to showing up to work before sunrise just to "get ahead" – unpaid, of course! And because they'd been doing it for decades, they expected everyone else to quietly expected to fall in line. That expectation didn't sit right with her. As far she's concerned, if she's not getting paid, she's not punching in early. Now she's being seen as difficult for drawing a line.

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  • 01

    AITA for refusing to go into work 30 minutes to an hour before my actual shift?

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    via busracavus from Getty Images Signature

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

  • 02
    I usually work the 6:30 am- 2:30 pm shift. My supervisor/manager suggested I should come in 30-60 minutes before my shift in order to get be able to complete
    via u/kiwithecat8811
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    all my tasks without rushing and be able to take my breaks. My other coworkers who have been there for 30 years have always come in before shift so they're
    via u/kiwithecat8811
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    used to working technically a 5:30-2:30 shift, so they have no trouble getting the tasks done and being able to go on break.
    via u/kiwithecat8811
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    Cheezburger Image 10562684416
    via FlamingoImages from Getty Images

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

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    I know that getting in early would seriously help me out, however, the extra 30-60 minutes I'm expected to work are unpaid so
    via u/kiwithecat8811
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    that's why I refuse to take their suggestions. It bothers me that these shifts and positions consist of tasks that need to be completed within the given time
    via u/kiwithecat8811
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    frame that is clearly unreasonable if I essentially should be in an hour early to have some leeway in the shift. In addition to that, we usually end
    via u/kiwithecat8811
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    up finishing early as the later half of the shift is easier. Sometimes we can get finished 30 minutes before the end of the shift. The employees that come in early
    via u/kiwithecat8811
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    usually leave or use it as another break while I end up having to play catch up on tasks I couldn't
    via u/kiwithecat8811
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    get finished and aren't detrimental if they're not done earlier in the day.
    via u/kiwithecat8811
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    So I think it's kinda weird that I'm expected to come in early and not be paid and if I finish before end of scheduled shift and have nothing to do and took my
    via u/kiwithecat8811
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    scheduled breaks, I'm required to stay and work in order to get paid for the full official shift of 630-230.. and not paid for the half hour to an hour I put in before the shift.
    via u/kiwithecat8811
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    TIME 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM SUNDAY MONDAY
    via Professor25 from Getty Images

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

  • 15
    AITA for telling my supervisor that I will not come in any earlier than 15 minutes before my scheduled shift?
    via u/kiwithecat8811
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    EDIT: Thank you all so much for the information and clarity! I will be taking all the advice you have all given me! Your comments are so very appreciated!!!!
    via u/kiwithecat8811

  • It's so hard to stand up for yourself when everyone is against you! I hope this narrator found the courage to speak up.

  • 17
    KaliTheBlaze NTA. That's wage theft, and it's illegal almost everywhere. If they keep up the pressure or punish you, have a word with a lawyer. Keep a copy of any time they try to pressure you to come in early.
    via u/KaliTheBlaze
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    oldcreaker This. If you're being paid hourly, they are required to pay you for the hours you work.
    via u/oldcreaker
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    mflud55 True. You can file a complaint on them whenever they try to threaten you.
    via u/mflud55
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    Cannaisseur13 That's illegal to work without compensation. VERY illegal and businesses get hefty fines for doing that.
    via u/Cannaisseur13

  • Upper management must be incredibly nervous that someone is seeing right through their gaslighting and manipulation to get people to work for free.

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    Cheezburger Image 10562684672
    via Pressmaster

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

  • 22
    puppy 99 Only if they're reported. OP, please report this to your country's labor board.
    via u/puppy****99
  • 23
    elsie78 NTA. Don't start work early, without being paid. Period. It is against labor laws to quirk without compensation. It's a job, not a volunteer gig. Let your boss
    via u/elsie78
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    know if you are compensated, sure. Otherwise, no. If you're reprimanded or retaliated against, contact your state's wage and hour/labor division (assuming you're in USA of course)
    via u/elsie78
  • 25
    Kissconcrete6995 If you are not being paid, DO NOT WORK. Full stop. They want you in at 5:30 and out at 2:30? They can pay you for a 5:30-2:30 day. NTA all around
    via u/Kissconcrete6995

Tags

boss employee toxic Female Empowerment Professional At Work work coworkers employees workplace Horrible Bosses entitled people
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