Boss tells employee they 'lack passion' for not answering Slack messages at 10 PM: 'I make $19/hr [...] for a company that sells industrial cleaning supplies'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Dec 6, 2025 10:00 AM EST

Passion is an interesting word. It's often tossed around in terms of interests and artistic pursuits, but should it apply to your employment as well? Ideally, you work a job that you love to do. It inspires you, challenges you, and gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning. But most people are not passionate about their jobs. They wouldn't sacrifice everything for it. Most folks put their personal lives first, knowing that that's the thing that really makes them happy. That doesn't mean they are not committed to their jobs, quite the opposite. They just have boundaries around their work life to make everything run a little bit smoother. Good managers know this, and respect their employees' boundaries, knowing that it generates better work in the long run. But not everyone gets this. 

Some managers will try to squeeze as much as possible out of their employees, hoping they don't notice that they're being taken advantage of. That's what happened in this story when an employee, who by all accounts was great at their job, was reprimanded for not going "above and beyond."

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  • 01
    A man with a tablet works at an office late at night
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • “Above and beyond” in this story meant working outside of working hours. Not just staying late at the office, but being available almost 24/7 to answer silly workplace questions. This employee was called out for understandably turning off their phone at a certain hour. Read on for the full details and see what happened here. 

  • 02

    Boss told me I "lack passion" because I won't answer slack messages at 10pm...

    had my annual review today and my boss literally said I need to work on being more passionate about the company. when I asked what he meant he brought up how I don't respond to messages after hours and how other team members are "more available" I work in marketing. for a company that sells industrial cleaning supplies. I make $19/hr.
    via u/misnit
  • 03
    what passion am I supposed to have for mop buckets at 10pm on a Tuesday when I'm trying to watch a show with my gf he also mentioned I should be "going above and beyond" if I want that raise I asked for. I've been here 3 years and haven't gotten a single cost of living adjustment. inflation is insane and they're really out here asking me to be passionate about email campaigns for floor wax
    via u/misnit
  • 04
    anyway I've got 2 interviews lined up next week. they can find someone else who's passionate about bleach or whatever
    via u/misnit
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    Other workers chimed in with their thoughts.

    • maddlyweird 2h ago They always pull the "passion" card when they don't want to pay you what you're worth. It's wild how they expect you to treat a $19/hr job like you're launching SpaceX while they can't even match inflation. Good luck with those interviews, hope you land something that actually respects your time.
    via u/maddlyweird
  • 06
    A man sits in a chair at night, face illuminated by a phone.
    via Unsplash+ (Nick Fancher)

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

  • 07
    DrXanaxal • 2h ago Ask him how to punch in after hours so you can get paid for your time to answer questions and you'd be happy to assist. Sounds like he wants a salary worker on an hourly wage. I feel ya I'm going through the same thing.
    via u/DrXanaxal
  • 08
    vatothe0 • 2h ago When you quit, be sure to tell him at 10pm
    via u/vatothe0
  • 09
    DupeyTA • 2h ago Today, I received 3 messages after hours that increased in urgency... about RSVPing for a small group dinner... at a buffet restaurant... next week.
    via u/DupeyTA
  • 10
    PA_Archer • 2h ago . When you leave, give zero notice. When they complain, say "Sorry, I'm just SO passionate about this new. job!"
    via u/PA_Archer
  • 11
    buttercrotcher • 2h ago . They need an excuse not to pay you more, while using some random BS. It's also probable they are using the stacked ranking system and chose you as the person to run over. Do not do it. Put your head down and job hunt.
    via u/buttercrotcher
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    OriginalSchmidt1 · 1h ago "Well maybe if y'all were more passionate about paying a living wage..."
    via u/OriginalSchmidt1
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    winterweiss2902 · 2h ago . My manager often changes. our 1:1 meeting time from 5pm to 8pm or later on the morning of the day itself. I refused to attend unless he gives notice of few days in advance.
    via u/winterweiss2902
  • 14
    suapyg 1h ago When presented with this kind of nonsense, turn it around on them. "Help me better understand your thinking here. What is it that you think drives the passion you're talking about? Can you identify specific things that inspire you to be dedicated and driven?"
    via u/suapyg
  • 15
    CatApprehensive... • 2h ago Its so weird that people think they can push someone's button and expect passion or enthusiasm. They are intrinsic properties that arise when the right conditions are met.
    via u/CatApprehensive5064
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    Wat he's actually asking is for you to fake it and pretend you're there allready. It feels like a form of emotional blackmail that doesn't have any good emotional outcomes for your autonomy. The whole story is rigged if you treat promotion like manipulative mechanic
    via u/CatApprehensive5064
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    • MojoHighway 1h ago These conversations are always wild to me. - I'm one of the lucky ones my "day job" is in an area that I studied in college. I like to think that I bring my A-game to the job during the hours when I'm there.
    via u/MojoHighway
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    Everything gets taken care of with professionalism and attention to detail. The second that I'm finished with my time on-site, I'm gone. You're not going to hear from me. If - and only IF - we have an emergency that needs my attention, my supervisor knows how to get
    via u/MojoHighway
  • 19
    in touch. He's remarkably good in these conversations and nearly 100% of the time I don't hear from him unless our facility is taking a weather-related snow day. Otherwise, super respectful of space and time.
    via u/MojoHighway
  • 20
    This job isn't my passion. It doesn't mean that I don't do a good job. It simply means that I'm more than happy to do all the things that need to be done while I'm here and when I'm home, I'm home. Find a new job OP. I don't know you but I know deep down that your life doesn't revolve around a passion for floor wax and the associated supplies.
    via u/MojoHighway
  • 21
    StudioGangster1 • 1h ago . Tell your boss that you "lack pay" to be answering messages after 10pm
    via u/StudioGangster1
  • 22
    koki_li • 41m ago German here. When I answer emails in my holidays I get trouble with my boss. The American work culture is sick.
    via u/koki_li
  • 23
    SevenFiguresInvig... • 1h ago Ez to answer at 10m that you are in bed sleeping, its no onea business what hour you go to sleep
    via u/SevenFiguresInvigior
  • 24
    Weaksoul ⚫ 1h ago Maybe they should be thinking about how they can. make people passionate about the work
    via u/Weaksoul
  • 25
    Sure_Acanthacea... • 1h ago Outlook has a feature called "Scheduled Send." Inspiring ideas can be set to go out at the start of next morning's shift.
    via u/Sure_Acanthaceae_348
  • 26
    Mera1506 • 1h ago This is when you get together with colleagues and get them to agree to not respond after hours anymore. Also to send an email signed by all of you that if they want you to be on call they should pay you to be on call.
    via u/Mera1506
  • 27
    loquedijoella 1h ago We just gave all of our field techs a $5 an hour raise because the warehouses have been taking all the passionate people. We have increased our guys from 17 to 20 to now $25 an hour over the last 3 years and it's still probably not enough. I'm fortunate that I don't
    via u/loquedijoella
  • 28
    have a banker or shareholders telling me how to do things so I can look my people in the eye every day without feeling like a bastard
    via u/loquedijoella
  • 29
    cwj777 • 1h ago When you resign, let them know you're looking for a manager who's more passionate about managing their people.
    via u/cwj777
  • 30
    Enfors 1h ago • Is the company going "above and beyond" for you, to make them deserving of you doing it for them? No? I can't believe these people. They are so willing to bend over for a company that would happily ditch them at the first sign of trouble.
    via u/Enfors
  • 31
    You're supposed to go above and beyond and be passionate about them, but they don't have to go above and beyond and be passionate about you. What is this? Some sort of weird, capitalist sub/dom relationship? We do we have to put up with this shit?
    via u/Enfors
  • 32
    In my case, I fortunately work for a normal company which has specifically told us that we shouldn't be checking our work email after 6 pm. This company understand that wellbeing comes before - and leads to - productivity.
    via u/Enfors

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job bosses work working working late reddit story slack toxic-boss workplace slack message reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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