'5:01. That's my new nickname': Boss mocks employee for always leaving right at the end of the day, employee refuses to budge

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Dec 8, 2025 8:00 AM EST

This employee was not going to work overtime… ever.

It's hard not to respect this guy for standing his ground despite earning a reputation for never going above and beyond. That's because he refused to give into the common expectations that workers will rewarded with promotions and benefits down the line if they worked late for no pay. This author was not about that, and we're honestly here for it.

Sure, we were all likely taught that going the extra mile is how you get awarded with a greater paycheck, but it's mentalities like these that can lead to even more toxic workplace environments than we already have. If we as employees all establish the precedent that our work during standard hours should be judged for future promotions, we just might force bosses to stop expecting more from us with little reward.

Kudos to this guy for taking his new nickname and the reputation that comes attached to it in stride. Let's be real. This guy probably finishes his work early all the time and just sits there for the last 30 minutes of each work day waiting to be released. Frankly, he should be praised for not leaving early!

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  • Whatever happened to letting work speak for itself, am I right? The most disappointing part of this story is that other coworkers sided with the boss and mocked the author by also calling him “5:01” when in fact, they should be respecting this guy for knowing his worth.

  • "5:01. That's my new nickname."

    So... My boss and co-worker have decided to give me a nickname! As the title suggests, they call me "5:01", because I leave almost bang on at the end of my day, which starts at 8:00am and ends on 5:00pm.
    via [deleted]
  • For context, at this particular establishment, overtime is unpaid. So, for every minute I'm there after 5:00pm, my time is unpaid. Well, as my boss would put it, paid in benefits, which I
    via [deleted]
  • have not used nor do I plan to, as they're of no use to me. And he absolutely will not change his stance on that.
    via [deleted]
  • So, as a result of that particular policy, I make a point of doing almost no overtime. In dire straits to get a job done? Unfortunately,
    via [deleted]
  • we're not a non-for-profit organisation, and I'm not donating my time, so it falls. under the 'not my problem' policy I've established.
    via [deleted]
  • And as a result of my stoic approach, they've given me a rather demoralising, and frankly, humiliating awesome new nickname, which I'll be taking in my stride.
    via [deleted]
  • And after the last shenanigan of them not being able to pay my wage one week, I'm now looking for alternative employment. Or,
    via [deleted]
  • maybe nothing at all. I'm not going to take being treated as sub-human just because I refuse to give my time away to make someone else money.
    via [deleted]
  • You can call people lazy all you want, but that's just because you've spent your life working, trying to prove to yourself, that you're not, and now you regret it.
    via [deleted]
  • lawott2. I agree, the less-than-subtle expectation that you spend more of your time there than you're paid for is horse
    via [deleted]
  • or manipulated, or caving in to pressure to have your life stolen from you. If you ever find it getting to you, you can just keep in mind you've got better things to be doing; you can let them know you've got a life and interests outside of work.
    via [deleted]
  • Edit: Alternatively, you can mention that 5:01 still means you have to shave a whole minute off your exit time.
    via [deleted]
  • A businessman holding his personal supplies strolls out of the office.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • taylrhm_porkrll_b... Common ground between us. My boss complains that at 5pm he sees nothing but dust clouds and spinning chairs. On my way past reception I like to now make a little meep meep sound and pretend I'm the road. runner, leaving nothing but a dust cloud.
    via [deleted]
  • TravisFlexThemPl... I am just disappointed that your name is 5:01 and not 5:00. Those are rookie numbers. Don't give them that extra minute of your life if it is not paid.
    via [deleted]
  • On a personal level, though, there's a certain degree of pride in the nickname. You're not being exploited,
    via [deleted]

  • Here's an update from the employee and a response to some of the reactions in the online community!

    Hey everyone. This absolutely exploded far beyond what I had considered it would. Allow me to add some context to the post.
    via [deleted]
  • We're Australian. I do believe there is labour laws against not paying overtime. The benefits I had alluded to, can essentially be summed up as "big discounts on stuff". That's it. While it's inferred that I leave on the dot at 5:01, it's more like 5:10/5:15. Sometimes later. Hence the mild irritation.
    via [deleted]
  • Call me Mr. 5:10, for Gods sakes. There's very little downtime on the job, so it's hours of solid work. No, I'm not a clock watcher.
    via [deleted]
  • I can answer some more tomorrow. You guys are the best. Thank you for listening to, and acknowledging, my rant. :)
    via [deleted]

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Tags

terrible coworkers overworked-employees Horrible Bosses overtime funny work stories nicknames
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