Employee contacts his manager because of an important incident, boss forbids everyone from contacting her in her free time, but also requests things from employees in their free time: 'She will have to come in on her days off if she wants to talk to me'

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Jul 4, 2026 5:15 PM EDT

Free time for some, unpaid extra hours for others.


​Those jobs that think just because they pay you a salary, that you deserve it because of your work, are entitled to use all your time like it's theirs. They think they pay for you, like a slave, but no, they in fact only pay for you to work for the hours that your shift consists of. And there is also a common misconception that makes employees believe that just because they have a job from 9 to 5, they HAVE to correspond to bosses and managers before 9 and after 5. Is understandable their position. They probably think that if they ignore the intent of contact, they can get fired or have their career stuck. But actually, there is no right for a manager to be contacting an employee outside of normal work hours. And they shouldn't do it at all, unless there is some kind of emergency that cannot wait till the next shift.
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What is worse is to have a hypocritical manager. Like in this Reddit story, the boss complained about being reached after hours, even though it was over something that the employee thought was utterly important. But then instead of using that opportunity to set boundaries for everyone in the team, she continues to contact employees after hours for mundane things that weren't relevant enough to be bothering someone in their free time. This manager had no problem placing boundaries for herself but could not understand that it also applied to the people below her.
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This behavior is so common in management. Being so worried about people knowing when to contact you but completely forgetting that everyone below you also deserved to enjoy their free time without being bothered. As if when they advance in their career. They, at the same time, start to forget the people they met along the way. They forget that once they were also a normal employee who didn't like to be bothered in their free time. Jobs should have stricter policies about this to avoid having overworked employees. Work is important, but if you are not a doctor, nothing is really that urgent.

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  • I don't work for the best company- it's corporate and the higher ups have little understanding of what goes on at ground level. When I started, it was under a great manager that protected us from most of the 'cr p rolls down hill' politics. He was promoted out of the store, and after a few misfires, we got a new manager. She is very loud, she will get in conversations with friends and loudly discuss controversial opinions and swear
    via indigowulf
  • A person working in the fryer of a food chain.
    via Holzke Menü Essen auf Rädern

    A person working in the fryer of a food chain. 

  • like a sailor. I've had a few customers quietly ask me why I had not reported her to the manager, then roll their eyes and express sympathy when I said she IS my manager. Anyway, there's a system in place for who to call when no manager is available. We are a tiny team, and most of us work solo. If the manager is coming in the morning, we call her the night before with concerns. If she's not and its the assistant, we call the
    via indigowulf
  • assistant. Sure, no problem. I found an issue I thought was important enough to inform her right away instead of waiting until the next day she worked. I took pictures and shot a short text explaining it. (food health code violation from one of our vendors). I got back, and this is the exact text: "I need you guys to understand
    via indigowulf
  • that if the store is not on fire, your not being robbed your need to be contacting (assistant managers name) not me unless its an emergency please" 4 days later, she sends me a text scolding me for not 'doing my job' when it was in fact a managerial level job, not my level. Then the following text a few minutes later saying "oh, you DID do it. sorry" and she sent me some points in our stores 'good job' system.
    via indigowulf
  • I didnt respond. I wasn't on the clock. Then she text me asking what my pay rate was, for my review. I decided to respond to this one even though it's kind of, you know, her job to know. I started getting stupid texts from her like "do you know where the scissors went?" and stuff that.. according to the precedent she set, was not a store emergency and not my problem until I'm on
    via indigowulf
  • the clock. I ended up deciding that I will not be answering her if I'm not on the clock. She calls, I let it go to voice mail. She texts, I leave her on read until I'm on the clock. Now, the company has made a 'no phones while on the clock' policy as well. So, I guess she can't text or call me while I'm on the clock either unless she calls the store phone. (That's a whole other can of worms- they want us to use a mandatory app for store
    via indigowulf
  • communication.. but not have our phones out. I asked for clarification ON THE WELCOME MESSAGE on the new app, asking if they are lifting the phones at work ban, or expect us to work off the clock? Everyone in the company got to see my question and the answering "we'll get back to you" that has yet to happen- now nobody is using the app. because policy says we can't lol) Woops. Guess she will have to come in, in person, on her days
    via indigowulf
  • off if she wants to talk to me. Maybe she should not have chewed my a out so hard when I just sent her 1 text.
    via indigowulf
  • A person prepping a hamburger at a food chain.
    via Faisal Hendra

    A person prepping a hamburger at a food chain. 

  • iFoldMySocks I'd delete the app. theyre getting data when your off the clock. if they require an app, they can provide a phone.
    via indigowulf
  • pgh9fan And they will never answer you because they want you to use the app, but they absolutely cannot put it in writing that you need to work off the clock.
    via indigowulf
  • argetlamzn It's times like this where I want to buy whatever today's version of the Nokia Brick is. Can't download apps, can only call or text.
    via indigowulf
  • No-Price5802 She sounds a great mix of selfish and stupid, good luck on teaching her the error of her ways!
    via indigowulf
  • Apart-Ad-6518 They've got themselves into a Gordian knot situation. Yeah whoops. I'm guessing you won't get an answer anytime soon. Just don't work off the clock ever.
    via indigowulf
  • SmallPeederWacker LMFAOO yea my job has an app that as management I'm supposed to use. Nope, you do not pay my phone bill sorry.
    via indigowulf
  • BuffaloAgreeable372 Where I live, we have a right to disconnect. It's illegal for them to bother us at home. I think that's neat.
    via indigowulf
  • Due_Smoke5730 4d ago My job requires I have an app that checks if it's me signing in to a specific portal. I fought it for a year then I was forced to put it on my phone or I would not be able to do my job. I was so ped! I did it... f my wishes or privacy. They won. :(
    via indigowulf
  • TheLinaBee Unless they're providing you the phone, don't install the app, and don't use your personal device for work. If work wants you to use an app and use a cell phone, they get to provide that to you; you risk your own data security when you allow work access to your devices.
    via indigowulf

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management service industry malicious compliance food service
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