'Wouldn't it be worse for me to loiter?': Mechanic working 10 hour shifts gets reprimanded by boss for leaving 3 minutes early

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jul 24, 2026 1:15 PM EDT

What does a few minutes matter when an employee is finished for the day?

It is one of the worst-kept secrets of the working world that most of the time, the hours that you are supposed to work are not always the ones that you actually work. A good portion of office workers only spend about half of their time in the office actually working, and those in roles where they have to clock in may well be able to finish most of their tasks for the day long before their shift is over.

The only problem is that staying on the right side of management usually involves doing things by the book. Most of us couldn't get away with walking out of work halfway through the day, and many won't be let off the hook if they leave any time before the official end of the workday, no matter how productive they have been. Sometimes they simply want to keep up appearances, and other times, it is a pure power trip. You might think it is a good thing that an employee is preventing what some would consider to be time theft, but it does not always work out that way.

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  • A young male mechanic changes the oil in a car
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A young male mechanic changes the oil in a car

  • A mechanic who worked ten-hour shifts starting from 6 AM thought that it didn't really matter if he clocked out a couple of minutes early, as he usually started work a little early and finished his tasks in good time. Almost all of his colleagues also ended up finishing earlier than their workday suggested as well.

    However, his boss wasn't happy to see that he had been clocking out before the official end of the day at 5 PM. He was confused, as this had not been an issue before, and while he agreed to stop doing it, he wanted validation that he hadn't been doing something wrong.

  • Boss got mad because I leave 2-3 minutes early

    I'm a mechanic and I work four 10 hour shifts from Monday to Thursday. My shift is from 6AM until 5PM, however I usually clock in at 5:57AM to 5:58AM and get right to work as it takes forever for the computers to boot up thus causing a delay in me clocking it. At the last half hour of shift everyday, all the
    via SupremePizza123
  • employees clean up the shop (sweep, pick up trash, etc..) once that finishes, majority of us sit around on our phone, talk, and wait to clock out. Majority of us also clock out a minute or two earlier as well and have been doing so since they've started working here.
    via SupremePizza123
  • A young male mechanic rolls a tire across the shop floor
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A young male mechanic rolls a tire across the shop floor

  • For some reason today my boss singled me out and asked if I knew we worked until 5PM. I replied with "everyone else is leaving as well". He asked me if I was going to do the same. I just told him I'd stop doing it for the sake of not arguing. Was I in the wrong? Wouldn't it be worse for me to loiter on the clock (stealing time) and go into overtime? I
    via SupremePizza123
  • did my 10 hours so I don't understand. I've also been doing this job (7 months ago) since I've started but only now it is an issue? He also didn't say anything to anyone else that did the same, not to mention how some employees are chronically late.
    via SupremePizza123
  • A young male mechanic leans on the open hood of a car, holding a flask and eating a banana
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A young male mechanic leans on the open hood of a car, holding a flask and eating a banana

  • CrazyCatLady1978 It depends on your boss. It sounds like you know your boss too because you said you'd stay just to avoid arguing. Generally bosses. don't care of you arrive early, but they notice if you leave early. Keep staying until 5 and then when he complains that you're
    via CrazyCatLady1978
  • getting overtime, point out that you were leaving a few minutes early so you wouldn't get OT. At that point, he'll probably tell you to stop clocking in early. You can't win.
    via CrazyCatLady1978
  • CarmenxXxWaldo If its something everyone has always done and they suddenly single out someone its because theyre getting ready to fire them for cause. You can clock in and out exactly on time and theyll just find something else.
    via CarmenxXxWaldo
  • But lets say im wrong and the dude is just being aj. Still a good reason to find a new job asap.
    via CarmenxXxWaldo
  • Late-Fix-487 If they are nit picking over this, they are probably trying to paper things up. I've been in that situation being warned for clocking in at any time but the exact moment only to have a co-worker get ped off waiting for me to clock in when I was told.
    via Late-Fix-487
  • Excellent_Coconut_81 Clocking should count the time. before entering the company and leaving the building. If the clocking requires you to start computer, you're screwed a few minutes every day. You should be mad on your boss, not he on you.
    via Excellent_Coconut_81
  • Majestic-Banger If your shift is 6-5 you should not click out early any more than you should not be clocking in early. 6-5 is 6-5. Not 557-457.
    via Majestic-Banger

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