Employee gets reprimanded for ending their shift as soon as it ends, but nothing happens when other employees start their shift late every day: 'Am I wrong for thinking the real problem is the people who are always coming in late'.

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Aug 16, 2026 8:00 PM EDT

Be fair to all or to none. This double standard is unfair.

Double standards have become so common in the workplace that it has gone to a point that it should never have been. A boss shouldn't be making distinctions between employees who work in the same position. Is important, as a person in power, to be careful with the treatment you give, as it can be seen as if you are making differences between your employees, which is not only unfair, but it can also represent an imbalance in the workspace and making every one unconfortable.

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • I work in IT Support on fixed shifts (7-3, 3-11, 11-7). We need coverage all the time, so at handoff times (7am / 3pm / 11pm), there's supposed to be someone monitoring the queue and taking incoming work. Here's the problem: when the person coming in for the shift after mine is late, the person leaving is expected to keep waiting until the other person arrives. If it's 10-15 minutes every now and then, fine, I understand that things happen. But with a few people, it's become a habit. They seem v
    via Horror-Adeptness-659
  • A person working in their computer at their desk.
    via Microsoft 365

    A person working in their computer at their desk. 

  • In this Reddit story, we encounter an employee who had a problem with management due to the fact that he disconnected on time. You are reading correctly. The problem of this story was that this employee ended the shift at the time they were supposed to end it. Complied with his work shift perfectly. While he gets reprimanded, other employees who usually start their shift 10 minutes late are not getting even a word of warning. They decided to single out the employee who works correctly instead of the employees who do not follow their shift and do as they please. Doing things like this can be very damaging. It can even cause the employee who works great to be the one resigning. And it also creates an environment where the employees who do what they like instead of what they are paid to do think that it is fine.

  • coming in late, and the person whose shift is ending gets stuck staying past their time as if that's just become a normal part of the job. A few weeks ago, I left exactly when my shift ended. The person after me hadn't arrived yet, so coverage was empty for a bit. My manager emailed me afterward saying that this can't happen and that I'm expected to keep covering until the person after me is there. I haven't responded yet. Am I wrong for thinking the real problem is the people who are always com
    via Horror-Adeptness-659
  • leaves at the scheduled end of their shift? I have no problem helping when it's rare or a real emergency, but I don't want this to turn into an unofficial expectation that I stay late all the time. How do other teams usually handle shift handoff issues like this? Is it normal for the person leaving the shift to keep staying every time someone else is late?
    via Horror-Adeptness-659
  • dufchick I assume you told someone in authority that your shift replacement was late and you were unable to stay. I agree it's unreasonable to constantly ask you to stay late and allow the next shift to constantly arrive late. This is a management problem not a YOU problem... but you should tell management what is going on. Don't assume they know. Put it in writing. CYA.
    via Horror-Adeptness-659
  • A group of people working at an office. Representation.
    via Campaign Creators

    A group of people working at an office. 

    Representation. 

  • So, what would you do to confront your boss in a way that they understand that what they are doing is wrong, but that it doesn’t get you fired either? Is there a correct way to explain these things and manage them so that they are taken into account, and things get better in the future? I actually don’t know how this issue could be taken up to management and treated correctly so that the right employees are reprimanded, and not the only one who complies with his work shift correctly.

  • Tiredofstupidity2 You need to respond to boss and say the person is always late and this needs to be addressed. If it is not cc your bosses boss because I bet they have no idea!
    via Tiredofstupidity2
  • Constant-Swim-2709 Lol...send your manager this: "based on current projections of lateness by several individuals causing overtime, this is how much extra the company will be bolstering my yearly income (15mins at 1.5rate x number-of-days per week x 52)=x." After your manager recovers from a momentary loss of reason(extreme rage episode), I'm quite sure the problem will be handled expeditiously.
    via Constant-Swim-2709
  • EconomicsWorking6508 Find out if they also emailed the late person to reprimand them too. Ask your manager if you could have a new schedule that provides more overlap with the next shift, since those workers have so much trouble arriving at the start time.
    via EconomicsWorking6508
  • Caucasianjulio At least it's just mins/hours for you. I'm IT support on an offshore facility, so when my relief is late and misses the crew change chopper/boat it delays me a whole day. It could always be worse.
    via Caucasianjulio
  • xristosdomini If you are required to have coverage and you left knowing there wasn't any, yeah, that's kind of on you. That said, the Manager should be investigating why there wasn't coverage and seeking a remedy, which means talking to you and finding out that [(x)Jimmy] is always [(y) Time] late and addressing the issue. If there is a problem that is becoming systemic like "that guy is never on time", then it needs to be brought up so that the management has actually visibility on the issue. T
    via xristosdomini
  • Anxious-Sundae4210 "I expect to be compensated for the time I work for you. If my team mates are late then I expect to be compensated for the extra time I am not allowed to leave. If this is not satisfactory for you we have two options: A) address the issue with the team members who are late. B) address the issue with the DOL. What would you prefer we do?"
    via Anxious-Sundae4210
  • That_BULL_V I'd tell the boss if I'm going to get paid overtime I will stick around, but if I have a firm commitment after work I will not be. It's not my responsibility to cover for people who obviously don't care about anyone but themselves.
    via That_BULL_V
  • Ridley1231 It all depends on what you were told when you were hired. If you were told you would have the cover a shift of a personal plate then that's what you accepted and should do. If you were not told that, then they have no right asking you to stay later.
    via Ridley1231
  • MatureMystery First you should have reported the person causing the problem to your supervisor and let them fix it. You can't just leave a support line unattended becuse you chose to. To the supervisor it's your fault because you left it that way instead of letting anyone know. If you had been proactive and worked the right channels the other person would be in the hot seat. Id definitely be documenting this or giving you a PIP if I was your manger.
    via MatureMystery
  • japherwocky No offense, but if someone needs to be there the whole time, what do you think happens when you just leave? The whole company shuts down because one guy is 15 minutes late and another can't wait 15 minutes?
    via japherwocky
  • Rorayer The late arrivals need to be addressed so it isn't continuing, but in my opinion you or others need to stay until the next person has arrived. Can it s k? Yeah, it certainly can. I hope you at least get overtime for the overage, and I would ask they prioritize resolving the habitual lateness.
    via Rorayer

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

being late shift coworkers bad bosses
Scroll Down For The Next Article