Manager asks employee to clock them in 30 minutes before they arrive, ices them out when employee refuses: 'I'm not risking my job for someone else'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Sep 13, 2026 1:00 PM EDT

Would you risk your job for someone else's gain?

For most people, the answer to this question is a pretty clear no. Jobs are a precious thing. It's not easy to get one that you like and that serves you well, so when you do have one, you'd better hold onto it with all you have. You certainly don't want to put your job in jeopardy just because somebody asked you to and because they're socially pressuring you to do so. Peer pressure is never a good thing to inflict on somebody else, no matter how old you are. But that's what was happening in this situation between a manager and their employee. Sometimes people ask you to do things for them, and you feel like you have to say yes. This happens all the time. Maybe they are in a higher-status position than you and try to lord it over you to get what they want. You feel like if you say no, you'll suffer the consequences. This happens all too often. But you have an ability and a right to say no whenever you want to. You don't have to do something just because somebody asked you to. Even if that person is your boss. If it makes you uncomfortable, then you shouldn't do it. This includes doing something at work that might not affect you but will affect somebody else. 

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  • An employee clock in at a POS system
    via Nathan Dumlao

    Individual pictured is a model used for illustrative purposes.


    An employee clock in at a POS system

  • My manager asked me to clock her in while she was at home... now she's mad at me.

    My manager has been getting increasingly passive aggressive and petty with me ever since I refused to clock her in when she wasn't there. She called me saying she was running late about 30 minutes before the time she was supposed to be there and asked me to clock her in. I
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214
  • said no for VERY OBVIOUS REASONS, one being that it's literally illegal to do do and two being that I'm not risking my job for someone else especially knowing that I'd never ask anyone to do some like that for me.
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214
  • And ever since then her attitude has been insane towards me. What really does it is that one day I came in a bit earlier than usual and she started ordering me to do stuff so I tried to clock in and she told me no????..... So I
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214
  • gave her a puzzled look bc this is the same person that has asked me to clock her in while she's no where close to the building but when I'm actually there I can't clock in?? She also gets extremely irritated when I double check packed orders before going out. She'll be like "THE ORDER IS RIGHT" in the most aggressive tone. I guess making sure the orders are correct are annoying now.
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214
  • Anytime she's upset about how the night shift employees closed, she'll tell me not to prep anything which just makes sh difficult later during rush hour when we get our kicked. It's just constant little sh like this and I'm so tired of it. I come to work on time, do my job, and now I'm being punished for not participating in something sketchy.
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214

  • Punching in at work is part of the system that helps you get paid. If you start messing with the timetables, then things can quickly fall apart. Any fudging of the numbers immediately reflects badly on the people involved. You would hate for the owner to find out and then to hold everybody accountable. Because at the end of the day, it is stealing. Even if you feel like you're owed the extra time, you wouldn't want somebody else messing with your wages, so you shouldn't mess with anybody else's. That's the tough situation that these people were navigating in this story. Keep reading to find out what happened and let us know what you think about it. 

  • Commenters gave their perspectives on this work story.

    Pupsof War69 honestly I would keep records of everything and talk to a regional manager. if you're in a area where you can legally record someone without their knowledge definitely record the conversation with the regional manager.
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214
  • An employee talks on the phone while using a pos system at work
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    Image depicted solely for explanatory purposes.


    An employee talks on the phone while using a pos system at work

  • Illustrious_Sign_872 She's asking you to perpetuate wage theft. Find another job as quick as you can. Get off that sinking ship. You are not the first person she's asked to help her steel wages, I guarantee it, you're just the latest. Take some advice from my dog, "Kick some dirt on that sh, and walk away."
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214
  • VicVenlo I've had a fireman in my friend group. They literally had to go into a burning building once (thankfully no- one got hurt) because people were "clocked in" whilst having left early, and got collegues to clock them out. With their managers permission.
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214
  • SweetMaam There are company policies on time. If you're working, be on the clock. You might go over her head at this point. I had ac py job in high school where the manager would take the time cards at the end of the shift and clock us out. I put
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214
  • down the broom. She said you can't leave, you have to finish xyz. I said clock me in and I will. She said no. I said you're not allowed to touch my time card. She said she had to. I said I'm off the clock, your choice not mine, and I left. I was all of 16 but knew I don't work for zero wages. It has served me well, I don't mind working hard but I do mind working for free.
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214
  • zoosha2curtaincall I work in regulation and compliance, and I've seen situations like this, where the senior employee threatens the junior employee into doing something illegal. Everyone agrees the junior person was put into an impossible position. They still get fired anyway. Do not do it.
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214
  • ImInClassBoring She showed you her cards. that she's down to steal time. She is turning her embarrassment and knowing she's sorts caught into anger towards you. Stand up for yourself and tell her she can let it go or go f herself. That you didn't narc on her but you aren't willing to risk your job.
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214
  • FerretAfficionado After the call and refusing, I would have sent an email summarizing the conversation, and then asking her to clarify if this is acceptable company policy for you to do for others, or have others do for you? Big boss/owner/hr and your personal email blind copied on it and get the popcorn ready.
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214
  • classicliberal1 Report this to HR and her manager. HR first. Say she's creating a hostile workplace.
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214
  • eRant4881 Go to HR immediately, and inform them your manager is creating a hostile work environment just because you wing punch her in when she isn't at work. Follow it up with a request for clarification about the rules about punching in and punching in on behalf of other employees. Protect your a !
    via PuzzleheadedHotel214

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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