Boss scolds cashier for working overtime. So they clocked out, leaving fuming boss to deal with a throng of angry customers

A cashier (u/hopej_harris) worked 15 minutes extra because their coworker was stuck in traffic and they couldn't leave the front desk empty. However, instead of appreciating it, the manager pulled the cashier aside and accused them of violating store policy. Frustrated, they decided to follow exactly what the manager expected of the employees. Fast-forward to a busy day at the store, when the manager requested the cashier to extend their shift until he found a replacement; they straightaway refused, reminding him of his 'non-negotiable' office rule. The cashier posted the story on Reddit on February 15. 

The cashier stayed 15 minutes longer than their shift to help. Nobody had asked them to, but they worked extra voluntarily to cover for the coworker stuck in traffic. However, the manager didn't like it; in fact, he pulled the cashier into his office and gave a full lecture on "payroll integrity." He told them that they couldn't work beyond their shift. "I said okay. Cool. I hear you. I will follow the schedule exactly," the cashier recalled. Fast-forward to another day: the person was scheduled to clock out at 5 PM, but the shift replacement couldn't come because of a personal issue. At around 4:45, the manager requested the cashier to extend the shift until someone else could handle the workload. "I swear I felt my brain pause. Because last week staying late was a payroll crime. So I just calmly reminded him that I'm not authorized to work outside my scheduled shift and I need to respect structure. His face did that tight smile thing," they wrote. At exactly 5:02 PM, the cashier clocked off, even though customers were still waiting in line. The customers were obviously angry, but the cashier apologized and told them that they couldn't violate the store's policy.

"Apparently, three customers abandoned full carts and walked out. One was like 200 bucks worth of groceries. The coupon lady demanded a manager, which is hilarious because he WAS the manager, and now he had to argue with her himself," the cashier said. The next day, the manager called the cashier and said they embarrassed him and hampered the business, only because they didn't use common sense. "Last week, common sense was insubordination. Now, following his direct rule is insubordination," the cashier wrote. The manager also threatened the employee with a write-up for doing exactly what he told them to do. "Meanwhile, next week’s schedule magically has voluntary overtime approved. Funny how structure bends when it’s his stress level on the line," the cashier said. 

It's weird how the manager called out the cashier for voluntarily working overtime, but then was pissed when they refused to do so when he asked them to extend the shift. That's what happens in most workplaces — instead of appreciating the employees, the management calls them out for strange, absurd reasons. For example, one in ten employees reported not feeling 'valued at all,' according to a January 2023 report by Workhuman. The same report found that women were more likely to be undervalued than men. Yes, the shocking report revealed that nearly half (48.8%) of women surveyed said they feel undervalued at their workplace. And this is a big red flag for the employees. In fact, 66% of employees said they would consider leaving their job if they didn't feel appreciated, according to a study from Office Team. The percentage goes even higher in millennials, with 76% reporting doing the same.

Meanwhile, reacting to the Reddit story, u/savings-bee-4993 commented, "Document everything. Always send a follow-up email after a chat to confirm in writing what he wants. Start building a paper trail." Similarly, u/glittering-lynx-8128 shared, "Time to transfer to another location or find a new job; that’s the kind of boss who’s going to hold a grudge and find a way to get back at you down the line." u/gotbock commented, "If he wanted you to ask before working overtime, that's all he had to say. But he doesn't sound like a person who is intelligent enough to have a clear communication style."

More on Scoop Upworthy

Employee hilariously one-ups stingy supervisor who never appreciates them at office Christmas party

Woman hilariously calls out her company's lackluster gesture for staff on Employee Appreciation Day

Quick-thinking employee outsmarts boss’s demand to work faster with a brilliant move