Employee called 'ungrateful' for refusing unpaid overtime, asks why workers are being asked to work for free

There are several things people usually do to become good employees and to contribute to their company's growth. However, to achieve that feat, they might have to create certain boundaries to ensure they are not taken advantage of. In one such case, a 20-year-old woman, u/miamonroexa, who did not want to work overtime for free was called "ungrateful" by her manager. It was her first full-time job, so she took to Reddit to ask people for advice. She wondered why it is so hard to draw boundaries at work.

"I just started my first full-time job a few months ago, and I've been trying really hard to make a good impression. I show up on time, finish my tasks early and even pick up extra shifts when someone calls out," the woman began. One day, her manager called her and asked if she could help clean up after a project. She agreed, thinking that she would get paid for it. "Well, turns out that extra time was 'off the clock' because the store was 'over budget on hours.'" The woman talked to her manager, but they got annoyed. "[They] said I should want to help the team and that this job is about 'more than just a paycheck,'" the employee recounted. She was in disbelief at the statement.

"I work hard because I want to build a future for myself, not because I'm doing this job for fun. Why would anyone stay late and work for free when we're barely making enough to get by?" the woman wondered. "When I said I couldn't stay late if I wasn't being paid, they called me ungrateful and said I wasn't a 'team player,'" she revealed. She was also worried that the workplace might cut her hours or make life harder for her because she set a boundary about not working for free. "Why is it that so many jobs expect us to sacrifice our time and energy for nothing in return? They say it's about 'team spirit.' but really, it's just another way to take advantage of people. I'm so tired of this mindset," she concluded her post.

People in the comments voiced their support and offered advice. u/Jgravy32 wrote, "You need to contact the Department of Labor. What your boss did was illegal and you shouldn't ever do any work for free. Do so immediately and you will receive payment." u/AkakiosP commented, "You shouldn't have to compromise your time and energy for a paycheck and it's absolutely legal for you to expect compensation for any work performed. Stand up for your rights, and take the steps to ensure that you are treated fairly."

u/Fiddle_Dork remarked, "That's not legal at all. It's wage theft. Never work off the clock. Not even a small task. If you slip and fall and get injured, they are off the hook. If you let this one slide, assert yourself in the future. Say, 'If I'm not on the clock, my shift is over. Bye!' It's hard to stand up to people. You'll be proud of yourself and respect yourself, even if they fire you for it." u/I_TRY_TO_BE_POSITIVE shared, "Worked for a nationally known sheriff's office for 6 years as a DO. We had 15-minute unpaid briefings at the start of the shift. About 4 years in, I got a check for a couple of grand. Apparently, my coworkers started a class action and won."