“No Overtime, No Problem”: Worker Happily Complies, Makes New Boss Go Red From Embarrassment
Interview With Author
Reddit user Away_Location‘s new manager accused them of being a “time thief” and banned the employee from working overtime. But because of this decision, projects started falling apart and the company began losing money.
When the time came for someone to step up and take responsibility, the boss tried to save her own skin and throw her subordinate under the bus, accusing them of pretty much everything she could think of.
Luckily, they found a way to come out on top.
This employee’s manager viewed their overtime work as “time theft,” so she put a stop to it
Image credits: MART PRODUCTION (not the actual image)
But her decision started hurting the company
Image credits: Yan Krukau (not the actual image)
Image credits: Away_Location
The employee said their manager was making the office a dreadful place to work at
We managed to get in touch with Away_Location and they were kind enough to tell us more about the manager from the post.
“She was not at all qualified,” the Redditor explained to Bored Panda. “I learned from a senior manager after she quit she knew someone higher up in the corporation and that likely factored in how she got the job.”
“She had no management experience, education background (I didn’t apply because I assumed it required a master’s degree), or relative industry experience. And another manager also told me there isn’t really any training for managers/leadership by corporate.”
Away_Location said they noticed signs the manager wanted to write them up well before the conversation with HR. “If a project wasn’t done, she’d want to have a discussion on why. I’d show her screenshots of my outbox.”
“When you see the signs, you start covering your butt,” the employee added. “I once had her tell me to watch my back. And I could tell HR was on her side from the beginning.”
“After she had her say (I wasn’t allowed to interrupt and there was a lot of misinformation) during the meeting, HR said something along the lines of ‘What do you have to say for yourself?’ When I explained myself, HR said some stuff along the lines of ‘I guess you make a point,’ which felt like a struggle on my side to win.”
According to the Redditor, a lot of what their manager was saying were things taken completely out of context. “I’d jokingly refuse to do work for other managers but they knew I was goofing. I was ‘inappropriate’ with my girlfriend who brought me lunch where I kissed her with a peck on the cheek and my boss implied we could’ve done things in my closed office. I’m in my 30s and own a house. I’m not having sex in a cramped office.”
“I live in the southern part of the US and I think, based on the way she talked to me, she thought we were all dumb rednecks. I had another coworker say my manager talked down to her. Overall, she rubbed people the wrong way.”
Image credits: RDNE Stock project (not the actual image)
Overtime is no joke, but this case didn’t sound like a very harmful one
The lady’s concern about overtime is understandable. Working long hours poses an occupational health risk that kills hundreds of thousands of people each year, according to the World Health Organization.
People working 55 or more hours each week face an estimated 35% higher risk of a stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from heart disease, compared to people following the common standard of working 35 to 40 hours in a week, the WHO explained in a paper published in the journal Environment International.
The global study, which the WHO called the first of its kind, found that in 2016, 488 million people were exposed to the risks of working long hours, and more than 745,000 people died that year from overwork which led to stroke and heart disease.
“Between 2000 and 2016, the number of deaths from heart disease due to working long hours increased by 42%, and from stroke by 19%,” the WHO said as it announced the study.
However, judging from the Redditor’s post, they had things under control and their workflow was integral to the company’s success.
“What counts above all else is the impact you make in your job — it’s the quality of the work you do over the [number] of hours you put in,” Star Chen, CEO of Unilever Food Solutions, wrote, highlighting that employees should make these words their guiding career principles.
“When your work is defined by the impact you make, not the output, it frees you from worrying too much about the optics or the hours you are ‘seen’ putting in,” the business leader added. “Instead, focus on performing at 100% when you show up. You can progress based on your merit.”
Research shows that recognition is fundamental to the engagement and retention of top talent and the profitability of organizations. A recent study discovered that employees who reported that their managers were great at recognizing them were more than 40% more engaged than those with managers who were not.
The Redditor’s new manager failed at this. Luckily, the higher-ups saw the situation clearly.
“I’m sure the official version says she ‘wasn’t a good fit’,” they said. “She quit on her own volition but I wondered if there was pressure. After the incident, there was obviously animosity between us. It was like she took a shot at me and missed. You can’t ignore or forget that.”
“I had no issue sharing this story with everyone and based on CCed emails, some managers talked to her more critically after the incident,” Away_Location explained. “I helped managers make a lot of money and she attacked their goose that lays the golden eggs. I feel there was pressure from other managers for her to quit. These people bought me a year’s worth of chocolate on Christmas, so they appreciate me.”
“After she left, I got a bigger window office and a pretty decent raise. I have a nicer office than a lot of managers and I’m hourly. It felt like the GM wanted to apologize but not admit guilt. I’m still distrustful of HR, though.”
After their story went viral, the employee provided more details on the incident
And people were happy to find out the manager got what she deserved
Some even shared heir own similar experiences
Another manager learning the hard way that power-play ends up being powerfully-played. Always warms my soul when a micromanagers gives a dumb order, subordinate follows and it causes complications, micromanagers then try to shift the blame but because everything was sealed in stone, they realise they f*cked up and eventually get shipped out, or better, away.
As a manager with 40 years of experience, I can tell when overtime is needed or when someone is milking the job to get it. Been in a new position for 6 weeks. It took me only 3 days to identify 2 milkers. Already started the process with HR to get rid of one. If that doesn't wake the other one up he'll be next.
I would like to see more office/work related content on BP, as I find it infinitely more interesting than wedding drama/plane seat stories/tiktok garbage/celebrity posts/family drama AITA/political stuff. Please, more like this!
Another manager learning the hard way that power-play ends up being powerfully-played. Always warms my soul when a micromanagers gives a dumb order, subordinate follows and it causes complications, micromanagers then try to shift the blame but because everything was sealed in stone, they realise they f*cked up and eventually get shipped out, or better, away.
As a manager with 40 years of experience, I can tell when overtime is needed or when someone is milking the job to get it. Been in a new position for 6 weeks. It took me only 3 days to identify 2 milkers. Already started the process with HR to get rid of one. If that doesn't wake the other one up he'll be next.
I would like to see more office/work related content on BP, as I find it infinitely more interesting than wedding drama/plane seat stories/tiktok garbage/celebrity posts/family drama AITA/political stuff. Please, more like this!
54
12