Manager Says Employee Needs Permission To Clock Out, It Backfires On the Manager

In the fast-paced environment of retail, the lines of responsibility and procedure are typically well-defined. Employees are trained to follow a set of rules and expectations to ensure smooth operations and customer satisfaction. However, every so often, a manager’s impromptu decision can disrupt this routine and lead to unexpected outcomes.

At a kitchen appliance store where employees are required to inform their manager before leaving their shift, Redditor u/Brooklynisqu**rr encountered an unexpected response when they tried to go home after their shift. When they approached the manager to inform her they were done for the day, the manager retorted with a new rule: “Next time you need to wait for a manager to let you go home.” Although this was not an existing rule, the OP took the statement literally during a later shift. When their shift ended and the store was quiet, instead of leaving, they wandered the store and tidied shelves, waiting for the manager’s permission to go home. After a couple of hours, the manager noticed their presence and inquired why they hadn’t left yet. OP simply reminded her of the new rule, resulting in an extra 30$ pay for essentially doing nothing.

Continue scrolling down to read the complete story.

Source: Reddit

1. OP’s manager told them that they needed to wait for a manager to let them go home.

2. At a kitchen appliance store where employees are expected to inform the manager before leaving, OP found themselves in a situation after an 8-hour shift.

3. She grew upset and questioned, “Couldn’t you stay a bit longer?” Upon explaining their assumption about having coverage, she replied, “Just go, but next time wait for a manager to let you go home.”

4. This had never been a rule; after checking with coworkers who’ve been there for years, they confirmed it wasn’t a policy.

5. A few days later, when the store was empty and his shift ended, OP was about to leave but recalled his manager’s instruction.

6. Engaging in malicious compliance, OP wandered the store and made minor adjustments to the shelves while staying close to the manager. After about 2 and a half hours, the manager realized her mistake. OP then clocked out, earning an extra $30 for essentially doing nothing.

7. The post gained unexpected attention, and OP wanted to address some of the questions and comments from the community.

8. “Are you only making around $12/hour?” No, I make $15/hour but rounded it down for simplicity. I should’ve clarified that earlier.

9. “Didn’t you just waste your time?” No, this company is very stingy with hours, so I see it as getting paid while barely helping them, so I don’t mind.

10. “You should definitely be making more.” Yeah, I should, but this is just a temporary job to make extra money until school starts in September.

Now that you have read the story, it’s time to see what Redditors said about this. Read till the end to see what are other people’s opinions on this. 

11. The manager has not explicitly stated that the rule no longer applies, so malicious compliance continues.

12. A Redditor shared how their retail store had a policy requiring employees to wait for a manager to check their bags before leaving, which could take up to 20 minutes, especially during holidays.

13. To capitalize on this, the employee delayed clocking out until after the bag check, earning extra holiday pay.

14. Malicious compliance can be a profitable tactic if you’re willing to stay late for the extra pay.

15. It’s frustrating that the boss believes she needs to approve when an employee leaves after their shift. Additionally, the minimal overtime pay adds to the irritation.

16. Don’t underestimate your worth. Adjusting shelves while staying near the manager is legitimate work, and they likely aren’t paying you your full value anyway.

17. It’s satisfying to see a manager caught in their own impractical rules. Well done, OP!

18. It’s frustrating when managers create arbitrary rules that eventually backfire on them.

19. OP earned just $30 for 2.5 hours, which equates to $12/hour. Is that the appropriate compensation?

20. A couple of years ago, the head boss at my workplace sent out an email instructing all regular employees not to leave until released by a supervisor.

In the realm of retail, employees often navigate a maze of rules and expectations set by their managers. However, when a manager’s spontaneous decision leads to unintended consequences, it can result in some clever and even amusing responses from the staff. This story highlights the importance of clear communication and the unexpected outcomes that can arise from ambiguous directives. Do share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Stay tuned for more such stories!