My boss forced me to work an extra HOUR because of a crazy rule (2025)

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A manager has been criticised over a shocking exchange he had with a tardy employee and the imposition of a strict office policy.

Workplace expert Ben Askins posted the text messages between the two on TikTok, to illustrate the damage that can be done by inflexible attitudes.

In the screenshots, the unnamed employee texted his manager Mike to say his train has been delayed and he'll be '5-10 minutes late'.

The response was swift - and harsh.

'No problem, I'll mark you down to work until 7pm,' the boss replied.

The employee pushed back: 'What do you mean, I'm on a 9–6 today?'

The boss then replied: 'You know the rules, if you're not here at the start of the hour, you work an extra hour to make up for it.'

When the employee revealed their post-work plans and asked to make up the time next week instead, the manager refused.

'No, you know when it comes to the rules these can't be changed. You either work the hour or you'll be given a formal warning.'

'Are you serious right now?' the worker asked.

'Deadly,' the boss replied.

When the employee later texts again to say his train has been delayed further, the boss accused him of playing games: 'You better not be trying to be clever.'

Askins slammed the exchange, explaining that strict policies like these do nothing but demotivate staff.

'If you've invented the rules, you can probably change them. This is absolutely idiotic,' Askins said.

'The idea that if you're five or ten minutes late, you don't just go, 'Oh I'm sorry, that's frustrating. No problem, I'll see you when I see you.'

'It's not his fault, it's the train's fault. We've all been there. As long as it's not happening too often, just wave them through.'

The clip has racked up hundreds of comments from workers who have experienced similar absurd policies - many of whom were less forgiving.

'Take the formal warning and give them your formal resignation,' one wrote.

'The correct answer is: 'No worries, thanks for letting me know, see you shortly.' End of. No extra time. No fixing clock-in. No using leave. No eating into lunch break. Just carry on,' another agreed.

Some revealed just how common and counterproductive these rigid rules can be.

'At my work, if you're late by one minute, they take 15 minutes off your pay. This only made us wait until 15 past the hour to enter the building. I'm not working for free.'

'One minute late, my boss told me I couldn't have my bonus for the whole month,' another user claimed.

And others pointed out the obvious hypocrisy.

'So by that logic, if you work 15 minutes over, do you get paid for the full hour?' one asked.

'When I worked at a place with the same rule, everyone just showed up an hour late instead. The policy didn't last long,' another added.

TikTok

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