Is staying “a few minutes late” really harmless? or does it quietly turn into unpaid work? A Reddit user says what began as occasional help at the office slowly evolved into hours of extra time, leaving them questioning whether they are being unreasonable or exploited.
Posting on the r/work forum, the junior accountant at a small 15-person firm explained that their contract clearly states 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, totaling 37.5 hours weekly. But over the past three months, their manager began asking for small favors, arriving early for meetings or staying a bit late to finish files.
“Nothing crazy on its own,” the user wrote, “but I’m now consistently in at 8:40 and leaving at 5:25… I’m doing an extra day’s work basically every month and getting paid nothing for it.”
‘It would be helpful’: When polite requests become expectations
The employee said the requests are framed politely, making refusal difficult without appearing uncooperative. Phrases like “it would be really helpful” or “would you mind staying just a few minutes” created what they described as an unspoken expectation.
The tension escalated when the worker left at 5 p.m. to pick up their child. The manager later remarked, “I noticed you left right at 5 yesterday… We usually stay a bit late to make sure things are done properly.”
When the employee explained childcare commitments, they were told to “plan your days better so you can stay till at least 5:15,” a comment that intensified their frustration.
‘It’s just the culture’: Colleagues offer a different perspective
According to the post, a longer-tenured colleague said everyone at the firm works extra hours without additional pay, suggesting it’s part of the company culture. They warned that showing “commitment” could influence promotions and bonuses.
But the user pushed back, saying productivity during paid hours should count. “I’m already committed. I’m doing good work in the hours I’m paid for,” they wrote.
Reddit reaction: ‘That’s called wage theft’
Many commenters sided with the employee. One user bluntly responded, “That’s called wage theft… You need to have the hard conversation with your manager.” Another suggested documenting every extra minute in a spreadsheet and requesting compensation or time off in lieu.
However, not everyone agreed. One commenter argued that longer days are “100% typical” if the role is salaried, though others pointed out the original poster clearly stated they are paid hourly.
So, when does teamwork cross the line into unpaid labor, and how should employees push back without risking their careers?