Short-sighted cost-cutting can sometimes end up costing way more in the long run.

So, what would you do if your company suddenly banned overtime to “save money,” even though your extra hours were keeping things running? Would you try to warn them that their plan might backfire? Or would you go along with it and let the chips fall where they may?

In the following story, one factory worker finds himself in this exact situation. Here’s how he handled it.

Overtime Wastes Money

My husband is middle management in a factory.

His company keeps getting new upper management every few months, each one more of an idiot than the last.

My husband had been doing at least one day of overtime, sometimes two, each week because the machines go down a lot, and he’s a pro at fixing them.

Apparently, what’s basically the equivalent of throwing some duct tape on it is less expensive than actually sending a machine out to get fixed, but that’s another story.

The new boss wanted to make a big change.

Anyway, the new boss has been there a month and decided that overtime is no longer allowed to “save money.”

My husband is mad because that overtime had slowly but surely, been getting us out of debt.

Well, last week, they call him on his day off, a main machine has gone down fairly early into the shift.

“Sorry, can’t come in, I’m not allowed overtime anymore.”

That rule changed quickly!

The machine stays down all night.

These machines produce a ton of product per hour.

They lost more money by not running the machine than they would have spent paying my husband to come in.

This Monday, overtime is now approved again.

Wow! Sometimes overtime can really save a company money.

Let’s check out what the people over at Reddit have to say about this.

Here’s a little sarcasm.

This person feels the pain of dealing with downtime.

Great question.

Interesting thought.

They asked for it!

If you liked that post, check out this one about an employee that got revenge on HR when they refused to reimburse his travel.