Unless you’re really lucky, you’ve probably worked some unpaid overtime.

In this story, an overworked employee found a way to take back some of that time, and it feels a little bit like justice for all of us.

Let’s clock in…

“Your working hours are 9 am to 6 pm”

About four years back, I started a new banking job.

All was well, just that the management was pretty strict with timekeeping, which was weird as we were back office.

(my experience was in a similar field at another bank, and we had flexible schedules and received time in lieu).

But rules are rules, so I followed them. I learnt my tasks and got to know the wider team.

Sounds pretty by the book. But I suspect there’s going to be a twist in the next chapter…

Anyway, about four months in, I started to realize my senior manager didn’t like me.

I’m pretty assertive as a person, and I do know how to stand up for myself.

He hated it.

I would speak up during the meetings, ask questions, give suggestions, and so on, while the team would stay quiet.

The week everything went south, I was working overtime, which was (obviously) unpaid.

On Thursday, I did nearly two hours of overtime.

Working like a dog, but will he get a treat?

On Friday, I thought I’ll leave a few minutes early as I was done for the week.

My manager was off. I left 10 minutes early.

On Monday, I come to work, and I got called into a meeting straight away.

There were three of us in the room: myself, my manager, and my senior manager. Our conversation went as follows:

My manager (MM): I heard you left work early on Friday.

Me: I did. I left 10 minutes early.

MM: Did you ask for permission to leave early?

Looks like this is going in the opposite direction from “treat.”

Me: It was 10 minutes. You know I did about 4 hours of overtime last week. Why are we having this conversation?

Senior Manager (SM): Because you left early without asking for permission. As a senior, you should be setting an example for the rest of the team.

Me: Is this a joke?

I don’t know, is anybody laughing?

SM: Your working hours are 9 am to 6 pm, not 9 am to 5:50 pm. You shouldn’t leave early without asking for your manager’s or my permission first. Is that clear?

Me: Got it. It’s perfectly clear.

Seemed like a pretty humorless crowd.

I listened and started coming into the office at 9 am and leaving at 6 pm on the dot.

At first, they didn’t realize what was happening, but the week after the meeting was the last week of the month.

And let’s say the last week of the month was… intense.

Especially the final day.

The reports had to be completed, signed off, and submitted before the month’s end.

Uh-oh, how will this deadline be met?

We covered multiple jurisdictions and would deal with Southeast Asia in the morning and the Americas in the evening.

Our team was “expected” to work overtime due to this.

Here comes Friday, the last day of the month.

Showtime!

Something tells me showtime is *not* overtime.

I’m at my desk at 9 am sharp.

Most of the team have already been at the office for at least an hour.

I, of course, have a cup of coffee from the cafeteria because I was a bit early.

My manager looks at me and raises his eyebrow, but he doesn’t say anything.

Work work work.

Break time (we had two 20 minute paid breaks and 1-hour unpaid lunch).

I’m the only person to go on my break.

Lunchtime.

Everyone was eating at their desks, while I go to meet my friends for lunch.

On the second break, I once again leave my workplace and go for a short stroll around.

Like I said, by the book. How will his superiors react?

Back to work.

About a quarter to 6 pm, I get a call from one of the senior managers in the US.

She needs the report amended.

There were 4 of us on that call.

I’m doing the amendments as we speak and closely monitoring the time.

I see it’s two minutes to 6 pm… One minute… 6 pm.

SM2: *rambling about the report

Me: Apologies, but I have to stop you right here.

SM2: Yes?

Me: It’s 6 pm here. My day is over.

SM2: Huh?

Me: As per my management, my working hours are 9 am to 6 pm, so I must leave now. Have a great weekend, and we’ll catch up on Monday!

Cue smug grin. Will it come back to bite him?

I logged off, got my coat, wished everyone a great weekend, and left.

It was 6:04 pm.

Both my manager and my senior manager were dumbfounded by what has happened.

Looking pale, and stare at me in disbelief.

It was a glorious sight.

I wanted to apologize to my senior manager that I wasn’t able to leave at 6 pm on the dot, but I thought that would have been way too passive-aggressive, so I just left.

Maybe he got away with it. Should we all take a page outta this book?

I relaxed the rule a bit after a few months.

Yet, I never did more than 30 minutes of overtime.

Ironically, once my stakeholders understood that I will not be available for 10+ hours, they started collaborating earlier in the month.

I would have most of my reports done and submitted by the last day of the month.

Seems like this crusade against unpaid overtime paid off.

Do the comments agree?

One commenter says, this is everything!

Another says, salary doesn’t mean hourly.

Another person got goosebumps.

A European says, you crazy Americans.

And another applauds this style of malicious compliance.

This guy fought fire with not getting fired.

Way to go.

Thought that was satisfying? Check out what this employee did when their manager refused to pay for their time while they were traveling for business.