December 21, 2025 at 5:45 am

Employee Celebrated Landing A Full-Time Position, But They Soon Discovered The Salary Was Covering Up Mandatory Unpaid Overtime

by Benjamin Cottrell

stressed man putting hands over head

Pexels/Reddit

When you’re in the middle of a rough job search, you end up wanting to take just about anything.

But sometimes the fine print reveals a reality that’s far worse than advertised.

That’s exactly what this employee discovered after learning their “good job” came with 50-hour weeks and penalties for getting sick.

You’ll want to read on for this one.

There’s always a catch.

I thought I finally found a decent job, 50k/year salary, full-time management position.

I came in to do paperwork and asked the manager a few questions about hours.

That’s when this employee realized the truth about the job.

Turns out it’s 50 hours a week and if you ever call in sick your pay gets docked.

So there’s literally no benefit for being salary, it’s just so they can overwork you.

I hate that I have to take the job until I find something else, this job market sucks.

Finding a decent job shouldn’t be this difficult.

What did Reddit have to say?

This commenter worries this candidate was being lowballed from the start.

Screenshot 2025 12 04 at 12.10.14 PM Employee Celebrated Landing A Full Time Position, But They Soon Discovered The Salary Was Covering Up Mandatory Unpaid Overtime

This user wonders about the legality of all of this.

Screenshot 2025 12 04 at 12.10.48 PM Employee Celebrated Landing A Full Time Position, But They Soon Discovered The Salary Was Covering Up Mandatory Unpaid Overtime

This redditor raises similar red flags.

Screenshot 2025 12 04 at 12.11.17 PM Employee Celebrated Landing A Full Time Position, But They Soon Discovered The Salary Was Covering Up Mandatory Unpaid Overtime

Sometimes the biggest “benefit” a workplace offers is the motivation to leave.

This salary wasn’t worth the strings attached.

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.

Benjamin Cottrell | Assistant Editor, Internet Culture

Benjamin Cottrell is an Assistant Editor and contributing writer at TwistedSifter, specializing in internet culture, viral social dynamics, and the moral complexities of online communities. He brings a highly analytical, editorial voice to his reporting on workplace conflicts, malicious compliance, and interpersonal drama, with a specific focus on nuanced stories that lack an obvious villain.

As a published author of rhetorical criticism, Benjamin leverages his academic background in human communication to dissect and elevate viral social media threads. Instead of simply summarizing events, he provides readers with balanced, deep-dive commentary into why the internet reacts the way it does. In addition to his cultural reporting, he is an experienced fine art photography essayist and video game reviewer.

When he isn’t analyzing the latest viral debates, Benjamin is usually chipping away at his extensive video game backlog, hunting down the best new restaurants, or out exploring the city with a camera in hand.

Connect with Benjamin on Instagram and read more of his essays on Substack.