A Worker’s Boss Told Them They Wouldn’t Pay Them Overtime, So They Left A Job Before It Was Done So As Not To Work Any Extra Hours

Matthew Gilligan

45 minutes ago

Shutterstock/Reddit

If you don’t pay, the workers won’t play…

Those are words to live by, people!

And if you’ve ever been strong-armed into working without pay, you know that it’s demoralizing AND unfair.

In today’s story, a worker talked about how they handled things when their boss told them they wouldn’t receive any overtime pay.

Let’s take a look!

Company refuses to pay me overtime, I left job site with job incomplete and client unhappy.

“This happened years ago, when I was just starting to wake up to companies abusing employees, and employees taking it because they are just thankful to have a job.

I worked as a sales rep for a company in the technology field. Two way radios and alarms to be specific.

Said company never had enough technical staff so I started training myself, and asked our lead technician to teach me to program and sort out minor problems, as well as do installations.

Which was nice, since I was doing client visits 1-4 times a month, depending on how big the client was, and then I could sort out problems while I was on site.

I ended up doing most of my client’s installations, and the manager of the technical department was happy because it’s less work for him, and he knows I do the jobs properly cause I want to keep my clients happy.

They were racking up the hours.

Accordingly he had no problem signing my timesheets and overtime hours as well. OT was around 10-20 hours a month, so 2-5 hours a week. Which I think was a great deal considering I was doing the jobs of 2 people actually.

It went well for a few months until one day just before payday I get called in by the MD/owner. He had my timesheets for the past few months in front of him.

What?!?!

He asked me what they were, and I gave him an explanation. He scratched my OT out, saying sales reps don’t get paid OT.

I tried to explain to him why I was claiming OT, and that he can ask the tech manager, but he was having none of it. I was mad as it was a little extra money, but whatever.

About a week later I was at a client about 160 km (100 miles) from the office. We had an big installation and was almost done except for programming and tidying up some cables. I checked the time, and told the apprentice technician to pack up.

He was like but we are not done with the job.

Too bad!

I told him I don’t care, I don’t get paid OT, its 2 pm and its still a 2 hour drive back to the office.

We packed up, client comes out and I gave him the explanation, saying we will be back the following morning (to finish what was effectively 30-45 min of work)

Client wasn’t happy, but understands that I don’t get paid to work late. I was on the road about 15 min when my phone rings.

It was the owner (same one that said I don’t get paid OT) he asked what was I doing and why I wasn’t finishing the job, as the client was not happy.

Just following the rules!

I told him the explanation above, and then I said that he said I don’t get paid overtime, so I’m not working late, and will drive back to finish tomorrow.

Silence for about 5 seconds as I assume he realised I was following his express instructions, and there was nothing he could do.

He told me to go back and finish the job and we can talk about it later. I told him no, unless he pays me OT.

He says he will, I tell him to put it in an email before I will turn back. I could hear him go red in the face, he said he will send it now.

I switched on my laptop, connected my dongle (this was still before smart phones and email on out phones). A few minutes later the email came through. We turned around and finished the job.

I got paid my overtime, and never again was there a query over my timesheets or hours booked. I was the only rep out of 5 that got paid overtime.”

Now check out how readers reacted on Reddit.

This person had a lot to say.