What Does He Think “Hourly” Means?!
My coworkers and I are all paid hourly and document our hours on a piece of paper. It’s old-school, and I don’t know why we haven’t upgraded, but whatever. My coworker (a man in his forties) likes to fill in his entire log — clock in, lunch break, clock out — when he gets in for the day. The problem is that at least once a week he will leave early without correcting his time.
After a few weeks of this, [Manager] pulls him into the office, where I am filling out some paperwork.
Manager: “So, you left two hours early on Tuesday. Is that correct?”
Coworker: “Yeah, my sister was sick. I had to take her to the hospital.”
Manager: “Is she okay now?”
Coworker: “Yeah, she’s fine.”
Manager: “Okay, good. I’m glad it’s nothing serious. Now, since you left early, I need you to adjust your time here—”
Coworker: “Why?”
Manager: “Because you didn’t work those last two hours.”
Coworker: “Because I was taking my sister to the hospital. I just told you.”
Manager: “I get it, but you didn’t work that time, so I can’t pay you for it. Do you understand?”
Coworker: “No, I don’t, and I’m getting a little irritated here. I don’t know why you’re trying to cut my pay.”
Manager: “You are paid for the time you work, not the time you’re scheduled.”
Coworker: “Okay?”
Manager: “And you didn’t work those last two hours.”
Coworker: “Because I was taking my sister to the hospital!”
Manager: “Okay, I’m not sure where the disconnect is here, but I’m just going to… You didn’t work this time, so you need to correct—”
Coworker: “That’s bulls***! This is ridiculous! I can’t believe you’re trying to steal from me like this!”
Manager: “I’m not stealing from you, [Coworker]. If anyone else left early, they wouldn’t get paid for that time, either.”
Coworker: “So, I don’t get paid because I wasn’t here?”
Manager: “…Yes.”
Coworker: “I’m not changing it. I don’t care.”
Manager: “Are you sure?”
Coworker: “I said what I said.”
Manager: “[My Name], can you please leave the room?”
I left and continued working on my papers outside. [Coworker] could be heard screaming before he came out, punched the staff lockers hard enough to dent them, and stormed off.
He was fired and banned from the property.
