Defiant Aussie worker leaks texts with boss after fiery start-time debate: 'No way you'll be paid'
A worker has stood their ground after their boss wanted them to clock in 15 minutes early without being paid for that time. Workplace etiquette takes many forms and some people have a mentality that being on time for work is actually late.
Outsourcing expert Michael Sanz shared a heated text chain between a boss and their employee after they were questioned for starting at 9am. A Bunnings worker recently sparked a similar debate about whether they should be expected to work the time they are rostered and paid for.
But, recruitment expert Graham Wynn had a reality check for some Aussies, telling Yahoo Finance that many roles require you to hit the ground running at the exact time you are rostered to start.
Do you have a story about your work practices? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com
"If you are in a call centre, generally the machine logs you in to start work, so if your start time is 9am, then you need to be ready to go, and not arrive at 9, make your coffee chat about what was on TV last night etc," Wynn said.
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"This is fairly standard in such industries.
"Similar with hospitality or retail, you need to be ready to start work at your time, not just arrive for work at your start time."
Is arriving on time considered late?
Sanz shone a light on one case where a manager text their staff member asking why they clocked on at 9am.
The employee replied saying that was their start time but the boss insisted that wasn't good enough.
"You need to be ready to start at 9am, so that means you need to get in at least 15 minutes [early]," the boss said.
The team member said the system doesn't allow them to log their time sheet a time earlier than 9am and asked whether they would be compensated for that extra quarter of an hour.
Sanz said this is happening across Australia.
"Companies want the team member to get in extra early so they're ready, they're dressed, so they can start straight away," he explained. "Fair enough, but a lot of people aren't paid for that time, so I can see the problem."
The boss didn't seem too happy about the question around pay.
"There is no way, it's not something you are paid for," they wrote. "You just need to be ready to start at 9, and not just walk in."
The team member insisted they are ready to start when they walk in, but the boss was persistent and told them to come in earlier in the future so there "isn't a rush" in the morning.