‘I get all my work done on time or early’: Employee pulled up for working 15 minutes less than 8-hour shift, sparks Reddit debate

A workplace dilemma shared on Reddit has sparked a discussion about office expectations, employee productivity and strict working-hour policies.

The employee said their manager pulled them aside after they were found to be working 15 minutes short of an eight-hour shift, despite completing all their assigned tasks on time.

In the r/CareerAdvice101 subreddit, the employee said they typically arrive at the office at 7:30 AM and leave at 4 PM. They reportedly work around 15 minutes less than eight hours each day, while taking a lunch break of about 45 minutes.


“Our office is pretty flexible about lunch, and I get all my work done on time or early, so I honestly never thought those extra 15 minutes mattered that much,” the employee wrote in the Reddit post.

The employee said their senior later told them that a formal meeting would be held to discuss the missing time. Unsure about how to approach the conversation, they turned to Reddit users for advice.

Employee asks Reddit for advice

The employee said they did not want to sound entitled or bring up their colleagues and office politics during the discussion.

“Now I'm being told we need to talk about it, and I'm trying to figure out how to approach the conversation without sounding entitled. I don't want to bring up coworkers or complain about office politics. Should I just admit I misunderstood the expected hours and start taking a shorter lunch, or is it reasonable to point out that my work is getting done? What would you say or do to your boss in this situation?”

Reddit users weigh in

The post drew several responses, with users debating whether completing assigned work should matter more than strictly following scheduled hours.

“If you're truly the highest output on the team and they're questioning you about 15 mins you have crap leadership/management. Good leaders won't lose their top contributors over 15 minutes - if they're not completing all their work and leaving 15 mins early daily its a whole different discussion,” one user wrote.

Another user advised the employee to stick to the agreed working hours.

“If you committed to working 8 hrs then do it. If you want to rise up be the best and even work more. Better to be available sitting at your desk working that 8 hrs,” the user said.

A third user said they would respond by working even longer if questioned about the missing 15 minutes.

“I am this guy. I have the highest output on my team. If they question me about the 15 minutes you better believe I am working 20 more minutes every day. I am not going to bite the hand that feeds me lol,” the user said.