Noah had been a model employee at his company, often arriving early to prepare for the day. But when new management introduced a controversial tardiness policy, Noah’s approach to work took an unexpected turn.
Noah: The Exceptional Employee
In a mid-sized corporation with around 450 employees, Noah stood out. He had dedicated five years of his life to the company, proving himself time and again.
His hard work and passion were reflected in his rise to the top of the productivity charts in his department.
Noah’s Dedication and Exceptional Work Ethic
Noah was not just a diligent worker, he was the very image of the dream employee. He took pride in his job and genuinely loved doing it.
Early Mornings and Stellar Performance
Every day, almost like clockwork, he arrived at the office 20-30 minutes early. This was his personal ritual: settling into the lunchroom, planning his day, and mentally preparing for the challenges ahead.
The management was aware of his dedication and knew that on the rare occasion he was late, it was for a valid reason.
Company Policies on Tardiness
The company’s policy on tardiness was quite clear-cut. Those who were late could face repercussions unless they had a valid excuse. But the rules bent slightly for someone like Noah.
His consistent performance and the rarity of his lateness meant he often received a pass. Not everyone enjoyed this privilege, though. Employees who made a habit of being late bore the brunt of the rules, facing strict actions like written warnings.
A Meritocracy in Action
It was a true meritocracy in which productive employees would experience preferential treatment.
Change of Ownership
However, change was on the horizon. The business was acquired by an international corporation that was only interested in buying them up, stripping them down, and selling off the company.
Despite them constantly denying this, the fact that they spent the next two years stripping down and selling off the company proved otherwise.
Controversial Tardiness Rule
With new ownership came new management and a wave of changes. One of the most controversial was a strict rule on tardiness: any employee who was late by 5 or more minutes would be written up, no exceptions.
Noah’s Question
Noah, puzzled by the new rule, questioned its fairness in a team meeting. “So if someone is 5 minutes late, and someone else is 3 hours late, the punishment is the same?” he asked.
The Management’s Unwavering Response
The new management, without hesitation, confirmed it.
A Shift in Routine
From that day, Noah’s routine changed. He no longer enjoyed his morning moments in the company’s lunchroom.
Morning Coffee Shop Visits
Instead, he frequented a nearby coffee shop, waiting for the exact time to start his shift. The company lost out on the early morning insights and assistance he used to provide.
But that wasn’t the only significant shift in Noah’s behavior.
Turning Tardiness Into Personal Time
Whenever unforeseen circumstances threatened to make Noah even slightly late, he didn’t rush. After all, why hurry if a 5-minute delay had the same consequence as a 3-hour one?
Instead of fretting, he took these instances as opportunities to enjoy a relaxed meal at a restaurant, indulge in shopping, run personal errands, or even watch a movie!
Noah’s Bold Protest
For Noah, what could’ve been just a 7-minute delay turned into a 3-hour extended personal time, depending on his mood and recent experiences with the new management.
Sure, it cost Noah a few hours of pay, but he wasn’t too fussed – his bonuses cushioned him against any huge losses.
A Hands-Tied Situation
The new management couldn’t help but notice. Each time Noah strolled in hours after his scheduled time, their frustration was obvious.
But their hands were tied by their own rules. Whether Noah was late by 5 minutes or 3 hours, the only recourse they had was to write him up for being tardy.
Exposing the Absurdity of the Policy
The absurdity of the new policy had been laid bare by Noah’s unique form of protest, a reminder of the importance of fair and thoughtful management.
The Importance of Fair and Thoughtful Management
Redditors loved Noah’s story and shared their own experiences of similar experiences. One user posted, “I had a job if you were 5 mins late or 59 mins late it was the same thing.
Anytime I knew I would go over, I would take my time and go somewhere. Come in at 59 mins late. But being so late they would have to shift and make arrangements to cover my job it could not go unattended for so long. The supervisor asked why I was so late. Told them traffic.
They were like for 1 hour? Nope, I could have been here 50 mins ago, but it’s the same as 59 mins, and there is this one store I always wanted to check out, so I stopped by there first. Boy, they were not happy but couldn’t do anything about it.”
Encouraging No-Show Behavior
Another user said, “I had a job where you could get 12 points in a year’s time before you got fired. Calling off without 24 hours notice was 1 point. Family emergency?
Thats 1 point. No call no show was 1 point. So rather than a quick heads up that you won’t be in the night before people just didn’t show up, because whats the point of calling off?”
“They Just Kept on Increasing” – Trans Teenagers Are on the Rise, and Now Studies Are Showing the Reasons Behind This ‘Strange’ Development
A new study shows that more and more young people are feeling a mismatch between their assigned gender at birth and the gender they feel inside. “They Just Kept on Increasing” – Trans Teenagers Are on the Rise, and Now Studies Are Showing the Reasons Behind This ‘Strange’ Development
20 Signs You’re a Bad Parent and the Things That Your Kids Will Remember Forever
If you’re a parent, chances are you’ve had more than a few moments when things aren’t quite right in the parenting world. Whether it’s the lack of sleep catching up to you during preschool pickup or worrying about how many hours your teenager spends on social media, it can be hard to know if everything is normal or something needs to change. 20 Signs You’re a Bad Parent and the Things That Your Kids Will Remember Forever
30 of the Dumbest Things Baby Boomers Have Done to Make Life Impossibly Difficult for Millennials
Generational differences often lead to misunderstandings and conflicts. While it’s easy to stereotype and blame an entire generation for societal problems, the reality is more nuanced. However, many Millennials feel that some actions and decisions made predominantly by the Baby Boomer generation have had negative impacts on their lives. 30 of the Dumbest Things Baby Boomers Have Done to Make Life Impossibly Difficult for Millennials
Teenagers Write ‘Black’ on the Check Instead of Leaving a Tip – Server Takes a Bold Stand Against Racism and Fair Treatment
Instead of leaving the customary amount, a group of teenagers chose to write the word “black” on the tip line of their bill, sparking a chain of events that would expose deeper issues. Teenagers Write ‘Black’ on the Check Instead of Leaving a Tip – Server Takes a Bold Stand Against Racism and Fair Treatment
“Whiteness Is a Cult”: Black Woman Sparks Outrage Pointing Out White Women as the Most Dangerous Group in America
A Black woman’s controversial TikTok video goes viral, igniting a fiery discourse. She says, “White women are one of the most dangerous groups in the United States and abroad.” “Whiteness Is a Cult”: Black Woman Sparks Outrage Pointing Out White Women as the Most Dangerous Group in America
The post Art of Being Late: Employee Turns Tardiness Into Artistic Protest Against Controversial Work Rule first appeared on Mama Say What?!
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Yuricazac. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Reddit
