Messed up my second week on the job

[CrestfallenOnTheLanding]

Started this job 2 weeks ago. It’s my first proper non-temp job ever.

I like it here. Everything is great. There’s 2 of us in this department when it’s originally supposed to be a department of 5. It’s the kind of work that is time sensitive — think something like the orders and returns department for an e-commerce website.

I finish work at 5. Today at 5 I was packing up getting ready to leave. My manager comes over and tells me that there’s still work to do. I don’t get paid for OT so I just said that my shift was over and that I had to leave as I’ve already made plans (not a lie).

WIBU?

I would have done the same. Set the expectation now that you work your paid hours only or it will become expected that you stay FOR FREE all the time. If the work isn't getting done then that's on them to either get adequate staff or reduce the work being taken on

I absolutely agree with you. However, it might cause issues with your manager (unfairly).

It shouldn't be the case of course but just something to watch out for.

Tough on them if they are three people short and don't pay overtime!

You haven't messed up. Your company's failures are not your responsibility.

If they're already 3 people short, it's highly unlikely they'll sack you for leaving on time.

Have the other 3 left? Are they planning on replacing them? Did they tell you this when you applied for a job?

I'm on the fence with this. What does your contract say about extra work when needed, and has your manager spoken to you about expectations? Usually if you're salaried on a decent salary, and not paid hourly, then sometimes you may need to do extra, but if you are on a low salary or minimum wage it shouldn't be expected.

You did right. Why should you be expected to work for free.

Nothing wrong with what you did in theory, however, it may have been better if you'd acknowledged the problem of too much work and not enough time/staff and suggested a meeting the next day to discuss how best to deal with it due to lack of staff so it doesn't impact on the work-life balance or something.
You get to stick to your guns but it gives more of a team player/problem-solving attitude while at the same time showing you as firm and standing your ground but fair.
I've worked both sides of the fence, business owner and as an employee in a team with low staffing and high demand. From experiencing both, you do not want to make a rod for your own back and cave but it's also best to avoid anything which could make you look like a job worth. Like I say I've seen this from both sides and it's a fine balance getting this type of thing right.

How did you mess up?

What was the response from the manager?

Bravo OP. Start as you mean to
go on I say and that means no to free labour!!

Might it have been better to approach the manager (showing you're proactive) and told them you need to leave at 5pm but there's too much work to do? Maybe they could have jumped in and helped if made aware.

You did nothing wrong and as others said, you don’t want to set the expectation that you work unpaid overtime. Sure you might do an extra 5-10 minutes sometimes to show willing, but to stay when you have plans? Nope.

Would this many people really just get up and walk out without assessing the work and letting a manager know with time still to spare? Like 4pm, shit I'm not gonna get this done I better let someone know? By the way I fully agree with leaving on time, just I think you should have approached the manager rather than them approach you.

They're planning to replace them but they're still looking apparently!

They'll be looking to replace 4 if they continue this shit.

You are only paid tol 5pm, thry you krave at 5pm. It's very different if you are asked in advance and offered overtime.

You did exactly the right thing amd put the boundary in place.

Would this many people really just get up and walk out without assessing the work and letting a manager know with time still to spare? Like 4pm, shit I'm not gonna get this done I better let someone know? By the way I fully agree with leaving on time, just I think you should have approached the manager rather than them approach you.

I would do exactly what you describe (or stay and work 'for free') but I suppose it depends massively on what job you do.

My commitment and work ethic has in turn given me pay rises, bonuses and better jobs along the way. Not all jobs offer those opportunities though.

@PersephonePomegranate23 Yeah I agree, my work ethic had given me the same progression. Give and take when needed, but not with the piss being taken out of me.

Never work for free.

The manager has full view of the workload as we more or less have the same core job. What we've done for the past 2 weeks is sort out the orders we can during our working hours and then that's that. One member left on Mon to go on mat leave so it's a lot more hectic with just the two of us.

@AnaisMae I agree. It's a difficult balance to strike sometimes but approaching these things head on as you describe is always best.

You didn't mess up. In a job like that I would make sure I finished the task I was working on even if it meant I was five or ten mins over my shift, but certainly no more than that.

In some jobs I’d expect to stay a bit later sometimes depending on what needs doing. But the job you’ve described doesn’t sound like that kind of role - I might be wrong, but from what you’ve it sounds like a role with a routine of set tasks, or maybe a shift pattern, rather than one where you’re having to react to the unexpected, or where there are peaks and troughs where you might stay a bit late one day and then go home a bit early another day. In my current job, which is more of a reactive, ‘no two days the same’ sort of role and I’m paid a monthly salary, I don’t mind being flexible and not watching the clock much (within reason!). But I’ve also had jobs with shifts and very fixed hours (eg retail, hotel reception, bar work, warehouse/mailroom) and I wouldn’t have done unpaid overtime in those roles.

The reason there was still work to do was because two of you are trying to cover the job of five people - that’s not your fault and you shouldn’t have to work unpaid to cover the extra work! If they have three vacancies, they can definitely bloody afford to pay you and your colleague overtime if they need you to pick up the slack.

Are you hourly or salaried? In salaried jobs work doesn't always come in at an exaclty stable rate across your hours of work. In most jobs I would say that the average employess flexes a little and stays late on some days and then takes time back on other days. Lieu time instead of OT.