The manager tried to explain that working in the office didn’t mean employees should stop responding after hours. But she disagreed. Commuting an hour each way already added ten extra hours a week to her schedule. Before, flexibility made it feel okay to put in extra effort sometimes. Now, she said, boundaries were firm.
The idea caught on fast. Her whole department, and then others, started doing the same thing. No more after-hours messages, unpaid work, or work-related social events. Management slowly realized they got exactly what they asked for, but not what they actually wanted.
Meanwhile, something else was happening. Employees started updating their resumes and quietly looking for remote jobs elsewhere. The new rule wasn’t building loyalty or culture. It was making people leave faster.
The irony is clear. A policy meant to give management more control ended up teaching workers how to take back their time. And once people learn that, they usually don’t forget it.
Author: Kayitsi.com
