I’ve worked at my company for several years. I’m reliable, experienced, and I rarely complain.
So when my boss called me into his office and told me he expected me to stay an extra hour every day—unpaid—to train a new intern, I was stunned.
I explained calmly that unpaid work wasn’t something I could agree to.
He smiled and said I was being selfish.
“Where’s your team spirit?” he asked.
“Once she’s trained, she’ll help you. This is for your benefit.”
I didn’t argue.
I smiled and said, “Thank you.”
That night, instead of staying late, I did something else.
I reviewed my contract.
I checked labor laws.
And I forwarded a very polite email to HR—asking for clarification about unpaid mandatory overtime and training responsibilities.
The next morning, I arrived at work on time.
So did HR.
Within an hour, my boss was called into a closed meeting. The door stayed shut longer than usual.
When he finally came out, his confidence was gone.
Later that day, an email went out to the entire team:
All training time would now be paid, optional overtime would require written approval, and no employee would be pressured to work unpaid hours.
The intern was reassigned to a proper training program.
My boss hasn’t mentioned “team spirit” since.
Sometimes, the most powerful response isn’t arguing—it’s letting the rules speak for you.
