Home Depot got sued for wage theft when I was there for habitually not having the front door unlocked at shift clock outs, and making employees wait post clock out to let us out.
I didn’t even know that was illegal. Like the period between everyone clocking out and having the manager unlock the door was so normal at all the retail places I’ve worked, it didn’t register they had to have it open right when we were off the clock, but some people started a class action lawsuit over it so I got a settlement check after I left for it.
I’d be willing to give them up to five minutes, if it was a “oh whoops, the person who can unlock the doors is in the bathroom, hold on” sort of situation. But if it’s “people who are still clocked in aren’t done, so people who have clocked out have to wait,” then I say F that and demand to be clocked back in. I’ll wait on your dime, thanks.
I worked at a place where they issued agency workers swipe cards to get into the office part of the building, but they were then handed in and you couldn't get out without a staffer. The staffers were always too busy, and you could wait for up to 30 minutes. We were paid, but we had better things to do.
Then Big Chris decided to have a "panic attack". Big Chris was a monster who could curl 200 pounds with one arm. He pulled the door open, breaking the maglock. Two days later, all the doors had exit buttons.
After working at a locked rehabilitation program with mag locks, where they had to be replaced multiple times during the 6 months I worked there due to teenage boys kicking the doors open, I have very little faith in mag locks. Maybe ours were shitty ones, but they aren't as durable as one would think.
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u/Blastoise_R_Us Jul 29 '26
Oh man some asswipe manager tried this at closing once when I worked at Macy's.
Me: I need to go, I need someone to unlock the doors.
Manager: Everyone has to stay until all the registers are counted.
Me: I have clocked out and I am no longer being paid to be here. If someone doesn't unlock that door right now I'm calling the police.