An employee shared a post on Reddit to criticise their company’s rigid attendance policy, comparing it to a “school-like mentality” that punishes adults for minor delays.
The post, which has triggered a discussion on r/IndianWorkplace, questions whether strict 9:30 am reporting rules still make sense in today’s flexible work culture.
The user shared a screenshot of an official team message reminding employees that arriving after 9:30 am without prior notice would result in a half-day being marked – no exceptions.
“If you anticipate being late due to any valid reason, you are expected to inform your respective manager in advance or notify me directly. Please note that arrivals after 9:30 am without prior intimation will be marked as a half-day as per company policy,” the message read.
Reacting to this, the employee voiced frustration at what they described as an outdated approach to timekeeping. “Are we in school or are we adults?” they said, explaining that real-life factors like traffic, emergencies, and unpredictable delays shouldn’t be grounds for penalising people who are otherwise performing their jobs.
Furthermore, the user highlighted further concerns, including unpaid leave for unapproved absences or failure to mark attendance properly, adding: “Shouldn’t the work you actually do be what matters?”
In the comments section of the post, social media users shared their thoughts and opinions apart from personal experiences.
“Report on time. Leave on time,” a user said. Another added, “My manager is super cool. Come whenever you want. Just keep doing deliverables and maintain 15-20 hours in office per week.”
One of the users said, “You can suggest your company to change the login logout time by an hour. In Gurugram and Noida, companies have internally managed the shift timings to avoid chaos and traffic jams during peak hours.”
“This system feels like it’s designed to produce obedient servants, not doers or thinkers. Honestly, with this mindset, how are we supposed to compete with China – let alone the USA? We’re still struggling to build basic mobile phones, forget about advanced manufacturing. At this rate, India risks remaining just a service-based economy,” another comment read.
What is your take on this?
– Ends
