A marketing contractor is going viral after sharing his story about a boss who refuses to respect boundaries outside of office hours. In a Reddit post, the man revealed that despite his official working hours being from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., his boss often calls him late at night — sometimes as late as 9 p.m. — “just to check something quickly.”
What starts as a simple question often turns into a 30-minute brainstorming session, leaving the man unable to unwind after work. “Last week, I told him, politely, that I’d rather keep work calls during office hours unless it’s urgent,” he wrote. But instead of understanding, his boss fired back with, “If you want to grow here, you need to be available.”
Feeling guilty for wanting personal time, the man asked if he was “overreacting” for setting boundaries — a question that sparked massive support online. Many users backed him up, saying that no one should be expected to work around the clock.
One commenter wrote, “After hours you shouldn’t have to answer calls or emails. Your contract goes from 9-6 — that’s it.” Another pointed out that countries like Australia have already passed “right to disconnect” laws to stop employers from contacting workers off the clock.
Others suggested quiet resistance: “Just don’t answer. If he asks, say you were at the movies or having dinner. Keep it non-confrontational but consistent.”
Many also encouraged him to take the issue to HR, reminding him that “work should never consume your whole life.”
