In my office, staying late is treated like a badge of honor, even though it’s not in anyone’s contract. When I started leaving at 5:30—my actual end time—people acted like I was breaking some sacred rule. My manager called me in and told me, “Everyone stays until at least 7. Doing the minimum won’t get you ahead.” I calmly replied that my hours were 9 to 5:30, nothing more.

I stuck to my schedule, refusing to work unpaid overtime. A month later, HR summoned me. My manager sat there looking proud, clearly thinking I was about to be disciplined again. But HR surprised her by saying that writing me up for leaving on time violated company policy and my contract. They’d reviewed the timesheets—and lawyers were involved.

Turns out, other employees had also complained about feeling pressured to stay late for free. My situation was the proof HR needed. My manager turned red as they told her she needed retraining, and from now on, nobody could work past their scheduled hours without approval and overtime pay.

Since then, the atmosphere has been mixed. Some coworkers quietly thanked me, while others acted cold, blaming me for “changing things.” My manager barely speaks to me, but I don’t regret standing up for myself. I did what was fair and in my contract—and it protected everyone else, too.