I'm in canada, alberta to more specific.
The most recent job I've had that made me ponder this, was at a Canadian Tire store… I was hired as a warehouse guy, mostly unloading trucks and putting shit where it needed to be in said warehouse… now, they expected you to be there and punched in 15 minutes before your shift.. but pay wouldn't start until your actual scheduled time. The reason being, 'you need to be prepared for your shift when it starts… LOL… yeah, I come in, I punch in, and I go to work.. simple.
I basically said fuck showing up 15 mins early, because there was literally no reason for me to do so.., I'd come in a few mins early so I could punch in, then walk to my station, and begin working at my scheduled time, or a minute or 2 earlier… any time I did show up 15 minutes early, I was usually just standing there doing fuck all, because there was literally fuck all to do (so what's the point?) Or.. the truck would show up early, and I was expected to start unloading it as soon as I got there, even though I wasn't being paid ️
I ended up being fired because I just said fuck it and would get there 5 mins early, enough to clock in, pour a coffee and get to my station… It never caused any issues, ever… but one day, middle management (our favorite people) took a routine look at my attendance history, they noticed I was punching in 'late' almost daily, even though it was 5 mins before my shift actually started like 99% of the time, (I was a few minutes late a couple times I admit, but I called in
Both times with legit reasons, and both times they said it wasn't a problem.) And they fucking fired me.. regardless of the fact all the people I worked with there said I was the best new hire they'd seen in years.
I've worked at a few places that expected this, but since I don't feel like typing a short novel, and I'm sure you don't want to read one, I'm only gonna mention one more, maybe lol
A roofing company I worked for, not a small gig by any means, expected us there a half hour early.. we weren't paid until 8 am, but were supposed to be at the office/yard at 7:30, so we could load the trailers with tools, bundles of shingles etc.. we didn't get paid until 8:00…. like wtf??
Or a general construction company who wanted us there 20 mins early for the safety meeting, which I understand is very important, but it was an instant fire if you didn't show up in time for it, even though you weren't getting paid until the end of it
This kinda shit really pisses me off.. but when I bring it up to fellow employees, it's always 'it's just the way it is man, nothing you can do about it” or something along those lines. 🤦️
If you talk to your actual employeer about it, you can pretty much kiss your ass goodbye…
gonna end this here as it was more of a question but was becoming a rant lol