My boss argued with me today that making me pick up keys to the office off the clock was not considered "wage theft".
My boss locked herself out of the office on Friday. She waited all weekend to tell me. I am the first person in the office on Monday but she will not give me my own key. Instead, she makes everyone wait.
She told me on Monday morning that I have to drive entirely to another office unpaid and go get another set so she can get in. This is an office of 20 people and she picked me. No, I am not her personal assistant.
The distance was not far, however I was not compensated for this at all. When I told her this is considered wage theft today, she wrote in an email "Driving 100 feet to pick up keys is hardly wage theft.".
Obviously, I wasn't compensated for my mileage and time and also it was 15 extra minutes added to my workday.
Is she not out of line as I did her a favor?
Jobadvisor
That sounds incredibly frustrating, and you are right to question your employer's actions.
The short answer is yes, she is out of line, and her failure to compensate you for the time and mileage spent retrieving the keys could be considered a violation of wage and hour laws, which are generally meant to prevent what is colloquially called "wage theft."
My boss locked herself out of the office on Friday. She waited all weekend to tell me. I am the first person in the office on Monday but she will not give me my own key. Instead, she makes everyone wait.
She told me on Monday morning that I have to drive entirely to another office unpaid and go get another set so she can get in. This is an office of 20 people and she picked me. No, I am not her personal assistant.
The distance was not far, however I was not compensated for this at all. When I told her this is considered wage theft today, she wrote in an email "Driving 100 feet to pick up keys is hardly wage theft.".
Obviously, I wasn't compensated for my mileage and time and also it was 15 extra minutes added to my workday.
Is she not out of line as I did her a favor?
Jobadvisor
That sounds incredibly frustrating, and you are right to question your employer's actions.
The short answer is yes, she is out of line, and her failure to compensate you for the time and mileage spent retrieving the keys could be considered a violation of wage and hour laws, which are generally meant to prevent what is colloquially called "wage theft."
⚖️ The Legal Perspective: Working "Off the Clock"
In the United States (where these laws are most stringent and frequently discussed), the key federal law is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Most state laws follow similar principles.
Compensable Time: Under the FLSA, an employer must pay you for all time you are required to work. If your employer requires or allows you to perform any task that benefits the employer—even if it's outside your normal schedule or duties—that time must be paid.
In your situation, driving to another location to retrieve a key set so that 20 people (and your boss) can start their workday is clearly a task performed for the benefit of the employer.
De Minimis Rule: Your boss's email mentioning "100 feet" likely refers to the "de minimis" rule. This rule states that if the time spent is truly negligible (insignificant, usually a few seconds or a minute) and administratively impractical to track, it doesn't need to be paid.
However, 15 extra minutes is NOT considered de minimis. Courts and the Department of Labor generally view work that takes more than a few minutes (e.g., 5 to 10 minutes) as compensable. Your 15 minutes would almost certainly be considered compensable work time.
In the United States (where these laws are most stringent and frequently discussed), the key federal law is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Most state laws follow similar principles.
Compensable Time: Under the FLSA, an employer must pay you for all time you are required to work. If your employer requires or allows you to perform any task that benefits the employer—even if it's outside your normal schedule or duties—that time must be paid.
In your situation, driving to another location to retrieve a key set so that 20 people (and your boss) can start their workday is clearly a task performed for the benefit of the employer.
De Minimis Rule: Your boss's email mentioning "100 feet" likely refers to the "de minimis" rule. This rule states that if the time spent is truly negligible (insignificant, usually a few seconds or a minute) and administratively impractical to track, it doesn't need to be paid.
However, 15 extra minutes is NOT considered de minimis. Courts and the Department of Labor generally view work that takes more than a few minutes (e.g., 5 to 10 minutes) as compensable. Your 15 minutes would almost certainly be considered compensable work time.
🚗 Compensation for Mileage/Travel
Mileage Reimbursement: When an employee is required to use their personal vehicle to travel during the workday for a business purpose (e.g., driving between two offices, running a required errand), they must typically be reimbursed for the associated expenses (mileage).
The current IRS rate for business mileage is often used as a standard for this reimbursement.
Travel Time: Since the travel was not part of your normal commute but a specific, required errand after the start of your workday (or as a required action to start the workday), the time spent driving to the other office and back is also compensable work time.
Mileage Reimbursement: When an employee is required to use their personal vehicle to travel during the workday for a business purpose (e.g., driving between two offices, running a required errand), they must typically be reimbursed for the associated expenses (mileage).
The current IRS rate for business mileage is often used as a standard for this reimbursement.
Travel Time: Since the travel was not part of your normal commute but a specific, required errand after the start of your workday (or as a required action to start the workday), the time spent driving to the other office and back is also compensable work time.
📝 What Her Actions Mean
Issue Your Situation Conclusion Time Worked 15 minutes of required travel and waiting/pickup. Must be Paid. 15 minutes is not "de minimis." Mileage Required use of your personal car for a work task. Must be Reimbursed. She must pay for the business mileage. The "Favor" She framed it as a "favor," but it was a required task. Employers cannot classify required work as a non-compensable "favor." The Boss's Behavior She refused to give you a key, locked out 20 people, and demanded you fix her mistake unpaid. This shows poor management, lack of respect for employee time, and a misunderstanding of basic employment law.
In summary, she owed you 15 minutes of pay at your normal hourly rate PLUS reimbursement for the mileage you drove. By not providing this, she underpaid you for your work, which is the definition of wage theft.
| Issue | Your Situation | Conclusion |
| Time Worked | 15 minutes of required travel and waiting/pickup. | Must be Paid. 15 minutes is not "de minimis." |
| Mileage | Required use of your personal car for a work task. | Must be Reimbursed. She must pay for the business mileage. |
| The "Favor" | She framed it as a "favor," but it was a required task. | Employers cannot classify required work as a non-compensable "favor." |
| The Boss's Behavior | She refused to give you a key, locked out 20 people, and demanded you fix her mistake unpaid. | This shows poor management, lack of respect for employee time, and a misunderstanding of basic employment law. |
In summary, she owed you 15 minutes of pay at your normal hourly rate PLUS reimbursement for the mileage you drove. By not providing this, she underpaid you for your work, which is the definition of wage theft.
✅ Next Step
You have documented evidence in her email. You should respond in a professional and factual manner.
You have documented evidence in her email. You should respond in a professional and factual manner.
Is it a bad sign if a stable job slowly starts to drain you?
My job is fine on paper. Nothing extreme, no crazy hours, decent pay but lately I’ve been feeling this low level dread every morning even though nothing specific is wrong.
It’s like I’ve quietly outgrown the role but I haven’t caught up to the idea yet. Has anyone else left a job simply because it felt wrong, not because anything dramatic happened?
Trying to figure out if this feeling is normal or a sign to move on.
Jobadvisor
That feeling is absolutely normal, and it is often one of the clearest and most reliable signs that you are ready for a change, even if everything looks "fine on paper."
Many people stay in a job that is merely "fine" until something dramatic happens—they get fired, the company folds, or a crisis pushes them out. It takes self-awareness and courage to recognize the quiet drain and decide to leave proactively.
Here is a breakdown of why this feeling occurs, why it's a significant sign, and some advice on how to proceed.
My job is fine on paper. Nothing extreme, no crazy hours, decent pay but lately I’ve been feeling this low level dread every morning even though nothing specific is wrong.
It’s like I’ve quietly outgrown the role but I haven’t caught up to the idea yet. Has anyone else left a job simply because it felt wrong, not because anything dramatic happened?
Trying to figure out if this feeling is normal or a sign to move on.
Jobadvisor
That feeling is absolutely normal, and it is often one of the clearest and most reliable signs that you are ready for a change, even if everything looks "fine on paper."
Many people stay in a job that is merely "fine" until something dramatic happens—they get fired, the company folds, or a crisis pushes them out. It takes self-awareness and courage to recognize the quiet drain and decide to leave proactively.
Here is a breakdown of why this feeling occurs, why it's a significant sign, and some advice on how to proceed.
🧠 Why the "Quiet Drain" Occurs
The low-level dread you feel, despite the stability, is often a sign of one of these three things:
The low-level dread you feel, despite the stability, is often a sign of one of these three things:
1. Lack of Growth and Challenge
You mentioned feeling like you've "quietly outgrown the role." This is a critical insight. When a job no longer offers new intellectual or professional challenges, your brain essentially goes into maintenance mode. This lack of engagement can be mentally exhausting. The human brain thrives on novelty and problem-solving; routine without challenge can feel like running on a treadmill—you're expending energy, but not moving forward.
You mentioned feeling like you've "quietly outgrown the role." This is a critical insight. When a job no longer offers new intellectual or professional challenges, your brain essentially goes into maintenance mode. This lack of engagement can be mentally exhausting. The human brain thrives on novelty and problem-solving; routine without challenge can feel like running on a treadmill—you're expending energy, but not moving forward.
2. Values Mismatch or Meaning Gap
Even if the tasks are manageable, you might be struggling with the "Why." You don't need to be saving the world, but if you no longer connect with the mission of the company, the utility of your work, or the day-to-day culture, the effort required to perform can feel heavier.
Even if the tasks are manageable, you might be struggling with the "Why." You don't need to be saving the world, but if you no longer connect with the mission of the company, the utility of your work, or the day-to-day culture, the effort required to perform can feel heavier.
3. The Stability Trap
Stability is comfortable, but sometimes too much comfort leads to stagnation.1 Your emotional reaction (the dread) is your system pushing you to seek higher purpose or greater fulfillment, even if it means sacrificing some of that hard-won stability for a period.
Stability is comfortable, but sometimes too much comfort leads to stagnation.
🛑 Is It a Sign to Move On?
Yes, this feeling is a strong signal that you should seriously consider moving on.
Many successful career transitions are sparked by this quiet realization, not by a hostile work environment or a layoff. Leaving a job for this reason is not dramatic or irresponsible; it is simply prioritizing your well-being and professional trajectory.
💡 Experience of Others: Plenty of people have left "good" jobs solely because they felt wrong. They often realize the cost of stability was too high—it was costing them their energy, their excitement, and potential growth.
Yes, this feeling is a strong signal that you should seriously consider moving on.
Many successful career transitions are sparked by this quiet realization, not by a hostile work environment or a layoff. Leaving a job for this reason is not dramatic or irresponsible; it is simply prioritizing your well-being and professional trajectory.
💡 Experience of Others: Plenty of people have left "good" jobs solely because they felt wrong. They often realize the cost of stability was too high—it was costing them their energy, their excitement, and potential growth.
🛠️ Advice: How to Approach This Feeling
Before you submit your resignation, it's wise to use this feeling as fuel for a structured exploration.
Before you submit your resignation, it's wise to use this feeling as fuel for a structured exploration.
1. Try to Fix the Role (Internal Audit)
If the company is otherwise great, ask yourself if the job could be changed:
Identify the Void: What are you currently lacking? More responsibility? More creative input? Management experience?
Propose a Change: Talk to your manager (without mentioning the dread). Frame it as, "I'm looking to take on more complex challenges. Could I lead X project, or cross-train in Y department?"
If they are receptive and a change is made, the dread might lift.
If they shut down the ideas, it confirms the role is stagnant and it's time to move on.
If the company is otherwise great, ask yourself if the job could be changed:
Identify the Void: What are you currently lacking? More responsibility? More creative input? Management experience?
Propose a Change: Talk to your manager (without mentioning the dread). Frame it as, "I'm looking to take on more complex challenges. Could I lead X project, or cross-train in Y department?"
If they are receptive and a change is made, the dread might lift.
If they shut down the ideas, it confirms the role is stagnant and it's time to move on.
2. Professional Diagnostics (Self-Assessment)
Spend a few hours reflecting on your "ideal" work life.
What are your non-negotiables? (e.g., must work remotely, must manage people, must be project-based).
What tasks do you genuinely enjoy? Look at your best days and see what made them good.
What industry or skill set have you always been curious about?
This exercise will help you define what a better job looks like, making your job search focused.
Spend a few hours reflecting on your "ideal" work life.
What are your non-negotiables? (e.g., must work remotely, must manage people, must be project-based).
What tasks do you genuinely enjoy? Look at your best days and see what made them good.
What industry or skill set have you always been curious about?
This exercise will help you define what a better job looks like, making your job search focused.
3. Test the Waters (External Search)
You don't have to quit immediately. Start applying for jobs that sound genuinely interesting, even if they seem out of reach.
The Interview Test: Going through the interview process for a different role is a great way to gauge your excitement. If you find yourself energized and invested in preparing for an interview, that's a huge sign that your future is calling you.
A "No" is Fine: If you interview and realize the new role isn't actually what you want, you can stop, feeling reassured that your current job isn't so bad after all (or at least, that specific alternative isn't right).
The feeling of quiet dread is your intuition speaking up. Don't silence it. Use it as motivation to explore a better, more engaging future.
You don't have to quit immediately. Start applying for jobs that sound genuinely interesting, even if they seem out of reach.
The Interview Test: Going through the interview process for a different role is a great way to gauge your excitement. If you find yourself energized and invested in preparing for an interview, that's a huge sign that your future is calling you.
A "No" is Fine: If you interview and realize the new role isn't actually what you want, you can stop, feeling reassured that your current job isn't so bad after all (or at least, that specific alternative isn't right).
The feeling of quiet dread is your intuition speaking up. Don't silence it. Use it as motivation to explore a better, more engaging future.