People Share Unethical Business Practices That Are Extremely Common


Everyone has a story about a rough job they used to have. Maybe it was a bad boss who got on your nerves every day, or perhaps strict company guidelines forbidding you from wearing pants that went above your ankles. Either way it left a bad taste in your mouth that lingers to this day. What usually ends up happening when you talk it out with enough people is a lot of these shady practices seem to pop up in many areas.


Reddit user, u/IllCreme, wanted to know:

What is unethical but is extremely common practice in the business world?

When You Already Know...


I don't know about "unethical as f-ck," but going through the motions of pretending to entertain outside candidates when you've already decided on who internally will get the job. Wastes everyone's time.


Let's Keep You Where You Are

You apply for a new job within your current company, but do not get an interview or offered the job. Your current manager blocked it because you are deemed too valuable where you are.

A manager I worshiped apparently did this to me many times. The kicker is she would encourage me to apply for the position knowing full well what her plan was.


This Seems Really Open Ended

Companies(mine) that give you PTO hours that end up being capped but if you use the PTO you are punished by losing pay/shift differentials.


Re-categorizing Overtime?

Companies being allowed to give workers just below the minimum requirement of hours to avoid giving them benefits. Minimum is 40 hours a week? Work them 39.9 and not a minute more, or call any extra time 'overtime' so they get paid double or time and a half or whatever, which is great in the short term but cheaper in the long term of the company than giving them benefits.


A.B.S. = Always Be Standing

Don't know if it's been said before, but why in 2019 is it still considered "rude" for people to be sitting on the job? Restaurant Hosts or Supermarket Cashiers, like if its a slow hour of the day just let people rest their feet I don't get it.

Moreover, my Mother's owned a hair salon for years and has to stand up to do hair properly. She's been doing it her whole life, and used to in heels, so she has a lot of foot pain and tends to break foot bones every so often. And she doesn't even have a choice in her profession, why do that to people who would do just as good sitting down?


Define: FREE

Using the word "free" when I have to spend money to get the free thing.

It's not free unless I can walk into your business, get your product or service without paying a single penny, and walk out of your business.

If I have to pay even a single penny, it is not free, it is "included with purchase".

If words don't mean what those words mean, then nothing means anything.


Just A Lot Of Waiting...And Waiting...And Waiting...

"On call" scheduling: i.e. requiring employees to call in two hours before their shift starts to find out whether they are actually working--if you're not needed you don't get paid.

This insidious practice is unfortunately legal in the majority of U.S. states.


It's All The Same, Right?

Not disclosing to the customer that their product was built with used/refurbished parts. The justification is that: They have a failure rate the same as new ones.
I'm sure if the customer knew they'd probably be pretty pissed off though.


Sure, By The 15th You Meant The 27th, Right? Next Month?

Paying invoices late, especially BIG companies that pay a few months late. It kills small business, and seems to be quite normal here in the UK


Beneficial Redirection

Investment services like Edward Jones, who will recommend investing in funds that make THEM the most money. It's impossible to get good advice from these places.


Keeping It Hidden

Hiding fees until the service is provided.


I was in a car accident that required an ambulance ride, and I was charged DOUBLE for it. Apparently the 2 ambulance companies in my area are in cahoots, so rather than share the business in my area 50/50, they apparently devised a way to "split" it 100/100. They each have one person from the other company ride in their company's ambulance. The explanation I received was since a medic from the other company was riding along in the ambulance I took, they now can both charge me. Again, they didn't split the fee. They each charged me fully. It's almost a brilliant scheme, but also absolutely unethical and ridiculous, and I can't fathom how this is even legal. On a side note, they didn't even treat me on the ride.


Locking Them In

Purposefully giving part time employees erratic schedules so they can't take on a second job.


The Magical 32

Giving your employees just few enough hours that they don't qualify as a full time employee, so you don't have to pay them benefits.


I worked at Wal Mart in high school. There were older adults who worked tons of overtime. Really put their heart into the company. How were they rewarded? At the end of the pay period, they had shifts cancelled to keep them under 40 hours. Such a garbage company.

You can bet when I witnessed people shoplifting I looked the other way. F--- that company.


Who Loses When You Only Watch The Bottom Line?

Chronically and purposely understaffing.

Looking at you, retail and Assisted Living companies.


If They Don't Say Anything, Don't Pay Nothing

Not paying invoices until you've been chased multiple times.

As standard policy.


Marking It Up

raising prices before putting items on sale


As a former kohl's cashier, I can attest that they are the WORST with this. It should be illegal.


Any grocery store. I buy the same stuff every week and I know what the prices are, I know you literally made the price on this 150% and marked it down to regular price.



I hate how convoluted it is to cancel a gym membership in most places. It's super shady. Sometimes you HAVE to mail a letter to the companies headquarters. Canceling at the gym isn't enough. Lots of people have gotten bills months later even though they were told over and over it was complete.


Jealous, Much?


Firing someone the moment you find out they're looking for another job.


We Are People, After All

The multitudes of ways in which work life bleeds into personal life and you're expected to just accept that(and worse, actively embrace it) else you're perceived as someone who doesn't want to get ahead or otherwise isn't as valued as the person who does. The company will always try and get more free time from you but far less than always (bordering on never) actually give you back what that extra time costs.


What's an awful thing your job does that's considered legal? Tell us all about it!

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—George Takei