The only thing I can think of that makes sense to me is the boss saw OP standing around talking and told them to get back to work, not knowing OP was off, and OP took that as "clock back in and continue working".

Also, if you were off the clock and they made you go back to work, they better pay you overtime.

Which would mean they don't know OP's schedule and they're an idiot. I think the only takeaway from this is that OP's boss is extremely old-fashioned, and is used to owning slaves instead of hired employees. That's what you get in a "Right to Work" state.

@31 I don't see how that makes the boss an idiot. No boss I ever had memorized the employees schedules.

My boss always memorized our schedules so she'd know who was supposed to be in the store for the day, when each person was finishing, and when the next person was coming in to take over the next shift. She made the scheduled, she should know what people are working and when. Also, even if she didn't, a lot of schedules are posted right on site. So all she had to do was glance at it and could easily see OP was finished for the day.

Being interrupted wasn't the main point of this OP's post. OP was already off work when he said his last goodbye to his coworker who was leaving for college. I would rather say my goodbyes in person rather than over the phone.

It says after work, so I think OP was done for the day, but I don't think their boss can make them come back to work if they're done?

I don't know why I'm getting thumbed down so much it's an honest question

You were thumbed down because you didn't read OP's post correctly. He said "after work", not during his break.

For some reason I read this to the tune from the Nullmetal Alchemist intro.

It checks out, you earned my like

op's shift was over. they were done with their job for that day.

They could still fire you, even if they don't have a real reason.

That depends on where you work. In Texas, that's true, but in other states, they have to have a valid reason.

That would basically be Montana. I googled right to work after hearing about it a million times in this app and literally the only state where you are required by law to have a valid reason when firing someone is Montana... There are national laws about reasons you can't fire someone though. and some states have even more reasons you can't be fired e.g. gender / sexual orientation discrimation is sadly not a nationwide banned reason to fire . it's state by state. idk why people keeping saying IF it's a right to work state.. Montana isn't super populous. so it probably is. Though on that note it's really weird that the odd one out is Montana. I would have thought it would be like Massachusetts or California or some blue state like that.