He also stopped signing their timecards. The physical book where they used to record entry and exit times remained blank. "We trust you," he said.
Over the next three months, the late nights became routine. "Just this once," Mr. Siqueira would say, but "just this once" happened four or five times a week. Clara arrived at 9 AM and often left at 9 PM or 10 PM. Her lunch break shrank to 20 minutes, eaten in front of her screen.
The first month was a dream. Clara learned fast, impressed Mr. Siqueira with her social media campaigns, and felt part of a close-knit team. Direito do Trabalho
Mr. Siqueira panicked. He tried to fire her "for just cause" (insubordination), but Dr. Leticia had already filed a preliminary complaint with the Labor Prosecutor's Office ( Ministério Público do Trabalho ).
One Friday, after a 65-hour week (25 hours of unpaid overtime), Clara felt dizzy and exhausted. She made a minor mistake: she posted a client's draft instead of the final version on Instagram. The client was furious. The next Monday, Mr. Siqueira called her into his office. He also stopped signing their timecards
Her heart sank. She was being paid less than a male colleague for identical work. And now she was being punished for an error caused by sheer exhaustion from forced overtime.
"Your time is not a gift. It is your property. And the law is the only shield that can protect it." Over the next three months, the late nights became routine
Then came the "urgent project."