Whom did the boss punish when Lennie and George were late?

When Lennie and George were late, the boss punished Crooks, the stable hand, by accusing him of not doing his job properly. This reflects the racial tensions and power dynamics present on the ranch, as Crooks was already marginalized due to his race. The punishment served to highlight the unfair treatment of workers and the consequences of being in a vulnerable position within the hierarchy of the ranch.