I'd have been sacked had I done such a thing without didect instrution from Ops.
If pax can't turn up at the gate on time why should the rest who did be subjected to at least an hour's delay to accommodate the tardy ones? And the the knock-on effect of the 150+ return pax who are delayed in turn? And if a morning flight the next 300/600 pax on the following schedules?
Delaying pushback for late pax was a contentious call at the best of times and unless their late arrival at gate was clearly caused by airport-derived delays this was simpy not tolerated.
I expect there is more to this than we've been told.