'Come back to work': Micromanaging boss demands worker return to work during their unpaid lunch break

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jul 11, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

The bad part about an unpaid lunch break is there's a whole hour in the middle of your day that you're not getting paid for, meaning you're stuck at work for that much longer before you finally get to escape the prison and go home. On the other hand, the great part about an unpaid lunch break is there's a whole hour in the middle of your day that you get to yourself to eat your lunch, get out for a walk, and worry about other things in life outside of your to-do list and your boss's whims.

Of course, that's if, and only if, your boss respects the bounds of that hour and doesn't randomly demand that you return to work, insisting that your break must be over when they have no idea when it even started. 

That's what this worker had to deal with when their manager sent them a rude message in the middle of their break, demanding that they return to work and insulating that they had gone over their break time. 

You might think it would be smart to double-check with the worker about what time they started their break before assuming and damaging the relationship.

The worker shared their experience with a popular online workplace community, venting their frustration and asking for readers' advice as to whether or not they were "crazy" for taking offense to the situation. Readers were quick to reassure them that the situation was not ok.

Keep reading to see grabs of the original thread as it was shared on Reddit's r/antiwork subreddit community. Next, see another micromanager who demanded to know what a worker was doing for every moment of their day… and lived to regret that demand.

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  • 01
    Font - Boss Texted Me to Come Back to Work So I work an office job as admin, I've been working here for the last 2 years. We get a 30min unpaid lunch that I usually never take and just work through/eat at my desk. Today however it was nice out and so I chose to take it outside. I start my break (this includes heating up my food etc) at 12:40 and planned to come back in at 1:10. My boss texts me 5min before I'm done "Hey, lunch is only 30min, come back to work." I don't text back but as I'm makin
    via u/kacalisian7
  • 02
    Font - waylorn If he wants to play that game then the moment your break time hits drop everything you're doing and go on break. Walk away mid-word, and if he brings it up tell him, "breaks start on the hour or half hour so I had to go." redp 13.3k Reply Share EC_CO Yup, time to implement/r/maliciouscom pliance these dumbass managers always shoot themselves in the f****** foot. 4.4k Reply Share
    via u/kacalisian7
  • 03
    Font - Whiskey Mouse Check your policy manual. I guarantee there is nothing in writing that reflects that. 2.1k Sdog1981 At work: If you can't reference it, it dose not exist. 592 Reply Share Just2LetYouKnow. 150 Reply Share Also at work: you can be fired at any time for no reason. ●●● Reply Share
    via u/kacalisian7
  • 04
    Font - AnywhereHorrorX I'd run from a job where I get micromanaged by the minute and never look back. ↑ 984 Reply Reply Share
    via u/kacalisian7
  • 05
    Font - Misguidedinvestor Put a card on your desk, lunch break, back at... Take your break EVERY day, even IF you just wander around the office, or to the car park.. ..and advise others to do the same.. ↑ 1.0k Reply Share
    via u/kacalisian7
  • 06
    Font - Puzzleheaded Tutor807 its funny when they have to make up rules to cover their own stupidity... i would have said... "well, now that youve interrupted my break with work related matters i get to start that 30 minutes all over again!" since that is the way the law is worded around here. 15 minutes uninterrupted or 30 minutes uninterupted. its very specific about that too. 283 Reply Share
    via u/kacalisian7
  • 07
    Font - Commishw1 If you could email me that company policy, that would be great. ↑ 497 kacalisian7 OP I don't even think they have one of those Imao 쇼 Reply Share 211 Reply Share
    via u/kacalisian7
  • 08
    Font - Particular_Savings60 Take EVERY break offered from here on out. Do NOT give your employer your time and efforts for free. If it's in a particular schedule, leave work on that schedule. ↑ 528 Reply Share
    via u/kacalisian7
  • 09
    Font - dsdvbguutres 12:30 or 1:30 are not "on the hour", they are literally in the middle between hours. CD 367 kacalisian7 OP Reply Share I guess he really thought he did something by telling me that lol ↑ 191 Reply Share
    via u/kacalisian7
  • 10
    Font - Nearly_Pointless I've managed large groups before. Honestly, I was busy with my own work and didn't have either the time or interest in checking the clock, looking to see who was on break, etc. All I was concerned about is that we got our things done. That's it and I've found that if I hire well, train well and let people think for themselves, they typically get the work done with little interference. They need some guidance and reasonable expectations. In other words, you have an terribl
    via u/kacalisian7
  • 11
    Font - Putrid_Ad_2256 I had a POS director like this. Tried to manage my time at the minute even though I was salary. I told him that if he wanted to micromanage my time that I'd gladly go hourly instead of salary. Tell the "boss" that you'd like to be paid for all the lunch time that you didn't take if he's going to sweat you for a few minutes. I'd be tempted to itemize every lunch you've worked through and either take that time off and still add it to your timesheet or ask them to reimburse yo
    via u/kacalisian7
  • 12
    Font - Ih8Trumpers you're not crazy, you're required by law to get a 30 minute UNINTERRUPTED lunch. Also, if he wants to play that game, just go to your car and start driving around for 30mins. 174 Reply Share
    via u/kacalisian7

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manager work workplace workers managers toxic-workplace workplace-stories workplace-story in-the-workplace workplace-discussion tales-from-the-workplace workplace-stories-reddit employment-stories employment-issues micromanager
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