'I'm not used to being managed like I'm a child': New boss requires employees to notify every time they go to the bathroom, employee debates taking it up with HR

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Aug 25, 2023 2:00 PM EDT

Imagine having a new boss who felt the need to watch your every move, including your bathroom breaks. If you've ever been in this position before, we imagine you found a loophole at some point because one simply cannot get their work done well without much-needed breaks. As for monitoring bathroom breaks, that simply feels hierarchical in a way that is no longer conducive to healthy work environments. It's merely invasive. Managers should have way more important priorities on their hands than needing to know whether or not their employees are taking a dump or grabbing a coffee.

 

To make matters worse, this employee had been working at the company for 18 years without any micromanaging like this. However, his boss left for another job, and the new manager that replaced him was the one who enforced these ridiculous, puritanical rules. He shared his side of the story via this Reddit thread and expressed numerous reasons why this policy was a waste of time. For one, employees were already given a set half hour for lunch every day, so there was no need to notify their manager that they were taking lunch other than to give him a false sense of superiority. As for the bathroom breaks, OP has explained his desire to take it up with HR. Based on the responses of folks in the comments section, many of which are included in the screenshots below, it looks like he is likely to pursue that route given the level of encouragement from others.

 

Keep scrolling for the full story. For more tales of bad bosses, here's another one about a manager who ignored their employee's PTO request and got backlash for it.

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  • 01
    Product - "My new boss wants us to sign out anytime we go to bathroom" DO MORE. 0 ANY
    via Carl Heyerdahl
  • 02
    Font - My new boss wants us to sign out anytime we go to bathroom or take lunch. I refuse to do so and have been threatened to be written up. What do I do?
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 03
    Font - So I've been at this company for 18 years now. I'm a high performing senior member of my team. My boss just took another job and my new boss is a hard when it comes to knowing where we are at all times. I'm almost 40 years old and I'm not about to walk over to his cubicle, slide my dot to the left to signal I'm going to the bathroom. maaaaybe I could see that for taking lunch. But we have a set 30 minute lunch everyday so it's not really a thing in my opinion.
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  • 04
    Font - Since I refuse to sign out when I go to the bathroom, my boss has told me she would write me up for "insubordination" or in better terms, "failing to follow instructions". I'm contemplating quitting, but I make way more than most in my engineering design field and my benefits are good, not to mention I get 5 weeks of vacation per year.
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 05
    Font - I'm tempted to go to HR if this can't be resolved. What would you do? EDIT: Man yall really blew this up for small time redditor like me. Thanks for all the advice, info and jokes. Yall rock!
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 06
    Font - . muxman 1 day ago I'd move the dot saying I'm in the but forget to move it back quite often, making it look like I'm taking a 4 hour dump. When questioned, I'm sorry, I keep forgetting, I'm not used to be managed like I'm a child 8.9k Reply Share
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 07
    Font - prpslydistracted 21 hr. ago Alternate suggestion; 2 "I'm sorry, I keep forgetting... after 18 yrs in a senior position at this company, I'm not used to being managed like I'm a child." 5.7k Reply Share
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 08
    Font - Overall-Lynx917. 1 day ago Be careful here. With 18 years seniority you could be one of their more expensive employees. This could be the start of a process to drive you out. Start a diary. 8.1k Reply Share
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 09
    Font - ragingthundermonkey. 20 hr. ago In addition, once they hit 40, assuming this is in the US, they become protected from age discrimination. Eliminating an expensive piece of payroll before then could be seen as desirable in some situations. 2.6k Reply Share
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 10
    Font - CharacterCoreGaming 1 day ago I say go nuclear compliance... They threaten to write a loyal employee up for minor things they're finding reasons to discipline or remove knowledgeable higher paid staff to replace with lower paid yes people.
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  • 11
    Font - Move the dot, document the amount of time used to move it, each time. Compile this data into a document and use it when next evaluation occurs... If you've been a good employee for 18 years under other management, but suddenly a problem one, why the change? Show the wasted time and effort due to unnecessary micromanaging techniques preventing you from achieving former efficiency. But hey that's just from a petty hole. 5.6k Reply Share
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 12
    Font - Living Internet4924. 21 hr. ago I kept scrolling but never saw a comment to this effect. OP, have you taken it to HR - not to COMPLAIN about it, but to ASK about it? My first stop would be asking whether this is a new company-wide policy, and if so, where are the FAQs and communications about it. Stop there. Ask nothing else. See what they say.
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 13
    Font - HR often gets painted as "not on your side," but the reality is, HR is on the side of "keeping the company from getting sued or fined." If this is just an overzealous manager who has created a new policy on her own, which is what it sounds like, HR may not be aware that it's happening. If you're a salaried employee and your work does not require being at your desk at specific times, she may be toeing the line of legality, and HR doesn't like people who toe that line. You don't have to com
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 14
    Font - Now, if HR comes back and says they support her new policy or management style... then it may be time to brush up your resume or look for a new role internally. 4.1k Reply Share
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 15
    Font - mname 1 day ago If I was an engineer with a company for 18 years with good pay and benefits...I'd start documenting everything, I mean everything. This could be a long slow grind of constructive dismissal to replace you with cheaper younger talent. I'd talk to an employment lawyer and have them advice you. Maybe help you draft a letter to HR?
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 16
    Font - Personally if I didn't need the job and had another lined up I'd go scorched earth. I'd go to HR tell them you're being harassed and discriminated against due to your IBS or prostate issues. You've never allowed bathroom breaks to interfere with your performance in the past. You've never needed a medical exemption before, or register with a physical disability because the office for the last two decades has always been inclusive and treated individuals with human dignity. But due to new p
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 17
    Font - You want to frame it as the micromanagement is harassment against your medical condition and your mental wellbeing. Also try to hint you think it might be a some bathroom fetish she's playing out in the office and it is making you very uncomfortable. 1.7k Reply Share
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 18
    Font - hoganpaul 1 day ago EVERY time you go to the toilet SHOUT AS LOUD AS YOU CAN "I'M GOING FOR A - I'LL TAKE A PHOTO FOR YOU IF YOU NEED PROOF' 4 1.0k Reply Share
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033
  • 19
    Font - Swiss_El_Rosso. 1 day ago Move it once, next dont move as you "forgot", move it 3 times in row, dont move two times in row. Doing this until he creeps out or he his understanding that his request is bulls. Managers needing such games to prove their importance are .......... I wish you good luck. 626 Reply Share
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  • 20
    Font - Maleficent_Ad7033 OP 1 day ago Love it. Might be a great way to end this insanity. She's new to management so maybe I just give it time. 311 Reply Share
    via u/Maleficent_Ad7033

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boss workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace manager work toxic-boss Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit toxic-work-environment
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