'Who’s keeping track of my bowel movements?': Micromanagement backfires when the supervisor insists on monitoring the pettiest employee's bathroom breaks

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jun 25, 2024 5:00 PM EDT

Nobody likes a micromanager. Having a supervisor breathing down your neck is bound to affect productivity, yet corporate seems to insist on having a watchdog monitor each and every cubicle. They may be a necessary evil, managers, but at a certain point, shouldn't the workforce feel encouraged by their presence instead of stifled? 

While managers have a place in the office, it's certainly NOT in the employee bathroom. 

The original poster (OP) of our next tale recounts his heroic efforts to quell the micromanaging attempts in his own office. After getting scolded for using the restroom while clocked in, OP decided to call out corporate on their ridiculousness by doubling down. Keep scrolling to read how the pettiest employee in the office got his own taste of payback when he matched the energy of the most ridiculous office requests. 

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  • 01
    ↑↑ Restroom 20 30 2014
    via canva
  • 02
    This was a direct supervisor. These were two separate conversations I've had in less than a year.
    via teahman
  • 03
    Manager: Hey I noticed sometimes you clock in and then use the bathroom. Can you wait to clock in until after, or at least get some things done before hand?
    via teahman
  • 04
    Me: Get me what you said signed and in writing so I know what exactly I'm agreeing too. Spoiler: they didn't.
    via teahman
  • 05
    Manager: Hey we noticed sometimes you take too long in the bathroom, that needs to stop. Or at least go on your break.
    via teahman
  • 06
    Me: who's keeping track of my bowel movements? And what exactly is an appropriate time? If you could let me know signed
    via teahman
  • 07
    and in writing the appropriate times, duration, and who to report to for accountability I'd appreciate that. Spoiler: they didn't
    via teahman
  • 08
    Possum 7358 9 hr. ago I used to work in a warehouse with no cameras, we'd work our and sometimes take a drink of water and just stand there to catch our breathes. The owner once came in during the graveyard shift and
    via Possum 7358
  • 09
    saw someone and called everyone lazy, put cameras everywhere and would call the office or send texts all day about what he saw. People started going to the bathroom to just take a small break (we
    via Possum 7358
  • 10
    were moving around heavy , waiting until our actual break would have worked us to death). He then said he wanted to put cameras in the actual bathrooms, I you not, the HR person had to tell him it was illegal.
    via Possum 7358
  • 11
    SquiffyRae 10 hr. ago "Just a quick question - let's say I go into the bathroom one morning before I clocked in. There's water on the floor that hasn't been reported so I slip and injure my ankle. Will I be covered?" "Well no since you're off the clock" "Then no not happening"
    via SquiffyRae
  • 12
    QuinnTheMinion . 7 hr. ago Restricting bathroom breaks/access violates OSHA. If they try it again go online and file a complaint. Or call the NLRB. They love to talk to employees getting pushed around. And the NLRB helps Union and nonunion workers.
    via QuinnTheMinion
  • 13
    FutureFlipKing . 10 hr. ago This is definitely a real dynamic in the workplace. I've had managers and coworkers make remarks about normally using the bathroom. Only in the workplace it is normal to nitpick someone going to the bathroom or drinking water.
    via FutureFlipKing
  • 14
    DrTwitch 6 hr. ago In mine, it's because my manager needs the bathroom to hide from the site manager. Once I realised I was with existing dynamics I started taking my 4 30minute pp breaks in the nurses bathroom things got better.
    via DrTwitch
  • 15
    Ethel Marie 7 hr. ago My coworkers started commenting on my bathroom breaks. I have kidney disease and frequent urination is a symptom. them. Spoiler: I still took as many bathroom breaks as I needed.
    via Ethel_Marie
  • 16
    FN-Bored 9 hr. ago Just tell them you can speed up bathroom breaks, by not washing your hands from now on.
    via FN-Bored
  • 17
    amofibonacci - 6 hr. ago Posting for a friend. True advice. True story. I worked as a teller @ TCF Bank, years ago, and the supervisor(s) was told by upper management that everyone had to wait to use the bathroom until after shift.
    via amofibonacci
  • 18
    Sometimes, closing out the drawer would take over 45min past closing time. We worked in a bank branch(es) that would be in a grocery stores like Jewel. More than once I peed myself.
    via amofibonacci
  • 19
    All these years later I have serious urinary issues. Please A don't follow corporate rules like this. Years from now, your managers are not going to thank you for holding your bladder in. They aren't going
    via amofibonacci
  • 20
    to be there to pay for your medical expenses or your adult diapers. And the insurance only pays the cheapest brands that stick to you, and give other diaper rash problems. Use the bathroom when you need it.
    via amofibonacci

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breaks coworker bathroom breakroom ceo coworkers employee boss job employees business company Office manager petty Reddit restroom work workplace supervisor worker working micromanager office employee
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