Boss demands overworked employees stop taking breaks after she finds out they submitted tasks late, claiming: ‘Breaks are a privilege’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Aug 6, 2024 7:00 AM EDT

This is a reminder that not every single minute of your life should be spent being productive. It is okay to take breaks, it is okay to sleep in, and it is okay to shut your brain off for a few minutes and let yourself simply rest. Life is not that serious, and you deserve a break when you need one.

Even if you are at work, and the pressure is getting to you, it is crucial to remember that taking a break is just as important as working, and it is not something anyone should give up on.

The employees in this Reddit story needed to be reminded that their breaks are a mandatory part of their workday after their micromanager decided to reprimand them for taking them. Even though they are doing work that is not part of their job, their manager still doesn't approve of them submitting some tasks late and goes as far as telling them to stop taking breaks if they can't complete their tasks on time. Luckily, these hardworking employees do not intend to listen to their demanding manager.

Scroll down to read the full story. After you are done, click here for a story of a manager who got in trouble because of his own office rules.

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  • 01
    "If you have time to take a break, you have time to finish your tasks"
    via Canva
  • 02
    Boss just told me that if people have time to go to break, they have time to finish their tasks.
    via u/Lemon-Otherwise
  • 03
    So yesterday my boss found out that some stuff that should have been done early in the week was completed a couple of days ago. The reason for this was because the
    via u/Lemon-Otherwise
  • 04
    person responsible for doing it has been terribly busy. She's a woman in her sixties and her job includes walking/standing for 12 hours a day. I've also been running around because we're short people and my
    via u/Lemon-Otherwise
  • 05
    boss just doesn't get that we're busy and has us doing what should be HR's job. I've been working 12 hour days too and coming back to the office at random hours of the night because stuff needs to get
    via u/Lemon-Otherwise
  • 06
    done. Anyway, so I wasn't available to help my employee and by the time I found out that this specific task was pending it was "too late".
    via u/Lemon-Otherwise
  • 07
    So my boss reprimanded me and wanted me to reprimand my employee, because if she has time to take her breaks, she should have time to do everything, and if she didn't have time, she must come in
    via u/Lemon-Otherwise
  • 08
    during the weekend. Granted, this is the same person who got reprimanded for working OT and who's going through some gruelling personal stuff at the
    via u/Lemon-Otherwise
  • 09
    moment. I don't think this is normal. It's like saying that breaks are a privilege, it disturbs me so much.
    via u/Lemon-Otherwise
  • 10
    BeMancini 1 day ago "Oh, you have time to eat a sandwich at the halfway point of your shift? Sounds like you have time to actually work then!" It sounds like this guy doesn't understand the concept of work breaks.
    via u/BeMancini
  • 11
    "Oh, you need to go home eventually? Why go home when you could be here when there's work to do?" Is your boss an android from outer space?
    via u/BeMancini
  • 12
    UniqueGuy362 · 1 day ago I've also been running around because we're short people They should hire tall people who can cover the same distance with a dignified stride.
    via u/UniqueGuy362
  • 13
    Lemon-Otherwise OP 1 day ago I'm actually short too!
    via u/Lemon-Otherwise
  • 14
    CrankyManager89 · 1 day ago Sounds like a fantastic way to get your employees to look for work elsewhere...
    via u/CrankyManager89
  • 15
    WaitingForReplies 1 day ago • "NOBODY WANTS TO WORK!"
    via u/WaitingForReplies
  • 16
    Reddituser0346 · 1 day ago "If people have money to buy a yacht, they have money to pay their employees properly for the work expected of them".
    via u/Reddituser0346
  • 17
    Stitch426 1 day ago I guess it should be in writing what your duties are and what her duties are. This written reprimand should then free the way up for the woman and yourself to not worry about what else is not being done.
    via u/Stitch426
  • 18
    You are doing your jobs to the letter. The boss man can figure out how to run around himself or hire people for these other tasks. You can also add into the reprimand to clear the way for OT.
    via u/Stitch426
  • 19
    As far as breaks go, that would be company policy or state policy as for what is allowed. But if you word the reprimand right and get on the same page with her about your intentions, she should now have time for her breaks anyway if she isn't doing other people's jobs.
    via u/Stitch426
  • 20
    If the woman decides she is over the P at your company, please provide her a glowing recommendation letter and reference.
    via u/Stitch426
  • 21
    Shadow_84 1 day ago Squatter ☑ Depends where you are breaks are required in many places. I'd start enforcing breaks harder after that 'pep talk'
    via u/Shadow_84
  • 22
    Vegetable-Fix-4702 · 1 day ago Only the uneducated bosses would talk like that. They're so tiresome and their employees are usually smarter than they are.
    via u/Vegetable-Fix-4702
  • 23
    • HMS_Slartibartfast · 1 day ago He's the kind of boss you need to Email, asking for clarification. Make sure you get it in writing he's asking you to violate labor law. Once he does, send back clarification including "So you are requesting I violate law <reference>? Just need to be very clear on what you are asking."
    via u/HMS_Slartibartfast
  • 24
    You also need to find a new job. Once labor board gets involved, boss like that is going to use both hands throwing you under the buss. To clarify, he won't throw you under a short bus, he'll try to find one of those articulated commuter one's to throw you under, hence "Buss"!
    via u/HMS_Slartibartfast

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boss workplace-stories micromanager employee manager job tales-from-the-workplace overworked reddit story overworked-employees workplace Reddit break company
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