'No work-related errands at lunchtime? OK': Employee complies with boss's demands about ordering office supplies, delays multiple company projects

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Aug 12, 2024 4:00 PM EDT

Some employers don't know how good they have it. Here, we have an employee who routinely ordered office supplies during lunchtime out of generosity. This was not part of his job description; he just did it knowing it would help with the general workflow in the office. One day, after doing this for years, the errands took a bit longer than expected and the employee was chastised for taking a "long lunch." From that point onward, the employee was instructed to only order office supplies through corporate, which is a process that could take much longer.

Well, the employee complied, albeit maliciously. This change ended up causing multiple projects to be severely delayed at the company and made the employee's boss look terribly incompetent in the process. Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from folks in the comments section. When you're done, check out this post about an employee who was fired because his company ran out of computers for him to use.

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  • 01
    FIELD NOTES 43-Fog Mabesk Durable Materials/
    via Kari Shea
  • 02
    From time to time we have immediate needs for random items in the office, so when that happens, I make a quick run to get the needed item while I'm already out at lunch. This is NOT in my job description, nor anyone else's. Someone at corporate orders regular office.
    via Isabeau56
  • 03
    supplies, and that covers most of our daily needs. I've been working here for years and just took it upon myself to fill special orders, since I'm the only person in our office location with a company credit card. Just trying to be helpful, right?
    via Isabeau56
  • 04
    I had to special order some paper, which required me to go to the office supply store. It took about an hour. Like I said, I'd been doing this for years with no issue and my efforts had always been appreciated, so I didn't think anything of it.
    via Isabeau56
  • 05
    When I returned to the office, I was called in to explain my "long lunch" to my boss. I told him where I was and showed him the receipt for the paper,
    via Isabeau56
  • 06
    but to my surprise, he was still upset. He said "All office supplies have to be ordered through corporate." He also said I could no longer use the
    via Isabeau56
  • 07
    company card without his OK. Cue MC. When my coworkers sent me requests, I just told them they needed to contact corporate. Because many of these requests were specific to our department, I was the only one
    via Isabeau56
  • 08
    who really knew what was needed, so of course the orders got s up, and often took a week or more when they were needed the same or next day.
    via Isabeau56
  • 09
    People making twice my salary have been with supply orders and certain projects
    via Isabeau56
  • 10
    have been put on hold until special order materials arrive. Sometimes the items we've gotten are not what we requested, so that caused even
    via Isabeau56
  • 11
    more delays. My coworkers are getting frustrated and angry. I could easily resolve these issues, but I've been told to stand down, so that's what I'm
    via Isabeau56
  • 12
    doing. I'm anticipating my boss will want to undo his new rule as the outcry gets louder, but it's really not my job. I was just doing it as a favor. I'm sure the experts at corporate can figure it out. :-)
    via Isabeau56
  • 13
    RemarkableMacadamia . 1 day ago +3 Yah, I think if they come back and ask you to return to the previous favors, tell them you no longer feel comfortable carrying and being responsible for the
    via Isabeau56
  • 14
    corporate card, and that you've realized that neglecting your lunchtime. really had an impact on your health that you hadn't realized before now that you've been able to take them fully. Also, there's a liability issue if
    via Isabeau56
  • 15
    you blend lunch with work errands using your personal vehicle. What if something happens while you are out and there's some sort of accident? No, no, it's better to keep the lines very clear.
    via Isabeau56
  • 16
    In other words, you are no longer available to do errands on your personal time using your personal vehicle or to accept the financial and liability risks. associated with said activity.
    via Isabeau56
  • 17
    Hemiak 1 day ago . They just need to schedule an hour or two each week for OP to run out and fill immediate orders. Then he gets paid for something he was doing for free, and everyone is happy.
    via Isabeau56
  • 18
    Isabeau56 OP. 1 day ago I would have been happy with that, but now I'm annoyed about it. I guess we'll see.
    via Isabeau56
  • 19
    yParticle +3.1 day ago Title doesn't quite match the story, because this was more about you buying supplies. But I'd like to focus on the title: any work-related activities should be
    via Isabeau56
  • 20
    on the clock and not count against your lunch, or your employer is stealing from you. Wage theft is extremely common and underreported—don't be another s[
    via Isabeau56

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