'I got fired just for going to the bathroom': New hire gets unjustly clocked out during shift for taking a 30-minute bathroom break

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jan 28, 2025 4:00 PM EST

There are some bosses in the working world who seem addicted to firing people for no apparent reason. The only ways you can learn about these types of individuals in advance is if you ask why the current position to which you are applying is vacant. The answer to that question often can provide a clue as to what kind of an employer you might be dealing with should you fill the position.

This employee dealt with a supervisor who had a problem with extended bathroom breaks and exaggerated his new hire's so-called "30-minute" break just so he could justify firing him. Check out the full story below!

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    PINATA
    via Dan Burton

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This employee had recently begun working at a staffing agency, but his time there came to an end pretty soon after a month-long training process. During one of his early shifts, he had gone to the bathroom and had to wait for an extended period of time due to a long line and a shortage of stalls.

    When he returned to work, he found out that he had been completely clocked out and fired because he was apparently gone for 30 minutes…

  • 02
    I've been working for a staffing agency since the joh I got has a month long onboarding process. Anyway... so everything was fine until I went to the bathroom. It
    via Visible_Voice_8131
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    was an event and the bathroom was at the end of the field. The line was long and there were only 2 stalls so the line was slow to move, once I returned I was told to speak to the manager. I did
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    that. Turns out he was informed I was gone for "30 minutes". I wasn't gone for 30 mins and I told other people I was going to the bathroom. The guy who I was told I needed to inform wasn't present when I went to the bathroom so I couldn't tell him.
    via Visible_Voice_8131

  • The now-former employee maintains that he was not gone for half an hour and that this was an exaggeration made by another employee who clearly had a problem with him. The employee was also reprimanded for not notifying his direct supervisor prior to going to the bathroom, but that supervisor was not available to be notified at all. Sounds like an excuse to justify firing this guy for no real legitimate reason. 

    Keep scrolling below to see what members in the online community had to say about this mess!

  • 05
    But yeah... I came back and they clocked out for me and kicked me out. I also think it's crazy they had my number and didn't even bother trying to call or text me.
    via Visible_Voice_8131
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    Anyway, I went back to where I was working to retrieve my stuff and I wanted to explain my side then the guy who I explained it to said I was being "confrontational". I calmly
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    explained I just went to go the bathroom and that one of the girls who works through the company can verify she saw me in the bathroom. The guy who I was told to explain my side of the story to by the other manager
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    then proceeded to insist I was "being confrontational" and he doesn't like that since he claimed he used to be a cop. What was his point? That makes no sense.
    via Visible_Voice_8131
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    All I did was advocate for myself and explain my side... also i don't believe he used to be a cop and I also don't understand what his point was and it just doesn't make sense. Maybe I embarrassed him bc he realized
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    he in the wrong just assuming stuff since I went to the bathroom. When I returned he didn't explain that there was an issue. I was just instructed to speak to his manager. He refused
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    to answer any questions ... ?I know I really shouldn't let something like this get me down ... but it managed to ruin my whole day :/ but seriously .... ! .-.
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    Cheezburger Image 10460417536
    via Marten Bjork

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 13
    ti... Contact the Department of Labor in your state. It is *illegal* for them to fire you for using the bathroom. Edited to add "in your state". I thought that was obvious, but with all the replies, I guess not.
    via Visible_Voice_8131
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    erikleorgav2 If you can get a free consultation with a labor lawyer, you'd potentially have grounds for wrongful termination. But, there's more to it that - and as I am not a lawyer - I couldn't say more.
    via Visible_Voice_8131
  • 15
    Boredtopher Fired security guard thinks he was a cop
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    Green-Inkling send them an email to confirm that using the bathroom was the reason for being canned. then take the email to DOL and watch the fireworks.
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    MobileDust Colle... The whole "used to be a cop" thing sounds like some sort of power play where he was trying to make himself seem bigger and smarter
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    than you by making you think that he must know when someone is being confrontational. Because he thinks he would know that better than anyone having been a cop. Which kind of
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    actually makes sense to me since police academy supposedly hammers into a would be cop how to be more confrontational and appear in control. It still makes him sound like a power tripping jss.
    via Visible_Voice_8131
  • 20
    i... I despise people who use the phrase, "you're being confrontational." Yes, confrontation is a normal and necessary part of good communication. People who say stupid sh like this are bad at communication.
    via Visible_Voice_8131

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getting fired workplace-stories fired work stories toxic-workplace job work reddit thread Reddit company job interview interview toxic-work-environment
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