'We had to use 7 minutes of our 10 minute break to get scolded': Retail worker quits mid-shift when boss says they can't take a 15 minute break after unloading 1500 boxes

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Apr 10, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Breaks are terribly important. Not only are they mandated by law, they're necessary for the safety of the worker. The body needs rest every now and again, or it will force rest upon you by making you sick. The body, famously, keeps the score. Taking breaks also makes working go by faster and more efficiently. Remember the Pomodoro method from school, where you'd set a tomato timer to work in 25-minute chunks? By golly, it worked. There's a reason for that. 

I'm a proponent of taking a break whenever you need one, whether it's from a conversation, from an activity, or from a stretch of work. This is especially true if it involves manual labor. You don't want to hurt yourself, so you need to rest regularly. Some bosses haven't quite internalized this, though, and take a strange stance toward breaks. They see them as a hindrance to work, rather than a form of work itself. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10492226048
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • That's what happened in this situation when a group of employees were reprimanded for taking what they thought was a legitimate break. When it turned out that they went a few minutes over (unbeknownst to them) they were shocked at the treatment they got. Read on for the story and details.

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    First time quitting a job mid shift

    I needed some extra cash so I picked up an overnight job at a retail store unloading the freight and packing shelves for the customers to shop in the morning. The store is purposely understaffed and pushed to the absolute limit with shipments and demands to still meet quotas, it's a crew of 3 people including me unloading the truck of over 2000 boxes by hand sorting them then packing them out.
    via u/SponsoredByEBT
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    I walk in today ready to do my regular shift and everything is cool, I even joke with the manager a little bit. Then break rolls around, he comes out of nowhere making us all sign on papers for "break violations" apparently some peoples breaks were over 10 minutes. We were all confused because we all could have sworn it
    via u/SponsoredByEBT
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    was 15 minutes but even more in disbelief the company felt we didn't deserve a 15 minute break after unloading 1500 boxes by hand and sorting them. We had to use 7 minutes of our 10 minute break to get scolded and sign off on write ups then back to work. I just upped and walked out I don't know where I will go from here but I can do better than that.
    via u/SponsoredByEBT
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    Commenters were quick to jump in and take the employee's side.

    Shadow_84 • 18h ago As soon as boss started taking work you were no longer on break. Once he was done and gone you restart break from the beginning
    via u/Shadow_84
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    . pabloivani · 17h ago This, every worker is entitled to a un cut break, if it gets cut for any work reason it restart. Disclainer: check your employee manual, state laws and federal law on work realted issues in that order. Internal policy is lower than state, state is lower than federal.
    via u/pabloivani
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    • dwpsmith 18h ago I walked once, and if I had to go back, I'd do it again
    via u/dwpsmith
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    Cheezburger Image 10492226560
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

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    . Ok_Cow_3267 • 18h ago Years ago I was an overnight stocker for over three years. I had started a job doing that a couple of years ago and lasted two days. Boss was a total j, and I walked out of work too. They moved me to days when I told them why I
    via u/Ok_Cow_3267
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    left and someone else apologized for the other guy; and I quit again when I found myself soon scheduled overlapping hours with the same bu y.
    via u/Ok_Cow_3267
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    btsalamander 15h ago • The only time this happened to me was at a grocery chain warehouse; I was on the dry. goods side and it being hotter than hand an all-male facility, we were allowed to strip down almost to our undies if we felt so inclined; the wet side however was refrigerated and extremely cold (obviously).
    via u/btsalamander
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    Dry side had finished up a bit early and were ready to leave for the day, but wet side would drag their heels on purpose to force us to have to help them. Supervisor told me to get over to the wet side and help, I told him that I only had my gym shorts and tank top to wear, he said he didn't care and that I needed to go in there or I would be fired.
    via u/btsalamander
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    I told him to go f himself and I walked out. Never take that kind of sh from anyone, especially if you don't have to.
    via u/btsalamander
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    Significant_Ad_17... • 18h ago It's kind of a moot point now, but I would have looked it up in the employee handbook. But good for you! If they weren't in a bind before, they are now!
    via u/Significant_Ad_1759
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    Ima-Bott 18h ago You should have asked the other 2 to walk with you.
    via u/Ima-Bott
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    . Dis_engaged 23 • 17h ago You did completely the right thing.
    via u/Dis_engaged23
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    ¡Eugene72 12h ago • It's an uncertain time now, but you did the right thing. A boss like that will absolutely NEVER stop at what they did today. By signing those papers that was just their first time to document to THEIR bosses that they are "eliminating waste". Jobs like this 100% want zero breaks and to break YOU.
    via u/¡Eugene72
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    BeatsMeByDre • 13h ago We need millions of you.
    via u/BeatsMeByDre
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    embryo80 · 17h ago 8 hour shift is 30 min for lunch and two 15 min breaks.
    via u/embryo80
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    ho_fensive 11h ago . Congratulations on your first "walk out". While terrifying, impulsive, irresponsible and uncertain - I encourage you to really enjoy the feeling of self preservation. You have your dignity and that cannot be
    via u/ho_fensive
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    earned back or purchased, no matter how many boxes you unload or how many hours. you work. If you felt justified to walk out mid shift, I congratulate you. You're a real human with real integrity.
    via u/ho_fensive
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    Zealousideal_Fail... • 13h ago Temp agencies. They have helped me every time I move and need a temp or second job.
    via u/Zealousideal_Fail946
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    Cosmoking2 · 10h ago • Report them to the State....and contact a labor attorney.
    via u/Cosmoking2
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    . Losing_Faith 10h ago Good for you! It's obviously a toxic environment. You'll find better.
    via u/L0sing_Faith
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    Ok-Helicopter3433 .7h ago. I've done it twice at toxic jobs and it felt soooo good. First time I already had a new job lined up and 2 weeks notice submitted. They fired my manager and the fill in manager started chewing my
    via u/Ok-Helicopter3433
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    bat for something minor. I stuffed all the personal belongings I could fit in my lunch box and purse, left on my scheduled lunch break and never went back. She started calling me and acting so sweet and apologized for our "mixup" that morning.
    via u/Ok-Helicopter3433
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    OhmHomestead1 14h ago 15 minute break for every 4 hours is a federal law in US
    via u/OhmHomestead1
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    pblol • 8h ago My favorite walk out story was from waiting tables. A coworker was filling water for an 8 top and really in the weeds. He walked by a manager, asked for help, and she shrugged her shoulders. He took the large serving tray full of waters and threw it on the customers' table on his way out the door.
    via u/pblol
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    I also walked out during a busy Friday for similar reasons. Didn't have the blls to go that hard though.
    via u/pblol

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job retail bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit break toxic-work-environment
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