Salaried employee takes a 1hr 18 minute lunch, is docked 2 days of PTO in retaliation: 'There is no specific lunch break time'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jun 12, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

Punishment is an interesting concept for adults. When we're kids, we're used to it. Cheat on your test and fail the assignment. Don't put away all your blocks and you don't get dessert. Sneak out past your curfew and get grounded. Our parents, teachers, and mentors dole out discipline how they see fit. It's meant to teach us something about behavior and to instill in us a sense of obedience. 

But as you get older and you're the one paying the bills, how does punishment function in your life? Sure, there are systems in place for when you break the law, but what about the grey areas that aren't quite crimes but still aren't right? Maybe your friends and family hold you accountable. Maybe you rely on the winds of fate to course-correct. But what about when it happens at work? To what extent does your job have the ability to discipline you?

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  • 01

    Took too long of a lunch, lost 2 days of PTO

    I started a new job 4 months ago. I've kept my head down and watched how things work. For 4 months I've eaten at my desk and worked through lunch. While watching everyone else, I noted that most people take a 1-2 hour lunch roughly 3 days a week. They also use the company card from the conversations I've heard. In hindsight most people doing this are in higher positions than me.
    via u/ThrowRAjuice40
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10516301824
    via Steve Ding

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

  • That's a question raised in this story when an employee unknowingly crossed a boundary when it came to lunch breaks. When they took liberty because they didn't know that they couldn't, they were shocked to find out just what punishment they were going to get. Read on to see what happened.

  • 03
    Well I finally decided to treat myself and go to lunch one day. Just across the street, by myself, something simple to get out of the office. I was gone from the office in total, for 1 hour and 18 minutes (I checked, as this was my first time doing this I wanted to feel it out)
    via u/ThrowRAjuice40
  • 04
    When I returned my superior asked me where I had been for so long and seemed irritated but not mad. Well, a few hours later he called me into his office and told me I took time off on company time and there would be discipline to follow.
    via u/ThrowRAjuice40
  • 05
    Fast forward to this morning, I received an email that I will be losing 2 days of PTO. This job has a probationary period where I can't take time off for the first year anyways. Once I can, I get 5 days of PTO for the first 10 years, 10 days PTO after that.
    via u/ThrowRAjuice40
  • 06
    They let me know the first PTO day being deducted is to recoup the time the company lost on me, the second day is a disciplinary measure. They will be deducted starting next year, meaning for the next two years I only have 3 days of PTO. I suppose I'm just venting cus there's probably nothing I can do about this.
    via u/ThrowRAjuice40
  • 07
    Edit: for everyone telling me to clarify my allotted lunch time, I have. I asked for it when I started and after the disciplinary incident I asked profusely, as I just wanted a guideline or rule so I knew what to do.
    via u/ThrowRAjuice40
  • 08
    Their answer was that there is no specific lunch break time. It's based on the needs of the team that day. Which explains why some days the higher ups take 2 hour lunches, and apparently the team needed me the day I took my first lunch and I was gone for too long causing others to pick up my slack.
    via u/ThrowRAjuice40
  • 09
    Edit #2: since it's a common question, I make 80k at this job. I am a civil engineer with a masters in concrete engineering, a very specific and niche degree. After the one year probation period I have the opportunity to negotiate a possible raise.
    via u/ThrowRAjuice40
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10516302080
    via Andrew Neel

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

  • 11

    Commenters questioned what kind of workplace would do this to someone.

    EditorNo2545 • 22h ago let me get this straight - in order to "recoup" 18 minutes of "lost time" they are deducting a DAY of pto? Then fining an additional to discipline you? fuuu..... not gonna lie, if at all possible I would be looking for new employment because that on top of what you're getting for pto is not acceptable.
    via u/EditorNo2545
  • 12
    II kidsally ⚫ 21h ago Once I can, I get 5 days of PTO for the first 10 years, 10 days PTO after that." Why would you even want to work there? F that noise.
    via u/kidsally
  • 13
    No_Signal5448 • 22h ago Respond with your resignation notice. That PTO rate is abysmal, and this reactions is blatantly predatory. 48 minutes of lost time does not magically cost the company 16 hours of productivity. This company will bend you over and f you in the a, and they clearly are making no attempt to hide it.
    via u/No_Signal5448
  • 14
    Kamel-Red • 22h ago No more working thru lunch. Take your allotted time. Cue malicious compliance.
    via u/Kamel-Red
  • 15
    thorkun 22h ago . Wait what, you get NO time off the first YEAR? And you want to work there? What a weird punishment btw, it only affects you if you work more than a year.
    via u/thorkun
  • 16
    museumgremlin • 21h ago Jesus, 5 days off a year for 10 years?!
    via u/museumgremlin
  • 17
    Choles2rol · 21h ago . What field do you work in where the first year without PTO is normal? I'm a bit baffled by how bad their benefits are.
    via u/Choles2rol
  • 18
    ShinePretend3772 22h ago • It's time to quit. That doesn't sound legal
    via u/ShinePretend3772
  • 19
    Perfectimperfect... • 21h ago out of I would nope the f that workplace even if i'd have to not eat for a week. them! LL F
    via u/Perfectimperfectguy
  • 20
    Squossifrage • 21h ago Your first clue should have been that laughable PTO policy. 5 days annually for TEN YEARS? The company was trying to tell you that they are awful, you just didn't listen.
    via u/Squossifrage
  • 21
    elramirezeatsthe... 22h ago This feels like a kind of wage theft to me and I think you should look further into it. A write up for this kind of 'mistake' is reasonable, but taking your PTO feels very very unethical if not illegal.
    via u/elramirezeatstherich
  • 22
    wookiewin⚫ 19h ago Wait you can't take any time off your first full year of employment. Then after that you only get 5 days of PTO for an entire year. What the f ? You need to get the f out of there.
    via u/wookiewin
  • 23
    Mohwi 22h ago Your company's regulations seem very aggressive, but then again this seems to be the standard for America. Seeing as there's no clearly defined break time and you got punished for going over your allowed break time, you can probably pursue legal action?
    via u/Mohwi
  • 24
    Or maybe just discuss it with your employer and tell them that you weren't aware of the break time limit and by observing others you figured that it's between an hour and two hours. Hopefully they would cancel the punishment
    via u/Mohwi
  • 25
    mindpieces 22h ago You only get 5 days of PTO for 10 YEARS?! That's insane.
    via u/mindpieces
  • 26
    Interesting-Yello... 21h ago This is all extremely illegal in first world countries. I'm sorry you have to endure this. Also, 5 days PTO for 10 years...
    via u/Interesting-Yellow-4
  • 27
    Cosmicshimmer · 18h ago • Nope. Time for a new job. To claw back 18 mins they're taking a day and then punishing you with another day and you can't even take a day off for a year?! Nope. Polish up your cv and find something better because this is wild. Arbitrary lunchtime rules alone is a red flag.
    via u/Cosmicshimmer
  • 28
    Noble_Atom • 18h ago That's the smell of American freedom right there.
    via u/Noble_Atom
  • 29
    Hab_Anagharek • 22h ago No PTO first year, then 5 days a year for the next 10 years? Is this the U.S.?
    via u/Hab_Anagharek
  • 30
    gbroon 22h ago Start looking for a new job if you aren't in a position to just tell them where to stuff their job. A year of not getting time off and they don't even carry it across to the first year you can use it? Even in a sh hole like the US that can't be legal.
    via u/gbroon
  • 31
    Taking two days off not just next year but the year after as discipline for a long lunch? Even in a sh hole like the US that can't be legal.
    via u/gbroon

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