Call center manager, Janet, tells employees they can only use restroom outside of breaks if it's an emergency, so employee acts out dramatic scenes every time she needs the restroom: 'I make sure to treat it like the medical emergency she wants it to be'

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Emma Saven
Jul 7, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

What's the best form of petty revenge? Giving someone exactly what they asked for…

They say you're working too slowly, so you speed through tasks and forget to check for errors. They say they "need space", so you ghost them into oblivion. They say you can't leave your desk outside of official breaks, so show them just how many bathroom emergencies you are capable of.

We're not saying this is the most effective or mature response, but it's definitely the pettiest…

Life is about expression. And when someone takes your rights, throws them on the office floor, and stomps all over them, sometimes the only thing left to do is play them at their own game.

So when an employee feels disrespected and unseen, she takes matters into her own hands. If they want an emergency, she'll give them an emergency—in honor of everyone who works beside her.

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  • Work isn't all sunshine and roses: sometimes it's unreasonable bosses and employees who constantly remain quiet in order to avoid conflict. However, on the rare occasion, and in this case specifically, there is one employee who knows how to stand her ground, even if that means facing some uncomfortable situations in the workplace…

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    "She said from now on I can only leave my desk during designated break times unless it's a true emergency"
    via pixelshot

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

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    Manager said I can only take bathroom breaks during designated times

    I work at a call center and my supervisor Janet has this thing about bathroom breaks. She says people ab se them to get off the
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    phones and we can only go during our scheduled 15 minute breaks or lunch. This seems ridiculous to me because
    via Interesting_W*r559
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    sometimes you just need to use the bathroom and it's not like I'm taking 20 minute breaks. Last week she specifically told me
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  • 05
    I was taking too many "unscheduled restroom visits" and that I needed to plan better. She said from now on I can only leave my desk during designated
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    break times unless it's a true emergency. The way she said emergency made it clear she didn't think I'd ever have one.
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    So now when I need to use the bathroom outside of break time | make sure to treat it like the medical emergency she wants it
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    to be. I put my phone on hold and announce loudly "I have a bathroom emergency and need to leave immediately." I practically
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    run to the restroom and back to show how urgent it is. Yesterday I had to do this twice and both times I made sure to let
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    Janet know it was an emergency situation that couldn't wait for my scheduled break. Other people started looking over and she
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    can't really tell me not to go when I'm following her emergency protocol. My coworkers think it's funny but
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    I'm starting to feel awkward about the whole thing. Janet has been giving me weird looks and I'm worried this might backfire on
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    Cheezburger Image 10524248320
    via gettyimages

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

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    me somehow. Maybe I should just try to hold it until break time like she wants but that seems unreasonable for a basic human need. I don't know if I'm handling this right.
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    Username_73826 I would get a note from your doctor giving you an "accommodation" and take it to HR. They will either say thanks! Or why the heck cant you use the bathroom??
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    Different One265 Is that even legal? Some people have issues with stress and such and truly need to take quick breaks.
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    Low_Permission7278 Go to a doctor and tell them what this micro manager is saying and see if they will write a note for you to use the bathroom as you see fit and give it to HR.
    via Low_Permission7278
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    thegreyman1986 Not legal. Report them.
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    notasthenameimplies Embrace it. I'm sure many of your fellow employees have been given the same instructions but aren't brave enough to do what you are. They're appreciative.
    via notasthenameimplies
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    rfc2549-withQOS Get that in writing, if possible - especially if she insists.
    via rfc2549-withQOS
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    Dependent-Union4802 God it sounds awful. Can you find a better job? How could anyone stand this in the long run?
    via Dependent-Union4802
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    Few Television3921 you are doing it right.
    via FewTelevision3921

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terrible coworkers schedule boss antiwork workplace-stories call center emergency employee drama Professional At Work work coworkers bathroom workplace Horrible Bosses dramatic
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