Boss uses annual review to criticize employee for touching up makeup in the bathroom before she starts work: 'I commute 1.5 hours each way, so my first stop is the communal restroom'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Sep 11, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

One of the many indignities of conventional corporate culture is that not only are employees required to put in long hours, commute, and be present at every single pointless meeting and social event, but they are also expected to always look respectable while doing it. There is a reason that almost everybody working from home in 2020 rejoiced about being able to wear sweatpants all of the time, and that is because putting in the work to look like your best self five days a week can feel like a struggle with all the other responsibilities.

While it isn't wrong for a company to expect its workers to have a professional appearance at work, it should not come as a surprise that this will sometimes involve touch-ups in the workplace to get through the day looking as smart as possible. So long as it doesn't have a significant impact on the working day, it shouldn't be an issue.

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • Cheezburger Image 10552764672
    via Matt Seymour

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • This is how one woman felt after her manager called her out in her annual review for touching up her makeup before clocking in for work. The employee had a 90-minute commute, after which she generally went to the bathroom to check her appearance before starting her job on time.

    She felt that bringing this up was inappropriate, as the duration of her working day was not affected and also, this was a personal matter that the boss was commenting on. She wanted validation for her reaction to the comment.

  • Am I overreacting - comments on my personal grooming during annual review.

    During my annual review, my boss (52F) suggested that I (34F) "get ready before I get to work" and not "put my makeup on in the bathroom when I get here."
    via fortysix_sunsets
  • Cheezburger Image 10552764928
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • First of all, I don't do this. I do commute about 1.5 hours each way, so my first stop is usually the communal restroom in the main office building, before I even go to our office suite. While I'm in there, I sometimes brush my hair and fix/touch up my makeup. I have never come to work needing more than lipgloss.
    via fortysix_sunsets
  • Regardless of that, it strikes me as really inappropriate that my boss commented on my "bathroom activity," especially outside work hours. If I'm at my desk and ready to go before my shift, why does it matter? Does this seem like a normal comment to you guys?
    via fortysix_sunsets
  • Cheezburger Image 10552765184
    via Luca Bravo

  • Commenters agreed that the boss had overstepped the mark.

    Little-Martha31204 NOR. This was an odd thing to say since you are doing these things before your shift begins. As a manager, I would NEVER comment on the bathroom habits of my employees outside of working hours. Even during working hours, I do not comment on their bathroom habits unless it is something egregious. I wouldn't make an accusation even then, just make sure they're okay. Very strange and not normal in my experience!
    via Little-Martha31204
  • His_GoddessLove NOR Whatever you do off the clock isn't their business. Especially what you do in the bathroom. If they have a policy on it, show it in writing. Otherwise at no point should any of this be a part of your review. You're at your desk when you're supposed to be and presentable as you're supposed to be. You using the bathroom and doing whatever you do in the bathroom BEFORE you're on the clock has no effect on your job or your job performance. That manager can kick rocks
    via His_GoddessLove
  • 2_old_for_this_sht I haven't had a terrible boss like this in years, but when I did have one that commented on ridiculous things, I would ask him/her to "please send me an email with that expectation clearly written out so I am sure that I understand the expectation and can reference it later if I need clarity." That usually shuts them up fast.
    via 2_old_for_this_sht
  • Azdak66 I always hate when managers do this sh. If it's an issue, that's something that should be raised at a separate meeting, not during an annual review.
    via Azdak66
  • I worked as a manager/supervisor/director for probably half of my working life. And my firm rule was: No surprises at review time. If there is an issue, it will be discussed when it happens, and if it doesn't get discussed (for whatever reason), it won't be brought up during a review.
    via Azdak66
  • celtic_glitter That's really weird and how do they know you even freshen your lip gloss and check your makeup? Do you think they have you mixed up with someone else? I wouldn't sign anything that you don't agree with for sure. It sounds like you're being set up.
    via celtic_glitter
  • SadTour5622 Honestly, as long as you are at your desk on time, it's none of her gd in business what you do in the bathroom before starting your day. And so what if you show up 15 min early to touch up your make up, or do your hair, or take a really big sh, that's none of her concern. Kindly ask her where in the HR code of conduct it says you're not allowed to do your make up in the bathroom outside of work hours (even if you don't do this at all).
    via SadTour5622
  • meatsmokerjd Very odd. What if every morning, you went in and took a 10 minute dump before work/your shift? Would she say anything? No, of course not. This is no different. Would she rather you stay in your vehicle and do this (the getting ready part- not the dump part)? I guess so and probably your best path going forward to appease your weird boss.
    via meatsmokerjd
  • to_j A strange comment, for sure. Bathrooms always have mirrors, and employees always check their appearances. Even if you decided to do a full face of makeup there every day, I don't know what the problem would be.
    via to_j
  • Hufflepuffbikerchic We open at 8am, i ride a motorcycle to work most days and get to work around 730 to fix hair and touch up makeup. What i do in those 30 minutes before opening is noone business! And same with you its off the clock and they have no business telling you how to spend your time before clock in! They were inappropriate for even bringing it up!
    via Hufflepuffbikerchic
  • mhizz_gelay If you're off the clock it's none of their business
    via mhizz_gelay
  • Jaded Pea_3697 NOR. This is weird to me especially if you're off the clock and it's before your shift officially begins. I've done this before every shift at every job I've had tbh. Nothing excessive and always before my start time but I've always stopped to use the bathroom and fix my hair/outfit from being in the car
    via Jaded_Pea_3697
  • tooawarebasket NOR and this is potentially reportable to HR, if you have one. Do you have this in writing? If not, send a follow-up email to your boss, maybe ask her to clarify what she meant in your meeting on x date.
    via tooawarebasket
  • Creative_Recover She doesn't have any place to comment on your makeup routine or readiness for work as long as you are starting your actual shifts on-time and looking presentable. What you do up until that point, is none of his business.
    via Creative_Recover
  • Mimizzy I just cannot believe they pay enough to make a 3 hour daily drive PLUS this bull worth it
    via Mimizzy

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

makeup boss commute employee review aio bathroom workplace Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit
Scroll Down For The Next Article