Boss demands employee stop sitting on the floor of their private office to relieve their back pain, claiming it's against company policy, employee demands proof: ‘Show me the rulebook’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Dec 11, 2025 1:00 PM EST

After one spends a few months working an office job that requires sitting at a desk all the long, one starts to realize just how tiring that can be.

Sure, on paper, sitting on a chair for 8 hours a day doesn't sound that hard, and it definitely doesn't compare to other, more physical jobs, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have disadvantages, especially when it comes to our health.

The employee below, for example, experiences these struggles because of their back issues. Sitting on an office chair all day can definitely do a number on anyone's back, especially for those who already have pre-existing conditions. So, this employee found a way to ease the pain from time to time by sitting on the floor.

That was until their boss called them in and told them it's unprofessional to sit on their office floor. However, the employee refused to give in to the boss's demand and insisted on understanding why sitting on the floor for a couple of hours is such a problem.

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  • businesswoman sitting on floor and reading document
    via LightFieldStudios

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

  • Boss says it's unprofessional to sit on the floor in my private office... Am I crazy?

    I have a private office and back pain from endometriosis. Maybe once or twice a week at the end of the day, I'll sit on the floor instead of my chair while working to ease the stress on my back.
    via chicamaya
  • Today my boss called me into her office today to say I'm required to sit at my desk because it's company policy to not sit on the floor.
    via chicamaya
  • I asked if she could show me in our company rulebook where it says that. She responds that it's not in there but she's been told it's a rule.
    via chicamaya
  • I asked who told her that. I had she talked to HR? She responds that it's just a general best practice, and if I want to do it in the future I need to submit an accommadation form to HR.
    via chicamaya
  • I told her it felt like she was descriminating against me. She said she was sorry I felt that way.
    via chicamaya
  • Am I wrong? Is this that big of an issue?
    via chicamaya
  • woman office worker suffers shoulder back pain desk prolon
    via thecorgi

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

  • Independent-Quit585 Are you client facing? If not I don't understand why it matters. I work in HR and as long as you're working I don't think it matters
    via Independent-Quit585
  • OP chicamaya Not client facing at all. Also this is only at the very end of the day when most people are already gone.
    via chicamaya
  • Helpful-Albatross 792 This get it in writing
    via Helpful-Albatross792
  • OP chicamaya Done
    via chicamaya
  • Allthingsgaming27 How's she know you're sitting on the floor if your office is private?
    via Allthingsgaming27
  • OP chicamaya They walked-in unannounced one afternoon
    via chicamaya
  • ArtExternal137 Now get an accommodation for a standing desk, a ergonomic chair and anything else you need. She is gonna cost the company money and you will be protected because of your condition
    via ArtExternal137
  • Thellluminate1992 Two ways to go about this. 1) 1 up her and head to HR and stay within the company. Just know you WILL be retaliated against. 2) go to your OBGYN and get a Drs note stating an accomadation to be able to sit, in whatever position applies, and take that to HR. You may still be retaliated against but you'll have more ammo. You could also ask for a chair that would help with the back pain.
    via Thellluminate1992
  • skatedog_j Get an accommodation so you can't be fired for any bullshit. This will also embarrass your donkey boss
    via skatedog_j
  • le-stink time to fire up the ol email! "hey boss! per our conversation, could you please refer me to the appropriate policy that proscribes my sitting position?" (you know who to copy)
    via le-stink

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boss employee manager job floor tales-from-the-workplace company policy policy Office overworked-employees workplace sitting company
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