Employee gets tired of coworker taking 2-hour lunch breaks and leaving him with most of the workload, so after confronting him multiple times, he takes action: 'Today was the first day he took a 45-minute lunch.'

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Aug 20, 2026 6:00 PM EDT

It's not only the fact that you are using work time as you please, but also that you are making work harder for everyone else…

Being a bad coworker can be more impactful than you expected. When I say "bad," I mean the employee who is always looking for an opportunity to take advantage of somebody else. It can be the one who steals other people's lunch because he sees them in the fridge, or the one who is always playing "playful pranks" on everyone, even though they've told him multiple times that it makes everyone uncomfortable. Or, as in the story below, it can be when one employee thinks they deserve far more lunchtime than anyone else, so they take it, leaving their coworker with more tasks to manage without any help. No matter what exactly they do, if they are taking advantage of other employees, then they are doing their job incorrectly, and probably also being a bad person who doesn't take into account other people's feelings.

Why would somebody be so entitled that they think that whatever they do is excusable just because they wanted to do it? If you take a 2-hour lunch when you know that everyone else in the same job position as you takes 45 minutes, then you are not only using work time to do nothing, but you are also putting everyone else in an uncomfortable position where they are forced to do more work than they normally would have just because you think that you deserve better. Why would one employee get to enjoy all that free time and less workload while everyone else continues to work hard enough?

When we face a situation like this, it's normal not to want to involve management. I get it, you don't want to seem like a conflictive coworker or a snitch. But by not saying anything, you are making your own work-life harder. You are taking over tasks that aren't yours and seeing how somebody who doesn't deserve it gets benefits you will never enjoy, even though you are working harder and better. Firstly, confronting the coworker directly seems like a sensible idea, but if it doesn't work, don't feel bad about having to reach out to management to fix the issue. They have a job, and they need to do it correctly. Is better to be a snitch than to continue working like that. 

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  • 01
    I share a desk with "Mike." He's been here 4 years. I've been here 8 months. We're supposed to split the workload 50/50. Reality? More like 90/10. Me being the 90. Mike takes 2-hour lunches. Every single day. Comes back with Starbucks, chats with everyone, takes a "quick" 30- minute phone call, then spends an hour "researching" (scrolling Twitter). Meanwhile, I'm drowning in tickets, client emails, and deadline after deadline.
    via Superb_Teai
  • 02

    The employee that does everything with the coworker who does half

    The two employees working in the same department of the office. Recreated scenario included to enhance reader understanding.
    via Tim van der Kuip

    The two employees working in the same department of the office. 

    Recreated scenario included to enhance reader understanding. 

  • 03
    I've mentioned it to my boss twice. Both times, she said "just communicate better with him." So I did. I sent Mike a calm email with a spreadsheet showing exactly how much each of us did last month. I was at 78 tasks. He was at 22. I asked if we could rebalance. He replied: "I work faster than you. It's not my fault you're slow." I saw red. Today, Mike left for lunch at 11:30. At 1:45, still not back. I had 3 urgent client
    via Superb_Teai
  • 04
    requests and a report due at 2 PM. I couldn't do it all. So I stopped. I sent an email to my boss-cc'ing Mike ―with screenshots of the workload, the timestamps of his lunch "breaks," and a simple question: "Which of these 3 client requests should I drop? Or should I wait until Mike gets back from his 2-hour lunch to decide?" I attached the spreadsheet again. My boss replied in 4 minutes: "Mike, come to my office when you're back.
    via Superb_Teai
  • 05
    [My name], drop the lowest-priority request. I'll handle the rest." Mike came back at 2:10. Saw the email. Didn't say a word. Just walked straight to my boss's office. He came out 20 minutes later looking deflated. Today was the first day he took a 45- minute lunch. Maybe there's hope after all.
    via Superb_Teai
  • 06
    An office full of employees working on their computers. Model Image.
    via Ant Rozetsky

    An office full of employees working on their computers. 

    Model Image. 

  • 07
    CollectionGood 3190 Wow it went from a manager that was being too lenient to finally handling the issue. So glad Mike got reprimanded and that you, in turn, got some relief. I've seen too many stories where the person trying to do the right thing ends up being the one in the hot seat. Good work!
    via CollectionGood 3190
  • 08
    Wendel7171 Boss should have fired him for wage theft.
    via Wendel7171
  • 09
    No-Chicken-927 How could he be faster if you did so much more tasks then him? What an idiot.
    via No-Chicken-927
  • 10
    Ok_Werewolf2358 I would have fired him. Don't hesitate to show her the r de messages he sent you and to tell HR as well. This is completely unacceptable
    via Ok_Werewolf2358
  • 11
    Boring69Foreplay Your 78 to his 22 =/= him "being fast." No way in heaven!!! 1. He's slow 2. He's lazy 3. He's incompetent and can't do the job 4. He's new and just learning how to do them
    via Boring69Foreplay
  • 12
    pook 1029 This is exactly why "managing while walking around" is always the answer. Two at fault here, Mike and the manager.
    via pook 1029
  • 13
    PestCemetary Nice. Now YOU start doing the 10 while he has to do 90. Then watch your manager not believe him when he complains about you. Lol
    via PestCemetary
  • 14
    KitchenParticular707 Good for you for standing up for yourself. If things don't change, you need to put your foot down with management. I was in a similar situation years ago when I worked, and the worst part was that my attitude became so bad that my performance reviews suffered. I never had the courage to speak up and it cost me dearly.
    via KitchenParticular707
  • 15
    Kurious_and_Kurious Smart kid! You'll go far! Plus, your boss will have admired how you handled it
    via Kurious_and_Kurious
  • 16
    blondeheartedgoddess Mike must have learned New Math if he thinks that him working "faster" results in him completing 55 fewer tasks than you. I don't think that's how "working faster" actually works. Good on you! I'm happy it worked out for you.
    via blondeheartedgoddess
  • 17
    LibraryMouse4321 Ask for a raise. Show how much more work you have been doing and state that if you are doing most of Mike's work, you should be paid for it. You probably won't get it, but at least they will be aware. Maybe they will divide the work evenly instead of allowing Mike to take advantage of you and force you to do it all.
    via LibraryMouse4321

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