“We All Have To Make Sacrifices”: Boss Demands Meetings During Lunch Breaks, Regrets It

It’s bad enough that many people must spend most of their days working just to eke out a living. But having a manager who expects you to be on the clock every single hour of each workday is an added insult to injury. 

This boss had the exact problem when he showed an apparent lack of respect for his employee’s lunchtime. He was said to be a “power-tripping” supervisor who deliberately scheduled meetings in the middle of the said break. 

However, his actions didn’t last for too long, thanks to the employee’s clever act of petty revenge. 

There are bosses who choose to be abusive toward their employees

Man in a red shirt eating noodles during lunch break, illustrating boss demands and workplace sacrifices concept.

Image credits: Mike Kilcoyne / unsplash (not the actual photo)

An employee experienced this when his manager constantly scheduled meetings during the lunch break

Text describing a worker frustrated by boss scheduling meetings during lunch breaks, showing workplace sacrifice regrets.

Text about boss demanding meetings during lunch breaks, highlighting work sacrifice and scheduling conflicts at the office.

Person attending virtual meeting during lunch break, highlighting boss demands and work sacrifice regrets.

Image credits: Maxime / unsplash (not the actual photo)

Fed up with getting his work day messed up, the employee plotted his petty revenge

Text excerpt showing an employee pushing back on boss demanding meetings during lunch breaks and sacrifices made at work.

Employee attends lunch break meeting eating spaghetti, showing sacrifices made due to boss demanding meetings during lunch breaks.

Person eating lunch with noodles and meatballs while looking at a phone during a meeting sacrifice break

Image credits: No Revisions / unsplash (not the actual photo)

His actions ended favorably for him

Text about boss demanding meetings during lunch breaks causing regret, highlighting sacrifices made by employees.

Text showing a conversation about making sacrifices during meetings and having to eat in lunch break meetings.

Text image showing a message about lunch break meetings and workplace sacrifices from a frustrated employee.

Image credits: dodgethem

Abusive leaders go on power trips to make themselves appear in control

Boss making lunch break meetings, sitting at desk by window, talking on phone, wearing glasses and grey polo shirt.

Image credits: Steve DiMatteo / unsplash (not the actual photo)

In a recent interview with Business.com, corporate mental health advocate and Welltrust Partners CEO Dr. Kennette Thigpen Harris, LCSW, defined workplace abuse as the “exploitation of authority” to “exert undue influence, control, or manipulation.” 

In this story, the boss flexed his authority by deliberately scheduling meetings during the employee’s lunch hour and dismissing it as the occasional “sacrifices” everyone at work must make. 

Many people have endured some form of power-tripping behavior from their supervisors, which raises an important question: What drives people to act in such a manner? 

Dr. Harris points to a possible lack of emotional intelligence and self-awareness as these individuals attempt to hide their vulnerabilities and maintain control. 

“Unchecked individual power can impede or damage organizational culture by eroding empathy,” Dr. Harris noted. 

Another important question would be, “Why does the abuse of power in workplaces keep happening?” Dr. Harris named three possible factors: poor organizational culture, structural hierarchies, and societal norms. 

As she explained, traditional workplaces give more importance to authority and results over their employees’ well-being. It therefore results in a working environment where such abuse is tolerated, or worse, normalized. 

So, what is the best way to handle an abusive boss? A top tip from author and psychotherapist Bryan E. Robinson would be to use good judgment. 

In an article for Forbes, he advises remaining tactful and professional, even during moments of sheer frustration. Robinson also encourages having a dialogue with the boss in question and having an open, empathetic mindset throughout the conversation. 

“You can’t fire your boss, but you can take action that will benefit you in the long run,” he wrote. 

However, the author didn’t think that his boss was the approachable type, especially with the comment about sacrifices. His petty revenge was a harmless yet effective way of getting his message across. 

The author provided more information by answering the reader’s questions

Text conversation about working during lunch breaks and its impact on productivity and well-being in remote software engineering.

Screenshot of a Reddit conversation discussing boss demands for meetings during lunch breaks and related regrets.

People in the comments shared similar experiences

Comment discussing boss demanding meetings during lunch breaks and the need to make sacrifices at work.

Comments discussing refusing to skip lunch meetings despite bosses demanding sacrifices at work during lunch breaks.

Comment discussing sacrifices and challenges of scheduling meetings outside lunch breaks to avoid conflicts.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment about boss demanding meetings during lunch breaks and employee regrets.

Text about a boss demanding meetings during lunch breaks causing employee frustration and regret over sacrifices made.

Comment discussing boss demands for meetings during lunch breaks and employee setting boundaries on lunch scheduling.

Comment text showing employee resisting boss demands for meetings during lunch breaks, emphasizing the need for sacrifices.

Text showing a user discussing challenges of working through lunch and different comfort levels with meeting schedules.

Workplace chat discussing experiences with boss demands for meetings during lunch breaks and the need for sacrifices.

More people showed support for the author

Comment about a boss demanding meetings during lunch breaks, with a user expressing relief they stood up to the demand.

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Text exchange showing a boss demanding meetings during lunch breaks, sparking regrets about work-life sacrifices.

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User's comment on a forum about a boss demanding meetings during lunch breaks, reflecting on sacrifices and regrets.

Comment discussing the legality and fairness of boss demanding meetings during lunch breaks, mentioning work sacrifice.

Man in a suit looking stressed during a lunch break meeting, highlighting sacrifices made for work demands.

However, some shared their unpopular opinions

Screenshot of an online comment discussing boss demanding meetings during lunch breaks and regrets about sacrifices made.

Comment criticizing lunch break meetings, highlighting frustration over boss demands and sacrifice in workplace discussions.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing lunch breaks and workplace demands in an online forum thread.

Text conversation about a boss demanding meetings during lunch breaks, discussing flexibility and work sacrifices.

Online discussion about boss demanding lunch break meetings and employees sharing opinions on workplace sacrifices and meeting etiquette.

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