Entitled Boss Gets Slammed Online For Expecting Employees To Not Leave The Building During Lunch Hours
“Employment” is a rewarding process with, at times, not-so-rewarding values; most of us, at least once in our lifetime, have been recruited to a company with standoffish vibes that ended up making our life a living hell.
Whether it was a part-time job during your high school period, where your so-called boss berated you for every minor inconvenience, or a “proper” position that you’ve taken on after your hardworking years in college where you have to co-exist with your micromanaging manager – finding a place with a positive culture could seem like an impossible game.
And although nowadays, folks are becoming more and more vocal about toxic work atmospheres, some organizations still maintain unethical environments and demand that workers stay in the building during their unpaid lunch breaks.
More info: Reddit
Sometimes your job’s management truly baffles you with their orders
Image credits: Alexandra Zakharova (not the actual image)
“My supervisor at Carl’s Jr. is telling everyone that we can’t leave the building during our 30-minute lunch break” – this online user turned to the r/antiwork subreddit to share how the employees of this fast-food restaurant are unable to leave the building during their lunch break due to district manager’s order.
Fast-food restaurant employee reveals how new district manager expects staff to stay on the building’s premises during unpaid lunch breaks
Image credits: u/alexmarshallvanover
The author began his post by revealing that right before he was about to leave work, his supervisor informed everyone of a new rule that was introduced by the company’s district manager. Turns out, the higher-up doesn’t want anyone leaving the building while on their lunch break.
Image credits: Edward Kimmel (not the actual image)
The request is very outlandish; no one in their right mind would ever propose a rule that’d restrict their staff members from their basic rights. But again, that’s the infamous motto of all toxic workplaces.
Let’s imagine that, for some odd reason, management really expects employees to stay on the premises during their breaks, the least they could do is offer an explanation and perhaps an official copy of the policy. Moreover, since they’re basically forcing you to stay onsite – if they’re not willing to pay for the inconvenience that it is, they can’t dictate what you do during your out-of-work time.
Image credits: u/alexmarshallvanover
Naturally, the man was shocked to hear such a statement. He shared that he looked at his supervisor hoping that it was some kind of a joke, although she quickly assured everyone that she was serious and that it was indeed a new rule.
The OP then replied, saying, “I guess I’m smoking in here now.” He also mentioned that it was probably the right time to buy a pack of cigarettes even though he only uses the electronic ones. Lastly, the employee finished his post by saying that Carl’s Jr. “blows” but that at least all of his colleagues are great people.
Image credits: Brett L. (not the actual image)
It’s crucial to remember that you’re not obligated to obey your company’s approaches.
The most important “survival” tactic is to get out as soon as you can – however, if you’re not in a place where you can drop everything and leave, you must be aware of your legal rights.
What do you think about the rule? Have you ever experienced similar issues at your job?
Fellow Redditors shared their thoughts concerning the absurd request
My daughters boss told her that females and males are not allowed to go out to lunch or have lunch on the property together. That even though it is just a friendly luncheon it doesnt look appropriate. My daughter was outside talking to a male coworker and i guess her supervisors husband was their and could see out the window where they were standing. She told her that it looked bad on her part to be out their with another man in front of her husband because he knows she is in a relationship. I told my daughter that she needs to ask for these things in writing or to have them pointed out in the employee handbook. I love how companies try to verbally tell you something they will not put in writing because they know they cannot force it upon you by law. I let her know your company cannot require anything of you while you are off the clock.
This sounds like them trying to pass their personal opinions onto your daughter when they need to mind the damn business! They don't know the nature of their conversation and just because " she in a relationship" doesn't give them the right to tell her who to speak to nor does it mean she can't speak to ppl of the other sex!
Was this in the US? Who is the employer? I have never heard anything so ridiculous at a workplace.
If you are convicted of a crime you committed while "off the clock" the company can fire you to protect their reputation. However. the legal fees may outweigh their tarnished reputation and they will probably cut a deal-several months paid leave and no admission of wrong doing.
Obviously this is so that if it gets busy they can find you and cancel your break.
Exactly. Happened when I first started my old job. Was new to retail and literally everybody that was on shift when I clocked in one day was in the break room celebrating a co-worker's bday. Manager, assist managers, everyone. Guess who had to work register? Guess who was still learning the register? Every time I had to call for bill check I had to run to the break room and have one of my coworkers check it, because manager and assist managers were busy drinking on the job. That coworker was so patient with me, though, and by the end of my shift I basically finished learning the AOL-esque register.
It can also be because you are in uniform, and if you do something objectionable while on break somewhere it could be a PR issue for them if you're wearing their company uniform. However if you aren't in a uniformed job than I can't understand the reasoning. The only thing our company has ever told us is to please remove our badges if we are in public. I work at corporate for a bank and our RFID badges provide access to the secure building. We don't want someone targeting us to steal our badges or see it and commit violence against us because we work for a bank. There are rules like this for police and doctors, too, though I'm not sure how much they are enforced.
If they are not paying you...they cannot tell you what to do.
My god some of you Simp so hard for your minimum wage jobs. They ain't paying you for your lunch break, wear a jacket over your uniform, take your badge off as you leave the premises. Don't believe the b******t they tell you as to why you MUST stay on site
I was simply offering a possible reasoning that they would give for this bizarre request. Not sure why you're so hostile but you might want to look into that. Also, when it's 90 degrees it might be hard to put on a jacket. And I don't work a minimum wage job and I do take off my badge.
That's what I thought the reason for the rule could be too. But the uniforms are just a shirt and hat. A hat can be taken off and a shirt covered with a jacket (when it's not summer) pretty easily. Would be a lot less intrusive.
It's not about embarrassment for the company. Corporations are greedy and constantly looking for ways to minimize costs and increase sales at the expense of their lowest paid employees. Carl's Jr wants to make it harder for employees to patronize their competition and increase their own sales. Back when companies like that gave employees a free meal, nobody cared where they ate.
and also to make sure you eat their food. it is very damaging for mcd that their people eat at kfc, for example. but not leaving the building for a cigarette few meters away or not being able to solve a pressing problem if you change your clothes would be an abuse.
It's damaging for their employees not to buy their food? They pay these employees minimum wage and then expect them to give it back to them for a 30 minute lunch that's worth twice as much as they make in 30 minutes. Damaging yes, but not to the company. Is there anyone on earth that really believes that if you work at McDonald's you can't eat anywhere but McDonald's? That's insane.
If you're required to stay, they are required to pay.
My daughters boss told her that females and males are not allowed to go out to lunch or have lunch on the property together. That even though it is just a friendly luncheon it doesnt look appropriate. My daughter was outside talking to a male coworker and i guess her supervisors husband was their and could see out the window where they were standing. She told her that it looked bad on her part to be out their with another man in front of her husband because he knows she is in a relationship. I told my daughter that she needs to ask for these things in writing or to have them pointed out in the employee handbook. I love how companies try to verbally tell you something they will not put in writing because they know they cannot force it upon you by law. I let her know your company cannot require anything of you while you are off the clock.
This sounds like them trying to pass their personal opinions onto your daughter when they need to mind the damn business! They don't know the nature of their conversation and just because " she in a relationship" doesn't give them the right to tell her who to speak to nor does it mean she can't speak to ppl of the other sex!
Was this in the US? Who is the employer? I have never heard anything so ridiculous at a workplace.
If you are convicted of a crime you committed while "off the clock" the company can fire you to protect their reputation. However. the legal fees may outweigh their tarnished reputation and they will probably cut a deal-several months paid leave and no admission of wrong doing.
Obviously this is so that if it gets busy they can find you and cancel your break.
Exactly. Happened when I first started my old job. Was new to retail and literally everybody that was on shift when I clocked in one day was in the break room celebrating a co-worker's bday. Manager, assist managers, everyone. Guess who had to work register? Guess who was still learning the register? Every time I had to call for bill check I had to run to the break room and have one of my coworkers check it, because manager and assist managers were busy drinking on the job. That coworker was so patient with me, though, and by the end of my shift I basically finished learning the AOL-esque register.
It can also be because you are in uniform, and if you do something objectionable while on break somewhere it could be a PR issue for them if you're wearing their company uniform. However if you aren't in a uniformed job than I can't understand the reasoning. The only thing our company has ever told us is to please remove our badges if we are in public. I work at corporate for a bank and our RFID badges provide access to the secure building. We don't want someone targeting us to steal our badges or see it and commit violence against us because we work for a bank. There are rules like this for police and doctors, too, though I'm not sure how much they are enforced.
If they are not paying you...they cannot tell you what to do.
My god some of you Simp so hard for your minimum wage jobs. They ain't paying you for your lunch break, wear a jacket over your uniform, take your badge off as you leave the premises. Don't believe the b******t they tell you as to why you MUST stay on site
I was simply offering a possible reasoning that they would give for this bizarre request. Not sure why you're so hostile but you might want to look into that. Also, when it's 90 degrees it might be hard to put on a jacket. And I don't work a minimum wage job and I do take off my badge.
That's what I thought the reason for the rule could be too. But the uniforms are just a shirt and hat. A hat can be taken off and a shirt covered with a jacket (when it's not summer) pretty easily. Would be a lot less intrusive.
It's not about embarrassment for the company. Corporations are greedy and constantly looking for ways to minimize costs and increase sales at the expense of their lowest paid employees. Carl's Jr wants to make it harder for employees to patronize their competition and increase their own sales. Back when companies like that gave employees a free meal, nobody cared where they ate.
and also to make sure you eat their food. it is very damaging for mcd that their people eat at kfc, for example. but not leaving the building for a cigarette few meters away or not being able to solve a pressing problem if you change your clothes would be an abuse.
It's damaging for their employees not to buy their food? They pay these employees minimum wage and then expect them to give it back to them for a 30 minute lunch that's worth twice as much as they make in 30 minutes. Damaging yes, but not to the company. Is there anyone on earth that really believes that if you work at McDonald's you can't eat anywhere but McDonald's? That's insane.
If you're required to stay, they are required to pay.