Boss Demands Employee To Call In Sick After She Left Her Desk For An '8-Minute' Washroom Break

Navigating the professional landscape can be challenging; for many, the workplace is where a significant portion of their time is spent. However, not all work environments are created equal, and some can turn toxic, adversely affecting employees' well-being and job satisfaction.

What did the woman share?

A woman shared her unsettling experience with her boss asking her to use sick leave to take an eight-minute bathroom break in a recent Reddit post that has generated a lot of discussion.

The incident, narrated by the user 'SpecterGygax,' has resonated with many, prompting anger towards the employer's unusual demand.

The story has ignited a conversation about workplace practices, with several individuals criticizing the boss's actions and raising broader questions about employee rights and fair treatment.

She wrote, "I work from home and stepped away from my workstation to use the bathroom this morning. Halfway through my eight-minute bathroom break, I got a voicemail from my boss telling me that I either needed to call in sick, take PTO or get back online right now. I reiterated I was offline for eight minutes, and they wanted me to use a sick day. I frequently skip breaks and work past when my shift is set to end. I got this job in my second year in college because I was sick of working retail."

The woman divulged more details and wrote:

"This job has slowly become much worse than retail. The customers are worse, the supervisors don't care if they verbally abuse you, schedules can get changed without any notification, and they give people work that they legally can't be asked to do because the company won't foot the bill to give employees proper qualifications. Additionally, we get paid less than we would working at McDonald's. It was a decent place for a college student to work in at first, but this entire company has gone to hell."

How did people react to the woman's post?

This Reddit post shared a few days ago, has garnered over 7,000 upvotes and numerous comments, reflecting the community's intense engagement with the story. Redditors expressed a range of opinions on the situation:

One individual highlighted managers' challenges with remote employees, suggesting that some may need to justify their role when teams are productive without micromanagement. The comment implies that the manager might attempt to show their value by addressing an employee's break.

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Another user advised lodging a complaint with HR about harassment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a paper trail that includes voicemail and warning records.

A third commenter suggested considering a job change, recommending reporting illegal actions, wage theft, or misconduct to authorities. The comment humorously suggests that if the employer retaliates, it could lead to a favorable severance package.

A fourth Redditor emphasized the importance of taking breaks by one's rights and income level, encouraging the individual to prioritize self-respect.

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