Employee condemns toxic boss for demanding that overworked employee stop taking breaks

It has become almost impossible not to hustle our way through today's fast-paced competitive world. However good management wouldn't let their employees compromise their work-life balance to deliver more at their job. Many such overworked employees have taken to social media platforms time and again to talk about how unreasonable their boss' expectations are. One employee, u/Lemon-Otherwise, shared on Reddit how their boss expected their overworked colleague to stop taking breaks to finish tasks. This toxic leadership seemed relatable to many others who suggested that switching jobs was the best option.

The employee started their post by saying how hectic the job is for them and their co-workers. The employees are constantly hustling throughout their day as they are always loaded with tasks. This eventually led to a co-worker's task falling behind schedule. "So yesterday my boss found out that some stuff that should have been done early in the week was completed a couple of days ago. The reason for this was because the person responsible for doing it has been terribly busy," the employee explained. Speaking for their co-worker, they revealed how she was working hard despite her age.

The co-worker is in her sixties and her role involves walking or standing for nearly 12 hours at work. "I've also been running around because we're short people and my boss just doesn't get that we're busy and has us doing what should be HR's job," the employee mentioned. Just the nature of their work itself was strenuous and they sometimes had to work overtime too. "I've been working 12-hour days too and coming back to the office at random hours of the night because stuff needs to get done," they added. So, being busy themselves, the employee couldn't help out their co-worker with her pending task.

As a result, the boss took it out on the employee and asked them to "reprimand" the co-worker who failed to finish the task on time. The reason the boss gave was that "if she has time to take her breaks, she should have time to do everything. And if she didn't have time, she must come in during the weekend." The hardworking co-worker also had personal issues yet she managed to work overtime for her employer. "I don't think this is normal. It's like saying that breaks are a privilege, it disturbs me so much," the employee wrote in the end.

Everyone in the comments criticized the boss for being insensitive about busy employees taking a break. "If people have money to buy a yacht, they have money to pay their employees properly for the work expected of them," said u/Reddituser0346. "Only the uneducated bosses would talk like that. They're so tiresome and their employees are usually smarter than they are," remarked u/Vegetable-Fix-4702. "He's the kind of boss you need to email, asking for clarification. Make sure you get it in writing he's asking you to violate labor law. Once he does, send back clarification including 'So you are requesting I violate the law?' You also need to find a new job," added u/HMS_Slartibartfast.