My new boss wants us to sign out anytime we go to bathroom or take lunch. I refuse to do so and have been threatened to be issued a warning. What do I do?
So I’ve been at this company for 18 years now. I’m a high performing senior member of my team. My boss just took another job and my new boss is psycho when it comes to knowing where we are at all times.
I’m almost 40 years old and I’m not about to walk over to his cubicle, slide my dot to the left to signal I’m going to the bathroom. maaaaybe I could see that for taking lunch. But we have a set 30 minute lunch everyday so it’s not really a thing in my opinion.
Since I refuse to sign out when I go to the bathroom, my boss has told me she would issue me a warning for “insubordination” or in better terms, “failing to follow instructions”.
I’m contemplating quitting, but I make way more than most in my engineering design field and my benefits are good, not to mention I get weeks of vacation per year.
I’m tempted to go to HR if this can’t be resolved. What would you do?
Netizens’ comments
I kept scrolling but never saw a comment to this effect. OP, have you taken it to HR – not to COMPLAIN about it, but to ASK about it? My first stop would be asking whether this is a new company-wide policy, and if so, where are the FAQs and communications about it. Stop there. Ask nothing else. See what they say.
HR often gets painted as “not on your side,” but the reality is, HR is on the side of “keeping the company from getting sued or fined.” If this is just an overzealous manager who has created a new policy on her own, which is what it sounds like, HR may not be aware that it’s happening. If you’re a salaried employee and your work does not require being at your desk at specific times, she may be toeing the line of legality, and HR doesn’t like people who toe that line. You don’t have to complain about it to HR – but before you go complying with it, maliciously or otherwise, I would at least politely ask.
Now, if HR comes back and says they support her new policy or management style… then it may be time to brush up your resume or look for a new role internally.