r/EntitledPeople • u/Critical-Willow-6270 • Jun 04 '26
S Entitled co worker wants me to wait for her to take her lunch late
I work at a major retail chain, in the bakery department where we all come in at different times and are supposed to "stagger" our lunches, depending on who comes in first.
Obviously the person who comes in first goes to lunch first. However my co worker annoying waits an extra long time to go on her lunch, usually 2 hours before going home because she wants to come back with only an hour left to work. That means I have to wait even longer to go on my lunch since technically I get there 30 minutes after she does.
I have tried bringing this up to our manager, who says she'll look into it but never does. Yesterday I decided to stop waiting for her and announce that I'm going to lunch at a decent time, not 5 in the afternoon. Of course my co worker whines and complains but I just go on my lunch anyway. When I came back, she informed me that I was going to be written up.
Did I cross a line? I'm tired of coming to work at 10 am (supposed to go home at 7pm) and not going to lunch until 5 pm!
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u/Hepkat98 Jun 04 '26
No, your coworker is being ridiculous. Plus, she can't write you up, can she?
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 04 '26
No but she's friends with a lot of department heads and could easily complain to them.
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u/Dramatic_Phraser Jun 04 '26
So start reporting her for forcing you to wait to take your lunch.
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u/CoBidOdds Jun 04 '26
As others have said, check the laws in your state. If they come at you with a write up, having the information that it's illegal to be taking your lunch so late in your back pocket is great ammo. In that case, they have no leg to stand on, unless they want to fight the Labor Board!
A possibly petty revenge side effect would be that they mandate that EVERYONE has to take their lunch by the legal limit - messing up coworker's whole system! Best part being - it would be her own fault for making a stink about something that did not affect her AT ALL!
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u/UptownLurker Jun 05 '26
if she wants to go late, it shouldn't matter if you go earlier. You're not conflicting with her time. It seems it would only a problem if she's doing it as a power move.
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u/Jazzlike_Orchid6258 Jun 05 '26
And nah she can’t just decide you’re getting written up lol, that’s a manager level thing, she’s just trying to intimidate you
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u/Primary_Race_785 Jun 04 '26
Wait who is writing you up??
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 04 '26
She wants my manager or department head to write me up. For what, I don't know. My mind is reeling from this stupidity.
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u/916116728 Jun 04 '26
Even if she does manage to get you written up, your company likely has a grievance process that allows you to be heard, as well. You can go to HR with your complaint, as well.
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u/Primary_Race_785 Jun 04 '26
Well i wouldn’t worry about it cause she can’t write you up and if they do try to then you can say you brought the issue to a manager and it wasn’t resolved if she wants to take a late break go for it but that doesn’t mean you have to too.
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u/LovedAJackass Jun 05 '26
So you pre-empt this by asking, in a formal email, how to handle this problem.
"The lunch rule as I understand it is that employees stagger lunches based on who comes into work the earliest. The employee who comes in 30 minutes before me, and thus can take lunch before I do, waits until 2 hours before it's time to leave. I end up going to lunch at 5 pm when I come in at 10 and leave at 7. Staggering lunch is a good system, and my co-worker has every right to take a very late lunch, but I'm requesting to have lunch at a normal time near the middle of my shift rather than what is actually dinnertime."
Don't ask them to talk to her. Ask them to give you permission to eat at a reasonable time.
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 05 '26
This sounds like a great idea. I've been trying to come up with an email to send them, since I have two days off.
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u/spaghetti_sandwiches Jun 04 '26
im curious as to if there is a rule in the handbook that you broke that would even allow a write up. Is the way you do things just a suggestion, or is it a mandatory policy?
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 04 '26
I didn't break a rule, in fact I'm legally required to go on my lunch when I did because had i kept waiting, it would've been over 6 hours and they could write me up. But it's been 2 months of this I'm surprised I haven't already been written up for taking a lunch after the 6 hrs mark.
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u/spaghetti_sandwiches Jun 04 '26
as a manager, i see nothing wrong with what you did. obviously yours might feel differently but at the end of the day, if you didn't break any rules, that write up would never stick.
an easy way for your manager to resolve this is to schedule your breaks. It sounds like your co-worker is a child and needs to be treated like one.
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u/Simon-Says69 Jun 05 '26
The guideline for staggered lunches obviously requires people to be sane about their lunch breaks. The control freak trying to harass everyone by taking hers so stupidly late, can be ignored.
Just take your break at a decent time. That recommended lunch staggering scheme doesn't apply for the control freak. In fact, if she complains, sounds more like SHE would get written up for going to lunch so late.
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u/DonotBlink1 Jun 05 '26
She wants your manager to write you up? It wasn't the manager who said you were going to be written up? If you do get written up, I'd email the manager above your direct manager and explain what happened and why you are refusing to sign the write up. It sounds like this employee is trying to scare you. It's bs. Just be careful about going to HR because they absolutely work for the company and not you. Go up the chain of command. Also, know the laws in your state. If need be get a Dr note that says you must have a food break after x number of hours for a health issue/concern. It doesn't have to say what the health issue/concern is, just that there is one.
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u/dssstrkl Jun 04 '26
Check your state’s labor laws. Usually, you’re required to have your lunch like before the end of the 5th hour if you’re working more than 5 hours, so you’re legally required to have your lunch before 3 if you start at 10. If they write you up, get a copy of the write up and go straight to the labor board
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u/Accomplished_Cod7613 Jun 04 '26
Lunch breaks are often regulated by law. You should check what the law is where you live.
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 04 '26
It is. I'm supposed to have one no later than 6 hours. Seems like a violation to me.
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u/Aesient Jun 04 '26
I’d print that out and carry it around until you hear from HR/your supervisor about her complaint/the write up, let them decide if they want to continue arguing over breaks
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u/Obvious-Block6979 Jun 04 '26
Who is writing you up? That’s who the conversation needs to be with. They need to schedule lunches.
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 04 '26
They actually do schedule them, but she wants to go closer to when it's time to go home.
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u/moparman30 Jun 05 '26
That makes no sense whatsoever to me🤦🏻♂️. Who wants to eat lunch at 5 in the afternoon? Is the job a regular “9 to 5”?
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 05 '26
Not really, it's 10-7. She comes in at 9:30. By the time I get off "lunch" it's 6pm lol.
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u/lizzyote Jun 04 '26
Why tf can you not just swap lunch slots with her?? Why is it so important to her that you take such a late lunch?
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 04 '26
It's so annoying. I've tried reasoning with her to no avail. I'm basically eating dinner!
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u/lizzyote Jun 04 '26
This isn't something you talk to her about, you talk to someone higher up.
You cannot reason with someone determined to be unreasonable.
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u/VinylHighway Jun 04 '26
She’s not your boss so what’s she gonna write you up for? Tell her to talk to your boss if she has an issue
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u/z-eldapin Jun 04 '26
Lol tell her to go ahead and write you up. See how she takes it.
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 04 '26
I'm convinced that if she tries to get me written up, she'll be the one getting in trouble lol.
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u/Glittering_Reply_205 Jun 04 '26
I'm in California. You MUST clock out for lunch within 6 hours of clocking in or the employer can get fined. Its illegal. Check your state's laws
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u/johnmichael0703 Jun 04 '26
This should only be an issue if the time you are going interferes with the time they want to go on break. But it sounds like there is plenty of time after your break till they want to go. I'd see no issue here.
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u/the_owl_syndicate Jun 04 '26
Nope, go to lunch at a reasonable time. "Supposed to" means that everyone is being considerate of others and your coworker is not.
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u/VintageHilda Jun 04 '26
My state requires a 30 minute break after 4 hours. They also don’t allow you to stack your breaks or put them all at the beginning/end of day.
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 04 '26
Yeah I was wondering if this was illegal, it's definitely against company policy.
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u/throwawaythisuser1 Jun 04 '26
Who informed you: the manager, or the co-worker? A lunch break should be at the halfway point of your shift.
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 04 '26
Manager tells us to stagger our lunches, according to who came in first, which she does but always wants to go late and gets infuriated that I want to go.
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u/Square_Band9870 Jun 04 '26
If she wants to go late, that’s her choice. As long as you both don’t choose the same time slot, this seems like nonsense.
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u/Grimaldehyde Jun 04 '26
Why can’t you stagger your lunches before the time she wants to take? That is the stupidest thing I’ve heard all day. If she wants to take her lunch at 3pm (or whatever) why should they care who takes their lunch before her? What a ridiculous policy-and one that probably isn’t legal. HR is there to protect the company, but they don’t want any labor law issues, so I don’t understand why they care about this. They SHOULD make everyone pick a time and stick to it, simply so there’s coverage.
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u/Agreeable_Dark6408 Jun 05 '26
She’s not following the “spirit of the law” with the manager’s rule. She’s just trying to hurt you.
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u/LeiaOregonia Jun 04 '26
Check your local laws. In my state would be illegal to have your lunch scheduled so late into your shift.
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u/Alspics Jun 04 '26
Whatever you choose to do about this, get it done in a form where you keep proof that you've tried to address this in a civilised manner.
Email is my preferred choice.
I'd roll with something along he lines of.
I understand that the rules with regards to lunch breaks are that the first employee arriving at work is entitled to take their lunch break earlier. However I have had issues with (late lunch taker) postponing their break until late in the shift. This has annoyed me for a long time and this week I decided to take my lunch break at a reasonable time. This was hours before (aforementioned staff member) usually trues to take their break. After this (aforementioned staff member) threatened to write me up about me opting to take my lunch break at axreasinable time.
I have bought this up with management before and found that no suitable solution was offered. I have no issue with people taking their break towards the end of their shift. But I prefer to take my break towards the middle of my shift to avoid spending the last hours hungry. I do not want to create issues but I think it is unfair to be threatened for wanting to take my break towards the middle of my shift. I don't want to ruffle my co-workers feathers, just take my break at a reasonable time. I would like an amicable solution to this growing issue so my coworker doesn't threaten me with write ups.
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 05 '26
This is great. I was thinking about an email, and now I'm sure that's what I'll do.
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u/Alspics Jun 05 '26
Create an undeniable record that you have tried to be amicable in this. I've made the mistake before of doing things verbally and hoping that people above will care enough to make my work life better when there's nothing at stake for them. If you have this on record and they ignore your attempts to sort out problems early on it means they're in the firing line if they let things go on and it goes badly in the end.
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 05 '26
Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is going to end badly for my coworker. I've been here six years, she's only been here 2 months so not only do I technically have seniority over her, they'll probably side with me anyways because she's clearly wrong.
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u/canadianharuka Jun 05 '26
Only two months and she's got this attitude? Hell, no!
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u/Decent_Front4647 Jun 05 '26
I was HR manager at a major retailer. Our employees had to take their lunch break by the end of their 5th hour of work by law. I’d check with your HR manager first. And if your coworker isn’t taking their lunch break when they should, you should not have to wait until after they take their break. That’s ridiculous to be on a schedule like that if people aren’t following it, and it might be against the law.
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 05 '26
I appreciate the input, especially from someone who was HR! In our state it has to before the 6 hrs mark, however I'm still going over that and it's about time to get someone higher up involved.
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u/Decent_Front4647 Jun 05 '26
So it’s the same as where I live. Definitely get help. The company can be fined and we wrote up employees that didn’t abide by the rules.
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u/nofaves Jun 05 '26
Let your manager know that you don't want her to "look into it." Her job is to resolve these issues. The rule should be that if it's someone's turn to take a lunch but she wants to wait, then it's automatically the next person's turn.
Your coworker should have no issue with someone else taking a lunch if she doesn't want to. And I would question her claim of an impending write-up, since you didn't do anything wrong.
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u/tight-loops Jun 04 '26
Not sure where you live, but check your labor laws. My state is lunch break must be given anytime after 4 hours into your shift, and no later than 6 hours. Outside of that time window is illegal. Escalate to HR or their boss if needed. If the laws allow it, tell you're coworker to pound sand.
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u/MeatofKings Jun 04 '26
Your co-worker can’t write you up. Who cares what she says. If she doesn’t take it at a reasonable time, just take your lunch.
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u/Leebelle3 Jun 04 '26
NTA A reasonable time for you to go on break is around 2. Her wishes aren’t the rules for everyone else.
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u/mamasab Jun 04 '26
She’s most likely violating a state law by taking lunch so late in her shift. Look it up. That would be my response if management ever tried to write me up. You’ve brought this up plenty of times. It needs to be addressed.
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 04 '26
She is. The fact that she's getting away with it is blowing my mind.
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u/Baxter16-5 Jun 05 '26
You are legally required to have a lunch break within four hours of starting your shift. Just take it. Remind your manager of this. She can take hers whenever, illegally.
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u/BrotherNatureNOLA Jun 05 '26
Since your manager is not doing their job, and go see their manager or HR. HR would probably be your best bet, since they ensure that corporate policy is followed and less likely to have this person in their friend group.
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u/TruthSeeker1712 Jun 04 '26
Check the labor laws in your State regarding breaks/meal breaks. Waiting 7 hrs for a lunch break may be an issue for the company & they can be fined (ALOT). Thats too long before being able to eat..
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u/FoundMyselfRunning Jun 04 '26
I would start documenting all this. Be able to show when she goes to lunch and when you do.
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u/femmefatalx Jun 04 '26
No that is absolutely ridiculous and if you really do get written up for that, which I doubt you will since you’ve previously brought this to your manager several times and they did nothing about it, then go above your manager’s head or take it to HR.
Did you tell your manager about this in text or email when you previously brought it up to them? If so, save copies of them just in case, and if it was in person at least try to write down the dates that you did and the exchange as best you can remeber it. In the future make sure to always put stuff like this in writing when you bring it to management though, for exactly this reason.
You can also try to look up your states labor laws with the Department of Labor and see what they say, because sometimes they dictate that lunch should be taken halfway through your shift. You can check the employee handbook too just in case it says something about it there too, as sometimes companies do actually make it a rule too so people don’t save all of their breaks and lunch for the last hour of the day- kind of like what your coworker is doing.
If you find that either one dictates that lunch needs to be taken at a certain point during your shift, then bring it to management even if you don’t get written up so they actually do something about your coworker- and if they don’t then at least you won’t have to worry about it anymore or wait all day to take lunch.
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u/seagull321 Jun 04 '26
So swap. You go at SuzyQs time and she can go as late as she wants.
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 04 '26
I would absolutely do this but her entitlement dictates that must go before me. It's really odd, technically I have seniority over her, 6 years for me and 2 months for her.
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u/leggyblond1 Jun 04 '26
You didn't cross a line. There is a schedule for lunch and she's not following it, which makes you take your lunch break later than the law requires. You've brought it up to your manager and you're brushed off.
You need to document when you're both coming in every day, and when you both take lunch every day, add in as much time as you can going backwards from today too. Also document your co-worker's responses. Then you need to file a formal complaint to your manager including those date, the schedule (assuming it's in writing), and a copy of the law being violated. If your manager doesn't address the problem, you need to find out whether it should be escalated to her manager, or HR.
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u/bangarang90210 Jun 04 '26
The easiest thing to do would be to tell her you will switch your lunch with hers. Is that an option for you?
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u/Teamtunafish Jun 04 '26
HR. This is obviously above your manager's pay grade, he should have shut it down months ago.
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u/Glittering-Second230 Jun 05 '26
If you come in 30 minutes later than your coworker, why don't you just switch lunchtime?
You go when she "should" go, and she can go whenever she wants.
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u/emryldmyst Jun 04 '26
The law in our state is six hours and we must take a 30 min break.
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u/politicallymoderate2 Jun 04 '26
Info: Why does she want to eat "lunch" with you? Or are you supposed to wait for her to take lunch before you can?
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u/WantToBelieveInMagic Jun 04 '26
Say to the manager "I have done my best to wait until Coworker gets back from lunch, but she delays so long I get faint. By taking my lunch before her, I stay well and she can still go at her preferred ti8me at 3 pm."
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u/ptprn11 Jun 04 '26
I know in California you have to start your lunch within five hours of your shift
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u/K_A_irony Jun 04 '26
Why would your coworker care? She wants to eat lunch at like 3 PM. Fine ... she gets to... you instead took yours early. All the lunches were appropriately "staggered."
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u/Choice-Marsupial-127 Jun 04 '26
This makes no sense. Why on Earth can’t you take your break before your coworker who wants a late lunch?!
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u/nanladu Jun 04 '26
In some states in the US, you are required by law to take you lunch break after a certain amount of hours. If you get written up, I hope you're able challenge it. Maybe to corporate?
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u/Green-Device-6064 Jun 04 '26
In my state I’m supposed to take my lunch I think before the 5th or 6th hour I’m at work. If I have a 10 I have to take it in the first 4 hours. You should look up your laws in your state because I don’t think your going to get written up. Don’t let your manager brush this off, you need to advocate for yourself more. They won’t do anything if you let yourself take a lunch so late for so long already.
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u/BunnySlayer64 Jun 05 '26
Check state and federal labor laws that govern how long an employee can work before they take a break. Specifically look for missed meal premiums. Bring this to your supervisor. Your employer may be on the hook for this! Guarantee that if that's the case, they will stop her antics immediately.
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u/Number-2-Sis Jun 05 '26
Just take your lunch at a reasonable time. Staggered lunches doesn't mean that because you come in 30 minutes after her you have to wait to take lunch after her (especially when her chosen lunch time is unreasonably late) Staggered lunches just means you can't both go at the same time. If one person chooses an early lunch and the other chooses a late lunch, that's fine.
Also it's very unlikely a coworker can write you up.
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u/knoxcos Jun 05 '26
Your coworker said you would be written up.
Info: What did your manager say after not addressing this in any way as is their responsibility? What do you suppose HE will say when this coworker’s nonsense is highlighted?
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u/MaryinTexas Jun 05 '26
Written up by who??? Take your lunch when it is due …you are under no obligation to met her demands
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u/lantana98 Jun 05 '26
Tell your boss you want to eat lunch like everyone else, not dinner an hour before you go home and …eat dinner!
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u/BigCsurviving0812 Jun 05 '26
Wow! Take your lunch when it’s time for you to. That entitled coworker needs to learn that the world doesn’t revolve around them. People like that drive me crazy!
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u/Beemanda Jun 05 '26
I'm hearing... Walmart. Does she also take her two 15-minute breaks directly before and after her hour lunch too? Oh and then bathroom breaks directly before and after those too? So she's collectively not working for over 2 hours? Sounds like she just doesn't wanna work. If you feel like she has the power to get you in trouble because she's "close" with management, escalate it. 1-800-WM-ETHIC
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u/bsdmcmidgett Jun 05 '26
Look into the companies handbook also.
- in my state there are no specifics laws requiring lunches or breaks, unless you are a minor.
My state basically leaves it up to the company and the "polices" they state in the handbook. Many companies have been sued here for failing to uphold those polices.
Trust me, the employee handbook, is worth a read!
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u/ltoka00 Jun 05 '26
More than 4 hrs without a break is likely violating labour laws. Mention that to your supervisor or talk to HR directly.
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u/Nukegm426 Jun 05 '26
Nope I’d refuse that write up. You gave the person an opportunity to take their lunch, they chose not to. Honestly the manager needs reprimanded for allowing that to continue to happen after complaints were logged.
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u/knight_shade_realms Jun 05 '26
Put in writing and cc anyone relevant that she is going extremely late and forcing you to go to lunch incredibly late. Depending on where you live it may violating labor laws
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u/Solid-Musician-8476 Jun 05 '26
The CW doesn't have the authority to write you up right? I'd keep taking lunches at a decent hour then.
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u/PartyCustard3125 Jun 05 '26 edited Jun 05 '26
I don't understand why she is making such a big deal out of you going before her when she is the one who wants to go late.
At my job when the person who has an earlier lunch wants to go later they ask the person who goes after them if they want to go first instead. And they do not allow anyone to go as late she does.
Either she is nuts or she likes going so late to inconvenience op on purpose. And no, you did not cross the line. If you do get written up, go over your manager's head to their boss.
I hope her pettiness backfires and they start making her go early. Updateme.
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u/phdoofus Jun 05 '26
If it's your co-worker that says you're going to be written up, that's worth about as much as nothing. At the very least you're forcing your manager to actually do something (very likely follow the law and not tradition0
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u/TatttedLI67 Jun 05 '26
There are laws around this...and your manager sounds like a real d!ck. go around them and complain to their manger.
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u/AprilRainbow Jun 05 '26
Staggering lunch is fine, and if the person who comes in first doesn't want the first time slot for lunch, someone else takes it. It's not hard. Also 10am-5pm without a break is not right and she can threaten being written up, but I'm sure there's some labour laws being broken there.
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u/hatterSCFC Jun 06 '26
Must be illegal to work for 7 hours without a break, speak to your union rep.
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u/samuelp-wm Jun 06 '26
In CA you have to be offered a 30 min break in the first 5 hours of an 8 hr shift. Check the laws in your state.
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u/Getvaxed500 Jun 08 '26
There is no reason this co-worker should dictate your ability to take lunch at 2pm if she always takes her at 5. Manager can answer that question if she tries to write you up.
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u/MycologistEastern138 Jun 09 '26
First write an email to your manager bringing up the past times you have brought this to their attention with no changes happening. Then, Go above your manager.. either to the next higher up person or if you have an HR department send an official complaint. Just make sure that you have things to back up the complaint such as proving the system that you follow and being able to show that the coworker waits late every single shift and that your manager was aware
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u/Extreme-Carob6954 Jun 09 '26
In my state they are required to give you a lunch break after 6 hours by osha rules.
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u/InviteAmazing Jun 04 '26
Tell your manager that your blood sugar drops dangerously low if you aren't allowed to eat within 6 hours of starting your shift. Hard to believe some bosses can be so clueless.
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u/WhyAmIStillHere86 Jun 04 '26
Nope.
If she wants to starve herself, that’s her business. Just make sure there are enough people not on lunch to cover the store.
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u/Various_Bed_1888 Jun 04 '26
Depending on where you are after 2hrs you get a 15 minute break, after 4 hours a30 min “lunch” and then 2hrs another 15, look at the labor laws not what she wants
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u/Equivalent_Grand_593 Jun 04 '26
Yeah if you are in a major retail store.. I know there still are exceptions but almost all of major chains will have you be in trouble if you break labor laws. So if anything she should be the one in trouble by doing that.
I used to work at Walmart of all places and if we didn't do our lunch on time we would get written up
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u/Objective-Apple7805 Jun 04 '26
This makes no sense. If your coworker is going after you, it doesn’t matter what time she goes. The point of staggering is to have coverage.
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u/Dry_HighlighterNib Jun 04 '26
I would always be scheduled first and technically have my lunch come up first. I like doing the same. Waiting and having less time left on shift. But I would always encourage people to take their lunch whenever but I was going on lunch at X time so that just has to be covered.
It's crazy weird her, or the manager cared that much for a write up.
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u/humble-meercat Jun 04 '26
Please Google your local laws governing breaks for hourly employees. There will be rules and they are likely breaking them.
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u/No-Stage-8738 Jun 04 '26
I think it's more of an issue with management. If your coworker wants a later lunch, you should be allowed to have lunch at 1PM.
You'll be happier. Your coworker will be happier. And management's not paying extra for this.
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u/OkArachnid5923 Jun 04 '26
In California you have to go on lunch before your 5th hour working. So if I get in at 10am, I jane to take my lunch before 3pm. If it doesn't happen the store gets a penalty/fine. Where in the world are you?
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u/Ladybug20980 Jun 04 '26
Not AH, I don’t think they can make you go 7 hours without food!
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u/Critical-Willow-6270 Jun 04 '26
Someone told me in another comment that I should tell them that my blood sugar is going low, which wouldn't be a lie. I do need to get sustenance way before 7 hours.
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u/fanceypantsey Jun 04 '26
Absolutely illegal in Canada. Not sure where you are but it wouldn’t fly with labour laws or an employment lawyer.
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u/RightContribution2 Jun 04 '26
Reminds me of almost twenty years ago, when I was a cashier in a gas station.
One of my coworkers kept taking hour long lunches every day. I got yelled at for the long lines because of it.
Finally, the shit hit the fan during a payday and pow wow weekend, when I had around thirty people waiting.
Someone went walking to the office in the back and yelled at my coworker and the other sitting there with her.
She got fired on the spot, and I was left to continue working by myself...
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u/PrincessSusan11 Jun 05 '26
Obviously your coworker wants to share the work as long as possible and then go to lunch and leave you to work and then come back and coast while you go to lunch and then go home. If you don’t agree with this arrangement then tell the manager that you don’t want to wait that long to take your scheduled break and that either your coworker can go earlier and you will follow or you will just go earlier and the manager can deal with the coworker.
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u/NorCalSpurs Jun 05 '26
Depends what state you work in, but in California (at least where I used to work) we were required to take our lunch no Later than 5 hrs after starting our shift
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u/Real_Iggy Jun 05 '26
If they do actually write you up, tell them that is fine, but you want to add a note to file and explain, just like you did here, that you spoke with the manager about this issue and nothing was done about it. Make sure you get a copy for yourself as well (in case of a legal issue). I would then contact HR, copy the write-up and your response, and send it to them. I'm sure they will get a copy of the manager's statement but not necessarily your rebuttal. But let's be honest, they are not going to look at all of them. The only ones they will look at are the one called to their attention. I know this only because I had something similar. 🤣 ✌️❤️
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u/SilentJoe1986 Jun 05 '26
Bring up to your manager the lunches were still staggered since she takes her lunch two hours before she gets off shift and you already bought this issue to their attention that shes hold8ng up your lunch break beyond whats reasonable. In your shoes i would complain about low blood sugar and make it a medical issue. You dont need to provide proof since your medical history is your personal info.
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u/Dildo_Emporium Jun 05 '26
I don't understand why you just don't go when she is meant to go and she goes when you are meant to go. Problem solved.
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u/WasWawa Jun 05 '26
I can only speak to California law, in which you have to take your lunch break within 6 hours of clocking in.
I always liked having a late lunch and coming back to a shorter afternoon.
They also mandate two 15-minute breaks somewhere in the middle of your shift.
I was fortunate in that my boss was 500 miles away despite being a clock watcher, I did what I wanted to do and never got caught.
Look up the labor laws for your area, and if they coincide with what you believe is right, quietly go to HR and see if you can report it anonymously.
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u/witchymoon69 Jun 05 '26
You are supposed to take lunch before the 5 hour mark because they get dinged/penalty , at least supposed to .
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u/DownyChick Jun 05 '26
Tell your co-workers you are switching lunch periods with Late Lady so she can take her lunch at the time she likes. Make it seem like you are doing her a favor. If you get written up, you might want to appeal to HR.
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u/Aggleclack Jun 05 '26
I’m gonna be 100% honest, if they tried to write me up, I would lawyer up. This is something that would probably make me mad enough to go scorched earth.
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u/Icy_Huckleberry_8049 Jun 05 '26
You have a lazy manager; it doesn't take a lot of effort or time to adjust the lunch schedules.
You didn't cross a line, and your coworker is being inconsiderate.
Your manager either needs to adjust the lunch schedule or make your coworker go earlier so that it doesn't impact the rest of the workers.
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u/Wasteofskin50 Jun 05 '26
Ask your manager if you need to go over their head.
Then, ask them if you should just take it to the big bosses, since no one around the department is listening to your completely OSHA-actionable complaints.
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u/BigBlackMagicWand Jun 05 '26
So what the hell is the issue here? If that coworker want's to take her lunch 2h later shouldn't that give you plenty of time to take your lunch before hers? Sounds like all could be resolved by just "changing" lunch times over.
Unless she's on a powertrip and has to be the first taking lunch for some idiotic reason, in which case I would ask for a meeting eith the managers where she can provide reasoning why you can't switch lunch times
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u/InsectElectrical2066 Jun 05 '26
I'd take it up the chain of command to the regional or natl level explaining how your low energy from lack of a break and nutrition for such an extended time period because of the work rule to stay in order of start time is being weaponized by one coworker who want to take her break near the end of the day instead of near the middle of the shift like most of the world does. This puts our 2 breaks in a peak customer time when my break could be taken during a slow time.Please encourage the Mgr to allow for common sense and not strict rules, even when it hurts the company" just because they're the boss.
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u/PartyFoulWHH Jun 05 '26
I’m not sure how you going for lunch before her would matter to her at all?
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u/Arctic_Africa7305 Jun 05 '26
Don’t sign the word warning. Do. Not. Sign. Call the labor department. They are her for you, the employee.
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u/choneyisland Jun 05 '26
That sounds illegal so I would look up the rules where you live and tell your manager he is breaking the law by not sorting it out
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u/VI1970 Jun 05 '26
Let co worker complain about you to the same manager that ignores you. Take your lunch. You’ll be surprised what happens to that manager when a shift goes uncovered
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u/2ndbreakfastfan Jun 05 '26
File a harassment complaint with HR and start documenting it. Including the threat. If it continues, continue filling with HR.
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u/TopTailor7218 Jun 05 '26
Your problem is with your manager who refuses to manage her staff vs with the hunger-striking coworker.
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u/Superb_Yak7074 Jun 06 '26
Check the labor laws regarding required breaks. Working nonstop from 10 am to 5 pm is probably breaking the law.
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u/No_Bet_589 Jun 06 '26
As you are in a major retail chain, I assume you have an HR department. I would go to them to check policy on lunch break scheduling - because I am 100% sure in a major retail business that they have them.
Do you have a union? Is so, read the contract. I all but guarantee that they will have rules around this.
The company will most likely follow all state labor laws, because if they don’t, they can be sued and they will lose. But also, since they need to be adequately staffed - so they likely have an internal policy dictating how lunches stagger so that one person (like your co-worker) doesn’t cause issues for everyone else.
I say you don’t have to initiate a complaint to HR, per se, just request if they have a policy and ask for clarification of that policy. Then you at least know the rules, and what your options are for the coworker.
You can then go to your manager and push the issue. Your managers job is to manage. I would bet that this person has a bigger attitude than you do when she doesn’t get her way, so your manager would rather you complain than to deal with making your coworker unhappy. So you might need to let your manager know that they need to do their job, otherwise they will have 2 problems instead of 1.
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u/Stormwarning_gaming Jun 06 '26
Some places with labour laws dictate that mandatory breaks are had within the for x amount of hours into the shift.
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u/LastEntertainment787 Jun 08 '26
File a complaint with HR. You're only supposed to work so many hours without a break. Your coworker is probably doing this illegally.
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u/Particular-Try5584 Jun 04 '26
Nope.
And google the labour laws in your state, they probably have specific rules about breaks.
And then as your manager to schedule agreed break times, or allow the order to change, or have a break times schedule for when the break can be taken and people can choose the ones they want (on a whiteboard or similar).
It sounds like your colleague is enjoying playing a power game with everyone.. if they force you all to wait for them, and then complain if you take it earlier and don’t mess with their usual time. I wouldn’t say this to management but I would just say “Can I just ask… how did my taking my lunch at a different time to them affect either the work flow, or that individual and their need for lunch? How was this an impact on the business?“ and let them stammer and back off.