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The original was posted on /r/maliciouscompliance by /u/MealProfessional4540 on 2025-05-29 23:48:48+00:00.

So this happened a few years back when I was working at a medium-sized marketing firm. The culture was kind of toxic, with one of those “if you’re not burning out, you’re not trying hard enough” attitudes.

Anyway, I’d always eat my lunch at my desk—never left the office. I didn’t mind it, and it actually helped me leave work a bit earlier since I was technically skipping my break. My boss was aware and never had an issue. That is, until we got a new manager. Let’s call her Linda.

Linda was all about “efficiency” and “policy.” One day she pulls me aside and says:

“From now on, I need you to take your full 1-hour lunch break away from your desk. It’s company policy. You sitting at your desk makes the others look bad.”

Alrighty then.

The next day, I brought a picnic blanket and a thermos of soup. I left the office, went across the street to a tiny park, and sat there for exactly 60 minutes. Rain or shine, hot or freezing—I was out there. If I finished eating early? I’d just sit and read a book, staring at the office window.

After about two weeks, she calls me in again.

“I noticed you’ve been taking very long lunch breaks lately…”

“Nope,” I said with a smile. “Exactly one hour. Just like you told me.”

She didn’t say a word. Never brought it up again. I went right back to eating lunch at my desk.