Breaktime is the only point in the working day that an employee has to themselves.

As a result, most do not take kindly to those who try to mess with it. When you are spending seven plus hours a day doing your bit to increase shareholder value, it only seems fair that you get that precious 30 minutes to an hour in the middle of it to recharge, and maybe eat something tasty enough to give you the motivation to keep slogging away. Just because there are masochists out there who insist on working through lunch doesn’t mean that it is a necessity for every single employee.

Nonetheless, there is an unfortunate subset of managers who seem to think that making the most of this short window of free time is optional. The reality is, not only is going without a rest break during the working day unsustainable, but it is also something that most workers are going to resent their supervisors for. It is not just about the loss of time, but also the petty attempt at control that is not conducive to a positive working environment. A boss can’t start making changes in this area without expecting some pushback.