The “By-the-Book” Backfire: Manager’s Rigid Break Policy Leaves Delivery Route Unfinished
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When things are working well, a good manager will leave it alone unless there is a serious reason to make a change.
What would you do if you were a delivery driver with a very busy route, so in order to complete the route each day, you skipped your lunch and break and then took them at the end of the day? But your manager found out about it and said that if you skip your breaks, you lose them?
That is what happened to the old school union driver in this story, so he agreed and began taking his breaks at their normal times during the day, which put him way behind on deliveries. When they couldn’t get done, his manager had to figure out what to do, which was not easy.
I think this driver did the right thing. Your breaks and lunches are an important part of what work owes you, so never skip them. Read through the full story below and see if you agree.
Old school Teamster using breaks as a weapon.
I was hired at a LTL freight company in a major metro area.
This sounds like a very busy day.
I start at 10:30am. If I were to take my breaks as scheduled it would disrupt getting the job done. Usually, I have 18-24 stops.
I need to make deliveries safely and quickly as possible as some customers close at 3pm, and I have to pick up shipments en-route, then continue making deliveries until they are done. (don’t always get all delivered) I have to make pickups from other customers who close early.
He does what he has to do in order to get the route done.
To get this all done, I can’t take my 12:30 coffee break. If I take my 30 minute lunch break as scheduled, I would never get it done.
I bring a small cooler with food and drink, so I don’t have to stop the mission. It takes 7- 8 1/2 hours to get it done. Then I take the 45 minutes of breaks before returning to the terminal.
Why does the manager care when he takes his breaks?
I had been doing this for months and all was well. One day, the terminal manager asked why it took me so long to get back after my last stop.
I explained what I had been doing. He told me going forward if I skipped a break I would lose it, and I was to return to the terminal directly from my last stop.
You should never skip the breaks or lunch that you are entitled to.
I am a Teamster. First priority are the customers who pay my wages. But I will never give up the breaks I have earned.
We have work rules. Breaks are to be taken where you have a restroom and hot food is available. So, OK boss you will get what you asked for.
He is just doing as he was told.
Next day when it is time to take my first 15min break at 12:30 I call in to tell them I am going to where I am going to take my break.
I called when I got there and told him I am starting my break. 15min later, call in break is over heading to my next stop. Same thing for 1/2 hour lunch.
The union will most definitely defend this guy.
This put me about an hour and 15 behind my former schedule. A lot of customers close at 5pm, but I have their phone numbers. Some waited, some did not. I missed three pick-ups and two customers who were expecting their goods 600 miles away tomorrow were not happy.
The terminal manager told my union steward I was using my breaks as a weapon! This issue was never resolved the way the boss wanted. For me to skip my breaks. The boss had to figure a different way to git the work done. Me thinks he doesn’t like me anymore!
This is a perfect example of a manager making a rule without understanding the consequences. Everything was working out perfectly, and the work was getting done until this manager had to change things up.
Let’s take a look at what the people in the comments have to say about it.
There is no reason to go above and beyond for a boss like this.
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It really is this simple.
This commenter is exactly right.
What was this boss thinking?
If you enjoyed this post, check out this story about an employee who decided to push back against time micromanagement.
Bad managers make things worse for everyone.
Breaks are a part of your overall benefit package; never skip them. Hopefully, the boss has learned his lesson about trying to dictate things that he doesn’t fully understand.
Unfortunately for him, the union is involved now, so it won’t likely be able to go back to the way that it was.
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