Office or jail? 16-minute break and you are fired. Employer's new rule shocks Redditors.

In many professional settings, the daily grind can gradually turn into an unchanging routine, especially when breaks are scarce or tightly regulated. One employee, clearly frustrated, turned to social media to share a comical yet eye-opening tale about their new employer's extreme aversion to break time. The story surfaced on the popular Reddit community "Indian Workplace" and quickly gained traction for its absurdity and relatability.

According to the employee's account, the company's recently appointed CEO had issued a stern warning to all staff members. In a mass email, the leader declared that break time violations would no longer be tolerated and that repeat offenders risked being fired. The employee, baffled by the CEO’s erratic temperament and strict behavior, remarked that they were unable to comprehend the leader's constantly shifting moods and authoritarian approach.

Previously, this employee had spent a year and a half in a work culture that emphasized outcomes over micromanagement. In that former role, workers were free to take as many breaks as needed throughout the day, as long as deadlines were met and responsibilities fulfilled. Despite this flexible policy, no one took undue advantage of the freedom, and the team remained productive.

Now, however, under the supervision of a hyper-controlling CEO, things had changed drastically. The new policy allowed for only a single 15-minute break, with the Human Resources department responsible for compiling daily reports on each employee’s break durations. Any individual who exceeded the limit faced potential termination upon a repeat offense. To make matters worse, the company didn’t even provide basic amenities like tea or coffee, leaving employees with no options to refresh themselves during the workday.

The frustrated worker, who had only been with the company for a month, claimed to have followed all of the CEO’s strict and often irrational rules. Still, they couldn’t shake the sense of being smothered under a regime that reeked of micromanagement. The employee’s post was laced with disbelief and exasperation, and their tone resonated with many readers online.

The post sparked a variety of reactions among Reddit users, ranging from laughter to concern. One commenter jokingly advised the employee to flee from the company, saying, “Run fast. Run far.” Others compared their own, more relaxed workplaces to highlight just how extreme the situation sounded.

One user described working in high-pressure industries such as management consulting and investment banking, yet enjoying far greater freedom when it came to breaks.

Whether at a top-tier consulting firm (MBB), a busy investment bank, or a leading edtech startup, this individual noted a shared workplace philosophy: no one cared about how many breaks you took, as long as the job was done well and deadlines were met. In some cases, they recalled lounging in the cafeteria for hours or taking lengthy lunches without facing any backlash. The common thread across all those roles was simple—deliver excellence on time, and autonomy would be granted.