If your supervisor did this to you, would you say something?

Question

I needed a simple 10-minute break the other day. The company usually gives you one when you're not working a full day. I really needed to sit down for a bit, so I asked my supervisor. Business

was a bit slow, but she she said no anyway. She claimed she

needed the help, and that maybe later I could get one. I waited a while. It slowed down again. I asked again, but she gave me another lame excuse. After that, the store got busy, and she went home, so I didn't bother asking again. I was angry, because I believe this was racially motivated. She gave all her "friends" a break, but not me. Should I say something?

Answer 1

I would skip the racial part and just tell the boss that you needed a break and she denied you one. That is however assuming that she went against the law and company policy. If you worked more than 5 hours without a lunch, then say something. If not then suck it up. There is no law on breaks, but it is a general practice to give employees a 10 minute break every two hours. But its not against the law not to.

Answer 2

By law you are entitled to a break after working 4 hours. If you believe it was racially motivated I'd speak to her boss, but be prepard to explain why you think that.

Answer 3

If you think it is worth antagonizing your supervisor over a 10-minute break, you have other issues.

Handle this sort of a disagreement with special care. To the extent that you can disagree openly, do so. But be open about your disagreements only to your supervisor, not to others.  Even if you disagree, don't succumb to the temptation to badmouth your spervisor to others in the organization. The reason is that your sentiments may not be shared by others, especially top management. If they value your superivsor, it's to your interest not be seen as talking behind her back.

Sounds unfair? Business is unfair. You have to go with the flow -- it's not a democracy where everybody has an equal voice.  You have to learn to work within the system, as painful as that can be. Believe it or not, not all supervisor-worker issues are racially motivated. It can be a clash of personalities; it can be misunderstandings. it can just be a case of getting out of bed on the wrong side.  Play it cool, and mark it down to experience. Don't let your resentments blind you to the fact that you've got a job when so many people don't have one. Working just isn't a bed of roses. It's filled with many petty indignities.