He works 9 hour shifts, but boss scolds him even for washroom breaks. WFH becomes 24/7 surveillance

As work-from-home becomes a permanent reality for many industries, questions about employee monitoring and managerial oversight are growing. While remote setups offer flexibility, they also open the door to excessive supervision. One recent Reddit post highlights how micromanagement in remote work can go to extremes, affecting both productivity and employee wellbeing. The employee, who works nine-hour shifts from home, described being constantly monitored by their manager.

According to the post, “Every time I get offline/away on MS Teams during the 9 hour shift (and sometimes beyond), my manager instantly calls me and asks me where I am. Even if there is a genuine reason like I am in washroom, or having my meal.”

The situation has created awkward and stressful moments for the employee, especially when the manager yells over minor breaks. “Sometimes it's answerable but oftentimes it becomes awkward situation. They sometimes yell for the same which I feel very bad,” the Reddit post added.


Micromanagement vs. Manager Absenteeism

The employee’s experience is not isolated. Other team members reportedly face similar scrutiny. Yet, paradoxically, the manager is often unavailable when the team needs guidance, sometimes being offline for more than four to five hours. This inconsistency has frustrated the employee and highlighted the imbalance in remote management practices.

Several Reddit users weighed in on the post. One commented, “Classic example of micromanagement and abuse of power. I am not sure I know how to tackle this other than exposing them and leaving.” Another suggested, “Only way is giving it back harder… get a screenshot of the 50 missed calls and inform HR that the manager is not available during work hours, but expects us to be in front of the laptop for 9 hours at a stretch.”


Advice and Coping Strategies from the Community

Users shared various strategies to cope with overbearing managers. Some recommended documenting interactions and escalating issues to higher management, while others stressed maintaining boundaries during remote work. A Redditor advised, “Happened with me too and I used to mention that I was away for a quick break. When things got unbearable then I reached out to my skip manager, and it got better after that… The best way to deal with these toxic folks is to not let them scare you.”

Others suggested more direct approaches, including setting calendar blockers or considering a change of job if the environment remained toxic. One user wrote, “Further, these type of manager do not understand privacy thus concrete solution should be to change the job… Maintain strict time, use BRB or AFK status, setup boundaries.”