Have you ever stepped away from your desk for a quick break, only to wonder what your coworkers think when your status suddenly goes offline? In an era of remote and hybrid work, even a grey status icon can sometimes spark workplace tension.
That was the frustration shared by one employee on Reddit, who accused their supervisor of micromanaging after discovering she had contacted another colleague to check on their whereabouts rather than reaching out directly.
A routine restroom break turns into a workplace dispute
The employee explained in a post on Reddit's r/work forum that they had completed their tasks and put their laptop to sleep before heading to the restroom. According to the worker, the decision was a matter of basic security rather than an attempt to avoid work.
"I finished all my work and put my laptop to sleep before going to the restroom," the employee wrote. "It's basic security—what am I supposed to do, leave my computer wide open so anyone can see confidential work or send messages from my account?"
The worker said putting the laptop to sleep caused their Skype status to turn grey, indicating they were offline or inactive.
Supervisor reportedly contacted another colleague
What upset the employee most was not that their status had been noticed, but how their supervisor responded.
According to the post, the supervisor allegedly contacted another colleague to ask about the employee's whereabouts instead of sending a direct message.
"Instead of just messaging me directly to ask where I am, my supervisor went behind my back and pinged the other colleague to check up on me," the employee wrote.
