There are no time off “requests,” only time off notices. You have a life, and you should never have to request to live it.
If your employer asks you for assistance when you're on break, go clock back in first. Free labor is not an option.
An employer is not your boss; they are the person you have a metaphorical contract with and nothing more. You work for them, and they pay you for it. They have no reign over you or your life, and vice versa.
Life is short, and so is our tolerance for bullshit. Stand up for yourselves and hold your heads high. Unionized, we are strong. Never settle for less.