I’m 21F, work part-time, and also go to school. At my job, my manager constantly pressures me to cover extra shifts whenever someone calls out. At first I agreed a couple of times because I didn’t want to look lazy or unhelpful, but now it feels like I’ve become the “go-to backup” for the entire store.
Last week I said no because I had an important exam, and my manager told me I was “letting the team down” and that real team players sacrifice when needed. The thing is, I’m already working way more hours than I signed up for, and I see other coworkers refusing all the time without consequences.
Some of my coworkers have started giving me side comments about not caring about the team. I honestly don’t mind helping once in a while, but I can’t be on-call 24/7 when I’m also trying to finish school
So, AITA for refusing to keep covering extra shifts, even if it makes me look selfish?
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I’m 21F, work part-time, and also go to school. At my job, my manager constantly pressures me to cover extra shifts whenever someone calls out. At first I agreed a couple of times because I didn’t want to look lazy or unhelpful, but now it feels like I’ve become the “go-to backup” for the entire store.
Last week I said no because I had an important exam, and my manager told me I was “letting the team down” and that real team players sacrifice when needed. The thing is, I’m already working way more hours than I signed up for, and I see other coworkers refusing all the time without consequences.
Some of my coworkers have started giving me side comments about not caring about the team. I honestly don’t mind helping once in a while, but I can’t be on-call 24/7 when I’m also trying to finish school
So, AITA for refusing to keep covering extra shifts, even if it makes me look selfish?
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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> I might be the asshole because I refused to cover shifts when my manager and coworkers expected me to, and it could make me look selfish or unwilling to help the team.
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Contest mode is 1.5 hours long on this post.
NTA you’re only required to cover the shifts that you are assigned. You have every right to say no when you have to deal with school or anything. They are not entitled to your time unless it’s on your schedule.
I would document everything he/she is saying to you because you might be able to if it gets really bad to report him/her boss for workplace harassment
> Some of my coworkers have started giving me side comments about not caring about the team.
And what is their response when you say “Well how about you do it then?”
NTA. You know you aren’t though, this seems like you just want comments to validate you. Or else it’s a fake story
Obviously you’re not the asshole for not working extra shifts, you are scheduled your own days and that’s all you have to do, anything else is a bonus
NTA
Obviously. You only need to work the hours you are contracted to work. Staffing is your manager’s problem to solve, not your responsibility.
NTA, that exam is probably way more important than “letting the team down.”
NTA. Tell your co-workers that if they’re not stepping up too, then mind their own business.
Is ANYONE ON THE TEAM pointing out that the people who are calling off their ASSIGNED SHIFTS are the ones who are letting the “team” down? That’s where the manager needs to be focused, not on the the workers who don’t want extra shifts!!!
NTA Answer one question, when has “the team” had your back? My guess, never. “The team” is a joke because if they were team players they’d have everyone’s back and not try to dump their shifts on the part-timer.
Food for you for standing up for yourself. People will use you as a doormat only to the extent you allow them to do so.
You’re being hustled. The reason your manager and other coworkers are giving you a hard time is because they don’t want to take the shift and they want to guilt or intimidate you into letting them stomp all over your boundaries. Your number one priority is getting an education and a degree so you can have a successful future. Don’t let these people steal your future by making you take shifts that negatively impact your studies – or your private life.
NTA and frankly y nd a better employer.
Your manager is allowing a bullying culture and is in fact bullying you.
NTA, fuck them. You’re in school and if they need more help they should hire more people
this wont be your last job, its just your current one. Always pick school over work. Once you graduate and move on, theyll still be at that job. good luck!! NTA.
NTA. Say “I’m sure the team wouldn’t want to overwork me to the point I fail school, right?”
NTA. This is why there is a manager. They need to manage covering shifts including hiring enough people or having backups and removing people who call out too often or at the last minute (or both). If none of that works, then I guess they need better incentives. This is not your problem. Your response to everyone – “I’m sorry you feel that way”. That’s it. Don’t try to explain and don’t act like you did anything wrong when you didn’t. The less words the better.
Anyone who treats employees like that doesn’t deserve to have employees.
NTA
NTA, your education comes before your McJob.
This was me 20 years ago. It took me a long time to learn today no. I would end up working 16 plus hour shifts. (A few times it was a good 30 hour shift, I don’t recommend unorganized hotel jobs). Fact of the matter is the people who call out or don’t come in for shifts are the ones letting the team down not you. So please don’t think that you are. I would honestly tell your manager that you will take extra shifts as long as you are able to, when you were hired it was for a part time position, as that fits your availability. That you can’t be the guaranteed backup person.
Definitely NTA.
School is more important nothing is worth sacrificing that by nothing I mean these extra shifts at work. Say you cannot cover it when you have other priorities and don’t feel an ounce of guilt over it. Just learn to say no. And walk away. Don’t internalize this. Your co workers could give a flying f when they call out!
NTA, hes using you as a scape goat. Speak up for youself, the manager should be taking those shifts if he praises being a team player.
NTA. Unfortunately this is a ubiquitous part of shift work culture, where lean staffing is a thing and there is never any slack built in.
Being a team player is important — but in this context that means doing your share of the work when you’re on-shift, jumping in to help teammates who need an assist when you can, being as reliable as possible about making it to work when you’re scheduled, and being as proactive and transparent as possible about your unavailability if something comes up where you need to call in. It’s fine to pick up shifts or cover for people if it fits your life outside of work, or just to be nice, occasionally. But absolutely hold that line to your employer that you have not agreed to be the on-call floater and you are only obliged to work the shifts/hours that you have agreed to.
Your managed is an AH for using guilt-trip tactics on you and for allowing your coworkers to hassle you about this as well. Good managers look out for their team and stand as a buffer for them when necessary to pushback against corporate staffing expectations.
They are taking an advantage of your kindness. Nta. The manager is just annoyed that they have to find another solution to their problem. Just dont care.
NTA
NTA the manager is made they will have to cover as they are salary. Stick to you schedule as school is to important
NTA at all. Employers pull that “team player” and “we’re a family” BS all the time when it benefits them, but most will rarely be a team player or family when you need something.
I’d start looking for another PT job somewhere else since your toxic work environment isn’t worth it.
They (managers and cow-orkers) are using emotional manipulation on you because in the past you’ve been responsive to it. As soon as someone in a business context starts talking about “team,” or worse, “family,” they are full of … you know. 😁
When the boss calls, “I am unable to cover any extra shifts at this time, but I will be in for my next regularly scheduled shift on Wednesday at 3 pm.” When the cow-orkers whine at you, “I understand that my not being able to cover a shirt might inconvenience you, but I need to prioritize my studies.”
Notice what I didn’t do? I didn’t apologize. And neither should you.
NTA
NTA. The only one letting the team down is the manager/compagny that didnt hire enough redundancy to run the compagny without needing massive overtime
You’re in school, that should be your priority and overtime always voluntary.
NTA.
Your team isn’t this job; it’s your professors and classmates.
NTA your education is far more important than a part time job.
Now is a good time to practice shutting down unreasonable managers. Because they never go away! “Sorry, I have schoolwork that needs to get done.” Repeat as necessary.
please dont fall for that tired ass teamwork speech anymore. your availability is paramount to your work life balance and in your case school. your manager using your willingness to cover shifts to cover their ass and save on labor screwing you in the process. focus on your school and get the hell out of that job fast. NtA
Stop answering calls/texts when you’re off the clock. When asked say “no, I can’t that day” and do not give a reason. Your personal time is not your manager’s business. He knew what your availablity was when you were hired. If hes going to threaten your job for this(and please know that this is a veiled threat), you should start applying elsewhere because I guarantee this isn’t going to stop with the demands that you come in.
I highly recommend keeping an eye on your actual worked hours and how many are applied to your check. A boss that threatens this will have other shady shit going on. On your way out, make sure your coworkers know that the manager has started issuing veiled threats for those unwilling to come in on their time off.
Your manager is a lazy AH who would rather browbeat you than do his job and confront those calling out. Welcome to the world of American management.
NTA. If he keeps insisting on you providing coverage, time to have a conversation with HR and/or his manager.
NTA
In order to be a team player, the team has to have your back in return. Otherwise you are just a servant.
NTA OP needs some good words for pushing back on the idea that they are a team and it requires sacrifice.
To me it’s a workplace, not a team. They are employees and not required to sacrifice because the manager did a bad job at staffing and scheduling. If they’re constantly having a shortage of employees, they don’t have enough employees. What’s a succinct way of saying that?
NTA who cares about the comments, school has to come first. Are the coworkers saying no to more shifts without push back full time? for the most part, are your coworkers also in school, already graduated, or didn’t go to college? most that haven’t been don’t understand the time commitment above actual class time.
NTA.
“You were given my availability, please schedule according to my availability.”
“Manager has my availability, I am unable to cover outside of my availability.”
Rinse and repeat
“I am available on these days, during these hours.” If that is a problem, it is a problem.
NTA.
Push back and be firm. It’s petty hospitality bullshit power games being played on you.
Tell your manager it’s called “work-life balance” and you need more of it. NTA.
NTA. You must be the studious one! Tell your manager to let the other employees smoke pot and play video games at work. THEN they’ll all be bugging you to take your shifts, not give you more.
That assumes your coworkers are students too I guess. 🤪
NTA, school comes first and any member of the team should be stepping up, including the manager. Almost feels like they want to hold you down so you don’t get ahead of them
NTA. Being short staffed is a management failure, not yours.
The people that keep calling out are ones that aren’t a “team player”
NTA whatsoever. It’s solely your manager’s responsibility to find coverage whenever someone calls out sick or whatever. Don’t let them guilt trip you into doing things you don’t want to do. Politely refuse and then stay firm
NTA at all. Tell your manager to eat a bag of dicks. The only one not being a team player is him by not scheduling enough people to get the work done if someone calls out.
It’s your MANAGERS job to find someone to cover a shift. You are not obligated to take/cover a shift because someone called off.
If a manager can not find someone to cover for the person who called off, then the MANAGER has to cover for that person. That’s literally part of their position.
If they want to keep putting pressure on you, tell them you’ll be putting in your 2 weeks as soon as you find another job.
NTA – Actually, just start looking for a new job, let your 2 weeks be a surprise.
NTA
Stop answering and/or replying to any calls or messages when you aren’t willing to cover a shift. So, if you get a message at a day/time when you’re available and willing to work, answer and accept the shift. If you get contacted when you have class, need to sleep or study, then just don’t answer the calls and don’t reply to messages.
Nta. You’re being manipulated so they can dump extra work on you. No one cares about you except you at work. Stop sacrificing your wellbeing for the “team” because the won’t reciprocate.
NTA
It’s his team; if there is a staffing shortage, it’s his fault.
And his responsibility to remedy.
You are doing your co-workers a favor by not covering the extra shifts. If everyone does this, it will force the manager to add to the staff.