Supervisor Demands Employee Use Lint Roller Before Meeting

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mattstaff
Nov 19, 2021 8:00 AM EST

It sounds like this supervisor had their hands full when it came to trying to enforce some kind of universal standard for how employees should present themselves at virtual meetings. These are strange and tumultuous times, no doubt. And some folks are certainly having a harder time muddling through this time than others. With that being said, it sounds like Annie might've pushed the boundaries a bit too far, in terms of what the company expected from her. But you be the judge on whether or not this supervisor was ultimately in the wrong. 

This thread was posted to Reddit's r/AmITheA**hole subreddit by u/toebeansandrices, who was the supervisor in this cringe workplace story. It's always fascinating to see the online discourse with regard to how employees should behave at work. Sure, if the work is done well, nothing else should matter, but I suppose some semblance of professionalism does still matter to plenty of folks. Keep scrolling below for the full story!

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  • 01
    AITA for handing an employee a lint roller and telling her to use it before heading into a meeting? Not the I supervise 15 employees. Annie got too comfortable WFH. We gave a wide berth for everyone to try to cope, but Annie took a mile. She'd attend meetings in her unmade bed with bed head, let her dogs bark & insist she couldn't put them in another room, etc. We let it slide because this was an adjustment for all, but did remind her that despite us being on Zoom, we needed to still act and try
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 02
    Font - After coming back, it got worse. We don't expect everyone to be runway ready, but she'll wear hoodies that have obviously been worn for days, leggings, ratty shoes, hair in a very messy bun, old makeup, etc. Annie came in with a black fleece absolutely covered in dog hair. I pulled her aside, asked if she had a change of clothes for our 11AM meeting. She said no. I asked "Then do you have a lint roller?" She again said no and looked down and asked what was wrong with what she was wearing.
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 03
    Font - I tried my best to be gentle, saying she had to either change or take off the jacket. 11 comes around, I'm greeting clients, she comes in, still covered in nasty dog hair. I pulled her out of the room saying we forgot her USB, went to my office and handed her a lint brush. I told her to get as much of the dog hair off her jacket as she could, and we'd have a talk later.
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 04
    Annie stomped off instead and said she was using her sick time for the rest of the day. I handled the meeting. She threw a fit all over social media about her Oppressive Employer who just doesn't understand what or anxiety are, how hard she worked just to get out of bed, etc. She said I shamed her publicly, made her feel lower than low, all because she was experiencing separation anxiety from her dogs while she was at work and was struggling with dealing with everything. I have an outdated idea
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 05
    Font - I know we're facing "a new normal" kind of situation where things are rapidly changing. We are not the kind of business where everything can be done remotely forever, and I don't think that it's a stretch to request lint roller before a meeting. But someone use a that's why I'm here. AITA? Edited to add: Thanks for the feedback, everyone. A few notes as they have come up in comments: I don't follow her on social media, others do, and I had another employee show me her breakdown because sh
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 06
    Finally, I did not post this so people could gatekeep how presents in people. Please stop telling me are "really" like because it what people with comes in many shapes and forms. ↑ 6.6k 938 ↑ Share
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 07
    Font - delli_e • 1d · Partassipant [1] 4 Awards NTA. Annie is unprofessional on so many different levels. If she's truly at the point where she's so depressed she can't follow dress code, she needs to talk to someone about a leave of absence and get her mental health in check. G Reply 1 11.4k 3 + ...
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 08
    Skinnybet. 1d NTA I suffer from and anxiety. It's certainly no excuse for her behaviour. And posting stuff on social media instead of having a adult discussion about things is a huge red flag imo. Reply 1.5k
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 09
    Font - swiggs313 · 1d NTA. I'd write her up, not necessarily for the wardrobe stuff-she can consider that instance as her first verbal warning and will be written up in the future-but the social media behavior. That is unacceptable, and depending on the company's policy, possibly a reason for immediate termination.
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 10
    Organism - Interstellar_Nebula • 1d NTA - it doesn't take much for an employee to be presentable and i dont think its asking much for an employee to not be covered in dog hair at a client meeting. Work has dress codes that are agreed to and adhered to by all other staff, why should she be treated any different? G Reply 1 436 3 ...
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 11
    Cloudly_Cane. 1d NTA. "Giving her dogs extra cuddles." Is not a excuse to not show up ready, she sounds like a child stomping off for something so simple. I act like a child sometimes but even I wouldn't be all offensive, as that's just what's best. Sure I'd be kinda embarrassed but I still use the roller. Reply 349
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 12
    Virulencer. 1d. Commander in Cheeks [266] NTA. Unless you were aware of her mental health issues prior to this incident, how were you supposed to know she was having issues dealing with and anxiety? It isn't unreasonable to ask your employees to dress appropriately. It's not like you were asking her to come in a full business suit, you just wanted her to not be covered in dog fur. Reply 340
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 13
    Font - I am a direct supervisor of an Annie. It's exhausting, I am sympathetic to her mental health needs. There is this little evil part of me wonders if she's milking it when her request get demanding like keeping her cat as a emotional support in the office. We couldn't because of my allergies. She sulked for months. Like basic hygiene isn't a big ask. Nta 6 Reply 213 ...
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 14
    Font - Stoat_King • 1d · Colo-rectal Surgeon [41] NTA. Like Annie, I prefer a style that I call 'Derelicte'. But in front of clients? No. You could have dealt with it another way and tried impressing your clients by explaining that you only employ former bag-ladies. Because you like to give something back. Or something. Tbh I havent really thought this through lol G Reply 217 ...
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 15
    Font - RB1327 • 1d NTA. She'd already have been fired at a lot of places. G Reply 39
    via u/toebeansandrices
  • 16
    Product - Traditional_Artist_3 • 1d • Partassipant [1] NTA she shouldn't be working if she's being all her problems to work that's just unprofessional I would fire her. Also if this is the new normal then thats sad G Reply 43 ...
    via u/toebeansandrices

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