Worker reprimanded when their coworker who was supposed to cover their shift no-shows: 'I got in trouble for it'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Apr 23, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

In jobs and industries that operate off of shift work "The Schedule" is hailed by management as an ancient relic of extreme importance—and not as if it's a document they threw together at the end of last week, days after it was supposed to be posted. 

No, there wasn't a lot of thought or effort that went into drafting that schedule, but there sure as heck is a lot of thought and effort put in to make sure you and your coworkers keep to it… Since making this schedule is part of the manager's job, you'd probably expect that it would also be their job to find coverage for it when workers can't make a shift or call out sick. Yet, somehow, nearly every shift manager sees fit to force the workers themselves to call around and find coverage.

As a rule of thumb, once you've traded a shift with another worker, or they've agreed to otherwise cover that shift, that shift is no longer yours and no longer your responsibility. Still, there will inevitably be some murky situations where the coworker who was supposed to cover the shift forgets about it and claims that it was not, in fact, their responsibility, leaving a disgruntled manager who displaces their wrath onto the original shift owner.

That's basically what's happening in this thread, which was originally posted to a popular online workplace community. This young worker traded their shift with a coworker who no-showed to the shift, landing them in hot water with their manager.

Advertisement
  • 01
    "Person who agreed to switch shifts with me was a no show and I got in trouble for it."
    via Chris Liverani
  • 02

    "Person who agreed to switch shifts with me was a no show and I got in trouble for it."

    I posted here a few days ago about my manager scheduling me on a day I couldn't work and how she told me it was my responsibility to figure it out. Anyway, I found someone who was willing to switch shifts with me. I told the manager the night before that we had switched shifts and she didn't respond. As soon as I walked into my workplace today my manager asked me "I though you and so and so were supposed to switch shifts."
    via u/Silver-Jello-7410
  • 03
    Apparently the person didn't show up and I was the one who got in trouble because the person claimed that I never responded to their message, but they never messaged me, I have proof of that too. The manager ratted on me the entire time and not on the person that agreed to switch shifts with me. I think I got write up as well. Should/can I do anything about it? I'm a high school student if that means anything, thanks Reddit!
    via u/Silver-Jello-7410
  • 04
    Material-Crab-633 20 hr. ago • Honestly you are in high school, who cares? What can they do to you? You could find another job tomorrow - live your life while you're still young 659 Reply Share . . . tinaxbelcher 9 hr. ago . It's going on their permanent record! 93 Reply Share • • •
    via u/Silver-Jello-7410
  • 05
    Lieutenant_Horn 21 hr. ago Manager got mad at you because you didn't do THEIR job. You've got a lazy, manager. Be thankful it's not a permanent job for you. 351 Reply Share
    via u/Silver-Jello-7410
  • 06
    • rythmicjea 16 hr. ago If you tell your manager ahead of time that your availability changed (ie you couldn't work a day you normally could) it's up to them to cover that shift, not you. When you got the schedule, you did what you were supposed to and reminded them about your availability change. When they said it was "your job" you politely decline saying that you already gave your notice and schedule changes are the purview of the manager to fix not the employee.
    via u/Silver-Jello-7410
  • 07
    If your manager makes a fuss, escalate to their manager. Don't be afraid to go up the chain. 34 Reply Share
    via u/Silver-Jello-7410
  • 08
    Ok_Shower4617 - 18 hr. ago Who turned up for the shift that you swapped with? Did you both turn up or did the other person "no show" to that as well? 10 Reply Share Silver-Jello-7410 OP 10 hr. ago • We both turned up on the other person's shift. ↑ 5 Reply Share
    via u/Silver-Jello-7410
  • 09
    doomscrolling420 · 16 hr. ago Nah why do so many managers get away with not managing, it's your freaking job to MANAGE employees, rotas etc. 11 Reply Share
    via u/Silver-Jello-7410
  • 10
    KristenGibson01 20 hr. ago Do you have texts, or anything else proving you switched? That's so wrong of the other person. 13 Reply Share Silver-Jello-7410 OP 10 hr. ago I have texts ☆ 3 Reply Share
    via u/Silver-Jello-7410

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employment-discussion job work workplace Horrible Bosses employment in the workplace
Scroll Down For The Next Article