'Thanks for nothing...': Part time employee fills in for full time coworker, boss chastises him for going the extra mile instead of thanking him

Author image for Sienna Varady
Sienna Varady
May 1, 2024 9:00 AM EDT

The world of business isn't always enjoyable. In the corporate hierarchy, there are those at the top and those at the bottom. Having said that, even if initiative may wind up being rewarded, some managers would prefer you stay in your lane and focus solely on your designated task.

The following story is from the point of view of a disgruntled part-time worker. The original poster (OP) works part-time for an organization that fulfills orders. At first, everything was going smoothly; OP was satisfied with his job and his managers acknowledged the quality of the work he was producing. However, all changed when a full-time employee called in sick. In such a situation, two things might take place. The first would be to take control of the current situation; the second would be to ask superiors for advice and support. So when he discovered that the supervisors had chastised him for trying to take on a role that was above his pay grade and for his supposed bad judgment, he was taken aback.

Having said that, be sure to read the story below if you're interested in learning the specifics of what transpired! When all is said and done, don't forget to read the story about the employee who confronts a gym goer who refuses to adhere to gym policy!

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  • 01
    "Know your place!"
    via canva
  • 02
    "Do your job temp and let the full timers do theirs."
    via u/Hisako315
  • 03
    I am a temp at my current job but I've got experience doing this kind of work (order fulfillment). Last week one of the full time employees was out sick and couldn't do their job. Management in their brilliance had decided that day to only put temps on one of the two lines and that was the line that the full time employee was supposed to work on. Being one of the temps that had been there the longest, I took initiative and did the full timer's job as well as my
    via u/Hisako315
  • 04
    own. Without making any mistakes that I didn't catch and fix myself. The next day the full timer was back and I figured I would continue to be helpful since they probably weren't feeling well still. I got pulled aside and cursed out by the person I was trying to help and then later chewed out my management. Their exact words were you do what is assigned to you and nothing else. Leave stuff like this to the full time people. Their
    via u/Hisako315
  • 05
    reasoning is I'm a temp so I'm obviously stupid and they don't want me to make mistakes. If something is in the wrong place instead of fixing it I stop what I'm doing until a full timer comes along to fix it. If something goes empty I don't refill it because that's not what I was assigned to. The kicker is I'm finding full timers mistakes and instead of just fixing
    via u/Hisako315
  • 06
    the issue and not letting anyone know they messed up, I'm making a big deal about how I can't do my job because something is incorrect. Every time someone tells me to just fix it I go "I'm just a temp it's not my job".
    via u/Hisako315
  • 07
    Horrifior 3 days ago Looking forward to your update... ③
    via u/Horrifior
  • 08
    ComfortableFarmer · 3 days ago yea "so I don't have a job there any more, management said I was no help" probably.
    via u/ComfortableFarmer
  • 09
    "NTROLLED CHACS Hisako315 OP. 3 days ago Close but the place is closing down and we were hired because all the full timers were quitting. So technically I'm already fired just like everyone else
    via u/Hisako315
  • 10
    SirTristam 3 days ago You shouldn't be going, "I'm a temp it's not my job," but rather, "I've been told not to do that." The first reflects bad upon you and your initiative, that later paints you as somebody who would take the initiative, but can also follow instructions.
    via u/SirTristam
  • 11
    Empty_Ambition_9050 3 days ago LPT: don't say "it's not my job” it's condescending and they may fire you out of spite. Instead "I haven't been authorized to do that".
    via u/Empty_Ambition_9050
  • 12
    krakatoa83 3 days ago Full timer doesn't want competition. You can't be surprised at this.
    via u/krakatoa83
  • 13
    "WTROLLED CHAND Hisako315 OP · 3 days ago • The place is closing down in a few months. Everyone is already fired what's the point of competing with each other?
    via u/Hisako315
  • 14
    Crafty-Material-1680 3 days ago Sounds like a classic "work your wage." Sorry you got mistreated like that.
    via u/Crafty-Material-1680
  • 15
    brillow 3 days ago . At my place I was a temp and when they learned I had more experience they offered me a promotion. I've since leaned that a smart company knows that not using all the skills and potential of their employees is waste.
    via u/brillow
  • 16
    Frogsama86.2 days ago Same thing happened to me awhile ago. Noticed a full time staff f ing up big time, but said nothing. Later on upper management asked if I knew about it, which I said yes. They demanded to know why I didn't say anything, where I slapped then back with their email ordering me to mind my own business.
    via u/Frogsama86
  • 17
    Wwwweeeeeeee · 3 days ago • The next time someone asks you to fix things the full timers scr ed up, say "the other guy says not to do "full timers" work, but I can if you want me to." See what happens....?
    via u/Wwwweeeeeeee
  • 18
    musingofrandomness 3 days ago I can see a possible alternative perspective on this. If you as a temp are doing work that a full-time person is supposed to do, management might take that as an excuse to reduce full-time staff and replace them with temps.
    via u/musingofrandomness
  • 19
    It is something I have seen before with more cutthroat companies with a mixture of union and non-union labor. If the non- union person does the job a union person. usually does and gets paid less, the company will use this as an excuse to lower the wages of the union workers on the next contract negotiation.
    via u/musingofrandomness
  • 20
    Basically, anytime someone agrees to do your job for less pay, they are applying downward pressure on your pay. That said, people should be respectful and explain stuff like this instead of being j ks to others.
    via u/musingofrandomness
  • 21
    aaaaaaaarrrrrgh . 3 days ago I go "I'm just a temp it's not my job". Make sure to make clear that it's not you being lazy: "I've been told by management that I'm only allowed to do what is assigned to me, and to leave stuff like this to full time people. Sorry."
    via u/aaaaaaaarrrrrgh
  • 22
    Elthrowaway2112 2 days ago "That is above my pay grade" is one of my favorites.
    via u/Elthrowaway2112
  • 23
    CapnMyrdok 3 days ago Curious if the full-timers are in a union...
    via u/CapnMyrdok
  • 24
    "NTROLLED CHA Hisako315 OP · 3 days ago No union. We're all hourly employees and we all make the same wage.
    via u/Hisako315
  • 25
    Maleficent-Leek2943 2 days ago Initiative? How DARE you.
    via u/Maleficent-Leek2943
  • 26
    Cfwydirk 3 days ago • They have a bad attitude. They just wanted to give you one too!
    via u/Cfwydirk
  • 27
    samu_rai 2 days ago They are right though. Maybe they didn't use the best words to say it, but they are right that you should stick to your role. Liability, accountability are all theirs.
    via u/samu_rai

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corporate workplace-stories work stories malicious compliance tales-from-the-workplace coworkers reddit story horrible-management overworked-employees workplace Horrible Bosses Reddit
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