Employee closes up shop after coworker doesn't show up, gets reprimanded by HR for not covering their shift: 'Trying to suppress laughter at the idea I might work an unplanned double-shift'

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  • 01
    got reprimanded for not picking up an unexpected shift at the last minute
  • 02
    Hey i dont really post here but i thought you guys might find this funny/depressing and i want to vent a little before bed. I was at work today and I got called into a 40 minute HR meeting because I didn't take a shift that a co- worker didn't show up for.
  • 03
    I was at work 2 Saturdays ago and at the end of a 6-hour shift my coworker who was meant to come relieve me didn't show up. Nobody's really around on weekends, I won't say where I work but I'm the only one in the department and if it isn't staffed by somebody with my level of qualifications the whole
  • 04
    department legally needs to be shut down for the day. Shutting down is an expensive procedure as it loses us a lot of business and results in a lot of complaints from the public, so obviously management doesn't like when we close for any reason.
  • 05
    Anyways, the guy who was scheduled to come in just didn't show. Me and the only other person working in the building that day both tried to contact him via phone but he wasn't picking up. Couldn't contact my manager because she was on vacation, and the interim manager didn't pick up the phone or respond to
  • 06
    texts. I waited 40 minutes for a response from anyone but did not get one, so I cleared the department and closed up. Then I sent another text to the interim manager telling her I closed up because this guy didn't show up. 2 hours later I get the "Ok" text from my manager. They didn't bring the issue up all week even
  • 07
    though I was around and the actual manager was back from vacation. But today I got called into HR in an emergency meeting so they could inquire about the issue.
  • 08
    At first I didn't even realize they were implying that I had done something wrong, I figured the meeting was just to confirm that this person didn't show up for their shift and they had to get some sort of official statement from me for whatever reason.
  • 09
    First they asked "Why didn't you take X's shift" to which I replied "I had to get home", to which they answered "Why?" which was the point where I just kinda sat and stared for like 30 seconds because I was so confused. Eventually I snapped out of it and asked why it mattered since it wasn't my shift and they
  • 10
    immediately retorted with "Once X didn't show up the shift became your responsibility, I'm just wondering why you chose to close the building rather than stay and pick up the shift." Again, leaving me speechless.
  • 11
    The tone of the meeting at this point was getting aggressive to the point where I knew I was somehow the one getting in trouble for this. I considered lying about some appointment or something but in the end I just gave the honest answer "Yeah I was just tired and wanted to go home, it's not my responsibility
  • 12
    to work shifts that aren't assigned to me, I need to be given notice." They rattled off a few things, at this point they sounded almost like they were reading from a pre-written script. I distinctly remember them saying "You know we would have paid you for the shift, right?" and trying to suppress laughter at the
  • 13
    idea that I might work an unscheduled double-shift for no pay. Another gem was "We have an expectation that employees take initiative in situations like these and we didn't see that in you that day."
  • 14
    Honestly I just sat there and took it, I'm stunned and a little confused. Mostly now I just find it funny if not a little frustrating. They made me sign some official reprimand and put it in my file. I'd understand if I was like responsible for a nuclear power plant and my leaving caused a city-wide blackout or something
  • 15
    but literally all that happened is the business lost a little money and some people didn't get to buy stuff from us. This is a part- time minimum wage job I'm not going to pick up an unplanned double shift with no overtime pay, am I unreasonable in thinking these people are insane for just expecting that?
  • 16
    XAIEA-12.9 hr. ago What a joke. "Take initiative" means they want a sucker who will do whatever they say
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    • Hoppes 6 hr. ago They reached out to two separate managers. Neither responded. They technically weren't authorized to stay clocked in without management permission unless it had been previously stated they could just state if they wanted.
  • 18
    empreur 9 hr. ago I personally would not have signed the reprimand note. I agree with your call to shut it down and go home. It was not your responsibility to pick up the shift - unless that's documented somewhere, which I seriously doubt.
  • 19
    Chilio95 9 hr. ago • Naw them. Your shift was over so you went home. Nobody else would think "Oh the next person didn't show up so I'll gladly work their shift!" that, I'd go home too. If the manager has a problem with it, the next time that happens. Call them and tell them to come in and work that next shift.
  • 20
    SUNDER137 · 8 hr. ago They want to hold someone responsible. Except the actual person who is responsible. You are a sacrificial lamb, a scapegoat if you will. They give zero about you and do not respect your time.
  • 21
    patricknotpatrick • 8 hr. ago Did the interim manager explain why they didn't do their job instead of ignoring you?
  • 22
    Habbersett-Scrapple. 6 hr. ago "My shift was over and I needed to get home..." "Why?" "Because yo momma got dinner waiting for me...."

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