Boss refuses to promote Gen Z employee after catching her reprimanding new hire on her second day and clapping after every word: 'That is not the person I want supervising a team of 20'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Nov 6, 2024 6:00 PM EST

Many of those in the working world will experience strained relationships with colleagues now and then. When you're in a stressful environment alongside people you would never choose to hang out with, things can easily go wrong when you're trying to keep it together with them.. However, even if you are secretly your co-worker's biggest hater it is rarely appropriate to be disrespectful to somebody you work with. No matter where they sit in the professional pecking order, it could come back to bite you.

This is exactly what one warehouse worker learned the hard way after she was caught berating a more inexperienced colleague while clapping after every word. Her supervisor decided that this meant she was no longer eligible for the promotion that she applied for. The woman lodged a complaint against her boss, but the internet seemed to think she had got what she deserved. A little basic kindness can go a long way.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10424845056
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    AITA for not giving a woman a promotion at work because I saw her clap after every word when telling someone how to do something?
    via Ukcheatingwife
  • 03
    At my company we've recently had a position come up for for a supervisor in our warehouse. I wanted to promote from within so put a notice up then anyone is welcome to apply and I'll consider everyone. It's an extra £5 an hour so I had a lot of people apply.
    via Ukcheatingwife
  • 04
    I've also been recruiting in the warehouse as it's got busy and took on another 10 members of staff. I always try and pay £5 an hour above market average to make sure I get better applicants but it also means I get a of a lot of applicants. Hiring these ten people meant sifting through over 1000 applicants. Eventually I got the ten I wanted and i want to keep them as they are great. One of the new starters is quite a timid woman in her early 20s. On her second day she asked one of the other wome
    via Ukcheatingwife
  • 05
    I told Heather I wanted to see her in my office straight away. I was honest with her and said that out of all the applicants for the supervisor role she was in my top three I was considering but I will now not be considering her at all. She asked why and I told her. I said after what I just saw i believe she will be the type who would let and sort of power and authority get to her head and treat people cruelly. I said she was just asked a simple question by a new starter and she proceeded to emb
    via Ukcheatingwife
  • 06
    She was so angry and has since lodged a complaint saying it's unfair she's no longer being considered for the job and she feels she's being victimised for the way she communicates. I don't think im an a_h_le for not giving her the job but am I the a_h_le for telling her why she's not getting it now rather than just dealing with the applications and telling her afterwards she's not been successful? I suppose it can be seen as a bit petty of me.
    via Ukcheatingwife
  • 07
    TLDR: saw a worker of mine being cruel to a new starter for no reason and told her that's why she isn't getting promoted. Aita?
    via Ukcheatingwife
  • 08
    Cybermagetx Nta. She would cause people to leave. Shes not leadership material. At all.
    via Cybermagetx
  • 09
    Serious_Blueberry_38 Even in her current role she could cause people to leave. If I were a new hire I'd be so hurt by that kind of treatment.
    via Serious_Blueberry_38
  • 10
    Cybermagetx I agree. And ive worked warehouses and sometimes they can be confusion on where items go.
    via Cybermagetx
  • 11
    ExecManagerAntifaCLE And if there's confusion you WANT people to ask, not just guess.
    via ExecManagerAntifaCLE
  • 12
    Cybermagetx Yeah. I was inventory control. New hires screws up inventory badly when they dont ask. So does lazy co workers.
    via Cybermagetx
  • 13
    Ukcheatingwife OP That's my thoughts. If that's how she talks to people on her "level" what is a bit of authority going to do to her? I want a good happy workforce and she will make people leave.
    via Ukcheatingwife
  • 14
    whiteOzzzy NTA - temperaments like that are cancer to an organization, especially at senior levels. Management is a physical embodiment of the company culture that will be perpetuated. If you wouldn't like her to be your manager and that's not the culture you're trying to build, the choice is self-evident.
    via whiteOzzzy
  • 15
    naeviie NTA - It wasn't petty, it was direct. Her inability to communicate in a professional and respectful manner is the exact reason she's being passed up, and if she has any brains at all she'll take that to heart. Imagine complaining that you're not getting a promotion because you're incapable of not being an a hole to your coworkers Imfao, hopefully she'll get laughed out of any HR meeting
    via naeviie__
  • 16
    Majestic-Fig4784 I'd also argue she should be discriminated against for the way she communicates. She communicates like a monster.
    via Majestic-Fig4784
  • 17
    Proper Fun_977 ΝΤΑ Unfortunately, you gave good clear feedback and now the employee is making a complaint. It might be worth mentioning during this complaint that what she did could be considered by lying.
    via Proper_Fun_977
  • 18
    Ukcheatingwife OP I'm the owner so the only person the complaint will come back to eventually is me or if she wants to take it outside of work and to court I'll see her there.
    via Ukcheatingwife
  • 19
    PrideofCapetown NTA There is a yuuuuuuuge difference between "communicating" and "creating a toxic work environment" Sounds like ol' Heather hasn't figured that out yet
    via PrideofCapetown
  • 20
    Exotic_Ideal_8255 NTA - HR would tell you that you should never tell a candidate why they aren't getting a job, but if you don't they'll never have the opportunity to improve. You did the right thing. That's not a "communication style" that's behavior.
    via Exotic_Ideal_8255
  • 21
    Ukcheatingwife OP I'll be honest the sort of person I am I'd like to be told if I'm doing something wrong so I carry that forward. I'm a woman in engineering who now owns my own company manufacturing tools, parts and equipment, I've been spoken down to many times and I won't stand for it.
    via Ukcheatingwife
  • 22
    DankyMcJangles Note to self, next time have a write up and someone from HR present when having that type of conversation. On top of your valid concerns, she further validated your perspective by not accepting valid criticism and instead going on the attack toward you. That's someone who doesn't deserve their job, let alone a promotion. NTA, whatsoever
    via DankyMcJangles
  • 23
    Queasy-Trash8292 NTA. You're great. Thank you for protecting your employees like that. You didn't do anything wrong except for the timing of your delivery. You could have waited to make the supervisor announcement and talked up the qualities you promoted the person for (positive coaching, employee development, kindness, empathy, etc). Then when Heather asked why she wasn't chosen, you could again highlight those qualities, ask her how she thinks she does on those, gather feedback from other empl
    via Queasy-Trash8292
  • 24
    Ukcheatingwife OP I probably should have waited but I wanted the new employee to know I'd seen it and won't tolerate it which is why I said I wanted to talk to her straight away and then it started off as me saying I don't ever want to see her talk to people like that again and she gave some smirky apology so I thought "right I'll put you in your place and tell you what your actions have cost you". Yes I've spoken to the new starter and told her that's not how we talk to each other here and if a
    via Ukcheatingwife
  • 25
    GuKoBoat I think this is a great way to handle it. An action has an immediate consequence. That seems to be much better, than telling her in two weeks "remember what you did back then? That cost you a promotion". Just to make it clear: she lost the promotion, because she does not have the skills to be promoted in a more managerial role. It is not only a punishment, but mainly a skill based decision, to ensure a well managed workplace.
    via GuKoBoat
  • 26
    Shake_Yo_Azz NTA. Professional verbal communication ability is vital to being a good leader. Her complaint just shines a light on her poor communication and leadership style. People don't leave jobs. They leave managers. Hire her and you'll be back to screening 1000s of apps to replace all the staff who will quit. Shes just mad she got caught out.
    via Shake_Yo_Azz
  • 27
    emmetdontpullout nta. if im day 2 on a new job and a manager talks to me like that, im gone.
    via emmetdontpullout
  • 28
    Rye_One_ YTA because you didn't clap with every word as you explained to her that you weren't going to promote her :-)
    via Rye_One_

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