Overworked employee requests coworkers take on some of her workload, they refuse, leading her to take a month-long sick leave instead: ‘Now her tasks are being reassigned to us’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Dec 25, 2024 7:00 AM EST

When working with a team, there is a delicate balance between doing your individual work and fulfilling your part as a teammate. We all want the team to be successful and a good fit for everyone, while still putting ourselves first, which is not an easy challenge.

If a coworker approached you today and asked you to help them with some of their tasks, would you have agreed, even though that is not your responsibility? 

The reality is, that both answers to this question are completely valid. If you feel like you are up to helping your coworker, and it won't affect the performance of your own tasks, it is highly appreciated if you say yes. It might also benefit you in the future if you ever need a hand yourself. But even if you feel like taking on more work is not something you are capable of, saying no is also completely fine. After all, it is not your responsibility to make sure your coworker is completing their tasks, that is where your manager should step up.

The situation in this Reddit story is the perfect example of just how complicated it can get when a coworker asks others for help, so keep scrolling to read the full tale.

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  • 01
    "It wasn't fair to dump her work on me"
    via Yan Krukau

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

  • 02
    AITAH: My Coworker Went on Sick Leave for 4 Weeks After I Refused to Do a Task She Assigned Me
    via Keepitlocal90

  • An overworked employee asked a coworker for help with completing some of her assignments, and the coworker, who was already busy with their own work, decided to refuse that request. This spiraled into a series of unfortunate events that possibly made the coworker regret not helping that employee when they asked. But is it really their fault? Keep reading to determine that yourself.

  • 03
    About a month ago, lets call her "Lisa" asked me to handle a task that, frankly, was outside my job description and directly part of her responsibilities. It wasn't a huge task, but it was
    via Keepitlocal90
  • 04
    time-consuming and with my, and I already had a packed schedule. Plus, it seemed unfair that she was trying to offload her work onto me especially since I don't get paid more for
    via Keepitlocal90
  • 05
    doing others work and with rising costs I have more on my plate. I politely but firmly told her, "Sorry, I can't take this on right now. Maybe we can talk to the
    via Keepitlocal90
  • 06
    manager about redistributing tasks if you're overwhelmed?" She just nodded, said, "Okay," and walked away. The next day, Lisa didn't come to work. I didn't think much of it at first, but then she called in
    via Keepitlocal90
  • 07
    sick for the rest of the week. Fast forward, and now it's been four weeks of her being on sick leave. I heard through the office grapevine that she told HR she's dealing with stress and a ety because of
    via Keepitlocal90
  • 08
    "workplace tension and the rise in the cost of living here in South Africa". This is where I start feeling guilty. Did my refusal to do the task trigger something for her? I genuinely didn't mean to
    via Keepitlocal90
  • 09
    upset her, I just didn't think it was fair to dump her work on me. But now I'm wondering if I misread the situation. Maybe she was struggling more than I realized, and my response pushed her over the edge?
    via Keepitlocal90
  • 10
    Now, the workload is heavier for everyone because Lisa's tasks are being reassigned to the rest of us. Some coworkers have started making comments like, "Well, if someone had just helped Lisa out, maybe she
    via Keepitlocal90
  • 11
    wouldn't be gone for so long." I know they're not directly blaming me, but it still stings. Am I the a hole by feeling this way? Should I have just done
    via Keepitlocal90
  • 12
    the task to avoid this whole situation? Or is this something Lisa needs to take accountability for?
    via Keepitlocal90
  • 13
    _I_like_big_mutts • 2d ago • Lisa should have discussed this with management. You are not at fault.
    via _I_like_big_mutts
  • 14
    queengirrl 2d ago • You're definitely not the ah le. You had your own workload, and it wasn't fair for her to dump her tasks on you. It's not your responsibility to fix
    via queengirrl
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    her issues. If she was struggling, she should've spoken up before letting it get to this point. People need to take accountability for their own stress. Don't feel guilty, you did nothing wrong!
    via queengirrl
  • 16
    rainbowroosy • 20h ago • nah, you're not the a hole. it's not on you to manage her workload or mental health- especially when it's her responsibility. you even suggested a fair solution (talking to the manager), which
    via rainbowroosy
  • 17
    was the right move. if she was struggling, it's on her to communicate that clearly, not to offload work unfairly. sounds like some coworkers just want someone to blame for the extra work, but that's not your burden to carry.
    via rainbowroosy
  • 18
    user_is_suspended • 2d ago Top 5% Commenter Finding coverage is management's responsibility, not employees.
    via user_is_suspended
  • 19
    Specific-Chest-5020 • 2d ago • This has nothing to do with you. Don't try to take accountability for everything happened around you
    via Specific-Chest-5020
  • 20
    10 One Aspect9465 • 2d ago. NTA. Work contracts don't come with a "mind reader" clause. You're not responsible for Lisa's stress if she didn't communicate her struggles clearly. Suggesting a chat with
    via One_Aspect9465
  • 21
    the manager was fair, and honestly, you dodged becoming the office dumping ground. If coworkers are side- eying you, maybe remind them that burnout isn't contagious, but enabling it might be.
    via One_Aspect9465
  • 22
    Pristine-Mastodon-37 • 2d ago Top 5% Commenter I'm a manager and it is 100% the management's job to solve this problem for/with her. You did nothing wrong and suggested the right solution to her. ΝΤΑ
    via Pristine-Mastodon-37
  • 23
    Zieglest 2d ago NAH. She hasn't gone on sick leave because you said you wouldn't do her work. She's gone on sick leave because she's struggling. She tried to avoid this first by asking for help, and you very reasonably refused, but at that point she realised she couldn't cope and went off.
    via Zieglest
  • 24
    JellyfishDull3783 • 2d ago. If they make that comment about someone helping her again. Just say, "yes it is too bad NO-ONE helped her."
    via JellyfishDull3783
  • 25
    • Krazzy4u 2d ago • My work place coddled the laziest vindictive but vocal state worker for 35 years. Supervisors were intimidated and let him by with just occasional talks about behavior. NTA
    via Krazzy4u
  • 26
    Crazy_Life61 2d ago • I'm retired but I would have been in big trouble if I took on extra tasks without the say so from my boss. Your coworker decided not to go through proper channels about getting help and that's totally on her. You followed. proper protocol and did absolutely nothing wrong.
    via Crazy_Life61

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boss aita workplace-stories employee manager job tales-from-the-workplace coworkers teamwork reddit story overworked-employees workplace Reddit company
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