‘Told to put money in her pockets at the expense of my degree’: Full-time college student asks boss for Saturdays off for school purposes, boss refuses despite student's reliability

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Mar 25, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Being a full-time college student and simultaneously navigating a demanding job isn't easy work. When you are juggling two roles that are so vastly different from one another, it's difficult to find the moments in between to get what you need to do, done, let alone check in with yourself and your mental health. I, myself, worked through college and those late nights with a Monster Energy in one hand and a tissue box for tears in the other are not nights that I miss. But hey, we have to do what we have to do to make ends meet, right?

Well, the full-time college student in this next story is expected to sacrifice the crucial time needed to complete school work just so their coworkers don't have to work Saturdays. They mention they might be at risk for reduced hours and don't know how to proceed. However, they refuse to waver at the entitled ways of their boss. Scroll to read.

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  • The dilemma, you see, is they need this job to continue living on their own as they complete their degree. The boss seems like she doesn't take the student seriously, likely due to their age and habit of being reliable even when it doesn't suit them. 

  • Cheezburger Image 10485458432
    via Yunus Tuğ For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "told to put money in her pockets at the expense of my degree."

    i posted a couple months ago about my private practice job with five coworkers. we didn't get proper lunch breaks and not paid correctly. i tried to find another job, though unsuccessful so i stuck with it.
    via orangeokayor
  • to start i'm a full time college student. i am taking online classes rn through my university though they are accelerated, leaving about 16 assignments due each week. i work everyday,
    via orangeokayor
  • monday-friday and always stay when they need me (my mistake). the only day i asked to be kept off was saturday, so i could have the weekends to strictly focus on assignments that are due saturday and sunday. i told my
    via orangeokayor
  • office manager this and we agreed i can put all my hours in through the beginning of the week and have a more flexible schedule towards the end. i originally was off thursday and saturday and based my classes around this. i am now working thursday.
    via orangeokayor
  • one of my coworkers quit about two weeks ago, they hired someone else (who has became my friend) and i was very flexible in helping them with the loss and training. i was approached about
    via orangeokayor
  • working saturday instead of friday. i explained that i prefer having two consecutive days to truly focus on my school and outside life. given that assignments are due and exams
    via orangeokayor
  • are set for saturday and sunday, it would be best to be able to focus on them then. i explained i was told i would not have to work saturdays a few weeks ago. it is only a three hour shift (i get paid
    via orangeokayor
  • $15, a three hour shift is the amount of money it would take me to get there on gas). there are also 3 other girls working that day. so i explained that i would
    via orangeokayor
  • really appreciate if we could find a solution such as the five other people who work there that have designated days off but apparently i am not allowed.
    via orangeokayor
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    via Eric Rothermel for Unsplash
  • the doctor (who runs the business) pulled me aside after my shift today. she started off the conversation by telling me i was lying about being told i would not have to work saturdays and that she would never say that. i
    via orangeokayor
  • literally never said she did, i said the office manager did. i tried to explain this when she told me "i would have time to speak once she's done". she then told me that everyone is expected to help
    via orangeokayor
  • the office out. i do that everyday, i work around everyone's schedule. other girls are in college and my schedule is based off of time THEY NEED OFF to focus on school. she then started
    via orangeokayor
  • to explain how she is missing out on money because of me and i should find a solution to help her make the money back. i continued by explaining that i just
    via orangeokayor
  • need time to focus on school, and it is only one day. (we are closed sundays). she said that i probably shouldn't have taken on these many classes if i knew it was going to affect my availability
    via orangeokayor
  • and in the future i should plan to take less so that i can be readily available. i wanted to scream. i was cornered in a room after my scheduled time was over. i have never felt so manipulated in my life by someone in a workplace.
    via orangeokayor
  • she kept reminding me how much she likes me (to seem like she's doing nothing wrong). and then asked me if i expect her to hire someone for saturday only, she said that if she does that then
    via orangeokayor
  • she will put the person she hired on my typical shifts and have me loose out on hours. i mean, this was for thirty minutes. she just sat there berating me about how i need to contribute to putting money in her pockets.
    via orangeokayor
  • there are 5 other coworkers. they each have a designated day off. i don't understand why i am the only one who cannot. the doctor told me the office manager
    via orangeokayor
  • doesn't want to work saturdays and nor does the other adult that works there. note the fact they don't "want" to. i don't need to be there, i need to be doing school.
    via orangeokayor
  • i don't know what to do but i also don't know if im being stubborn. that may be because of what she made me to feel like. but i am also not sure. please give me any advice you would like to. or tell me if i am wrong! i can include more info if needed.
    via orangeokayor
  • Method Maven You are not being stubborn. You had set a boundary, and now this doctor thinks that she can make a demand and violate them. The only apparent bad thing that can happen here is a possible reduction in your hours. Hopefully, your finances can handle that.
    via MethodMaven
  • Also, looking for a new job is a must for you. That doctor, when you defy her, will find ways to be mean to you - it is what manipulative people do. A new job will remove her from your life. Good luck, OP. 福
    via MethodMaven

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boss aita workplace-stories work stories AITAH terrible-bosses bosses work coworkers toxic-boss workplace Horrible Bosses entitled bad bosses Reddit entitled people
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