Retail worker declines to come in on their day off after management fired 3 of 6 coworkers, management 'reconsiders [their] reliability': 'What clothing store is slammed at 8 AM?'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Apr 16, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

When you have a day off scheduled, all your hopes and dreams go toward that day. Especially if you've been working a lot that week. You might be pushing all of your plans, errands, and self-care rituals onto that day. You're imagining how good it's going to feel, and how much you've earned it. It helps keep you afloat while you're working, giving you a light at the end of the tunnel. 

It's no wonder, then, that if you suddenly get asked to come in on that day off, you're probably going to be pretty resistant to it. You might even simply decline, as is your right as someone who's not on the schedule that day. This is a completely reasonable thing to do, and your managers have to be prepared for the reality that you can and will say no. This doesn't stop some managers from completely mishandling this type of situation, though. 

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  • 01

    My manager said I "Wasn't a team player" for not coming in on my day off after they fired half our team

    1 (22F) work at a small clothing store in a mall. Last week, corporate laid off three people from our six-person staff - no warning, just "cutbacks". It's now basically me, one other part-timer, and my manager.
    via u/AliceWillxo
  • 02
    16
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • That's what happened in this story when a worker rightfully declined to come in at 8 AM on their day off. Not only were they not on the schedule, but half of their teammates had just been let go by corporate. Read on for the story and see what you think.

  • 03
    I was scheduled off Thursday. First one in over a week. I had errands, a doctor appointment, and planned to finally sleep in. At 8AM, I got a text from my manager: "Hey, can you come in? It's just me here and we're slammed." I replied: "Sorry, I can't today. I have plans and wasn't scheduled."
    via u/AliceWillxo
  • 04
    She left me on read. That night, I saw she'd posted a passive- aggressive story on IG about "some people only caring about themselves." Then yesterday, during my shift, she told me she's "reconsidering my reliability" and that real team players step up when it's hard.
    via u/AliceWillxo
  • 05
    Sorry, but I'm paid $15/hr. I don't get benefits, I don't get PTO, and you fired half the team. You don't get to guilt me into unpaid loyalty. And now she's giving me the silent treatment.
    via u/AliceWillxo
  • 06

    Other workers pointed out the hypocrisy here.

    pineapple_stickers • 3d ago Then yesterday, during my shift, she told me she's "reconsidering my reliability" and that real team players step up when it's hard. I had a business owner threaten me with hints that maybe i wasn't going to "work out" because i didn't bend to their every whim. I no longer work for that person
    via u/pineapple_stickers
  • 07
    CincyLog 3d ago • Wait until she finds out how much of a team player you are when you get a better job and quit
    via u/CincyLog
  • 08
    Short_Suggestion_... . 3d ago I've told a few managers "those are brave words comming from someone so short staffed"
    via u/Short_Suggestion_200
  • 09
    tokyosplash2814 • 3d ago Sounds like they're about to lose 4. Also wouldn't recommend connecting with your managers on instagram or any social medias, it's ripe for ab e. So immature and unprofessional for her to post a story like that.
    via u/tokyosplash2814
  • 10
    isthisonetaken13 • 3d ago . The silent treatment from a boss like that sounds like a perk, not a punishment.
    via u/isthisonetaken13
  • 11
    23
    via Unsplash+ (A. C.)

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

  • 12
    Leebelle3 3d ago "What team? You laid off most of them."
    via u/Leebelle3
  • 13
    MightyManorMan • 3d ago . So, you are employed by a pouting child who doesn't know how to manage. When you are not scheduled, you are... not scheduled. That's the point of scheduling. And she's a manage, so she
    via u/MightyManorMan
  • 14
    should... MANAGE. You aren't responsible. You aren't paid to be responsible. You are paid to show up for the hours you are paid. If your manager can't figure that out, they shouldn't be a manager because they aren't... MANAGING!
    via u/MightyManorMan
  • 15
    Strange-Marzipan9... 3d ago She texted you at 8am that she was slammed busy? In a mall that isn't open yet?
    via u/Strange-Marzipan9641
  • 16
    d20wilderness · 3d ago Firing half the team is really being the team player. S/
    via u/d20wilderness
  • 17
    hogliterature • 3d ago you have the upper hand here. call her out and start looking for a new job
    via u/hogliterature
  • 18
    Mr_Mojo_Risin_83 • 3d ago Tell her it sounds like they need more staff if there aren't enough to cover all the requirements of the business. Maybe they should hire like, maybe 3 more staff.
    via u/Mr_Mojo_Risin_83
  • 19
    Ballgame4 3d ago . Every time I hear stuff like this from managers, I'm reminded of a quote from former MLB player Oscar Gamble who said, "I'm the most loyal guy that money can buy." Remember that when asked to go the extra mile.
    via u/Ballgame4
  • 20
    LesserValkyrie • 3d ago . Well not a sin to only care about oneself I mean she does it without any second thought. She asked you to come during your day off, which was out of pure selfishness.
    via u/LesserValkyrie
  • 21
    She didn't ask you for your pleasure because she felt you would be alone and bored at home and wanted to cheer you up, from what I understand. And then she tries to shame you on your "reliability". You know what the most unreliable seems like to be in
    via u/LesserValkyrie
  • 22
    this story? Schedules. You were unscheduled and YET she wanted you to come. LOL. Here is the "unreliablity". Nowhere else. You can't be "unreliable" to come because you didnt come when you weren't scheduled to come lol. You did well OP
    via u/LesserValkyrie
  • 23
    Paying with your blod what they refuse to pay with money is a thing that every employee should REFUSE to do, and if working in a company is so h I nowadays, it is because there is still employees who are dumb enough to accept that.
    via u/LesserValkyrie
  • 24
    JosKarith 3d ago • You're reconsidering my reliability? Well maybe I'm reconsidering my employment. That'll leave 2 - sorry 1 1/2 people doing 6 people's work. Think Thursday was bad? Imagine what Saturday's going to be like with just the part-timer to help.
    via u/JosKarith
  • 25
    MM... • 3d ago Edited 3d ago This is typical manager bulls manipulation anytime employees push back. You're not required to be available for an employer anytime they need you. It is THEIR job to hire and maintain an appropriate employee roster to cover shifts.
    via u/MM_in_MN
  • 26
    Retail is the worst industry to work for. Managers are immature and untrained in how to handle people. Sure, they know how to run reports, or track inventory, make deposits, but not in people. management. Or how an employee saying no is not a personal attack. I would quit this one and not look back. You don't owe her anything outside of the shifts you are scheduled for, or the availability you have provided to them.
    via u/MM_in_MN
  • 27
    Darth_Abhor ⚫ 3d ago What clothing store is slammed at 8 am in the morning?
    via u/Darth_Abhor
  • 28
    AdAccomplished6... 3d ago 'What team, you fired half of us, where was loyalty to the team?'
    via u/AdAccomplished6870
  • 29
    runner64 • 3d ago Tbh tell her to question your reliability more. Tell her that she should take it absolutely for granted that you cannot be relied upon to come in when you weren't scheduled. If she is relying on that it's gonna cause problems.
    via u/runner64

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job bosses retail worker work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread tales-from-retail bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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