Employee gets written up for not staying late one shift after covering for manager countless times before, decides to quit without notice: ‘No more fixing other people's work’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
May 18, 2025 7:00 AM EDT

Everyone learns the hard way that if you start doing things at work that are not part of your job description, it is only a matter of time before others will start to expect it from you all the time. They even complain when you eventually find yourself unable to keep up with all that added workload.

When people learn that lesson, they quickly understand that the best way to fix that problem is by never doing anything outside of their job description ever again. They do the bare minimum, and they do it well. That way, no one can complain or say anything that might get them in trouble. Even though it might not feel as fulfilling, trust us, it is much better than the alternative–constantly being given more and more tasks until you get written up for not being able to do work you were never supposed to do in the first place. 

That is what exactly happened to the overworked employee in the story below.

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    Cheezburger Image 10506117632
    via Yan Krukau

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

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    Got written up for not being a team player so I became exactly that.

    At my last job, our department was drowning in extra tasks because management kept cutting corners and shifting responsibility. I usually helped out wherever I could, stayed
    via Hungry-Syrup9223
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    late, trained new hires, even covered for my manager once during a client call she forgot about. One day, I politely declined staying late because I had a
    via Hungry-Syrup9223
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    doctor's appoinment I couldn't move. The next morning, I get pulled into a meeting. My manager tells me I'm being written up for "refusing to support the team." I asked if this was a joke. It wasn't.
    via Hungry-Syrup9223
  • 05
    Alright. Cool. From that point on, I did only my job. No more late nights. No more fixing other people's work. If it wasn't in my job
    via Hungry-Syrup9223
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    description, I wasn't touching it. Two months later, the whole department's a mess. Client deliverables are late. The new
    via Hungry-Syrup9223
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    hires quit. The manager had to start doing her own scheduling (which she s.ks at). Eventually, she gets demoted, and the company starts offering retention
    via Hungry-Syrup9223
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    bonuses to people who just show up. Meanwhile, I found a better job and left without notice used the same write-up she
    via Hungry-Syrup9223
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    gave me as the reason. "Didn't feel like the team was a good fit.” Funny how "not being a team player" only matters when you're the one holding everything together.
    via Hungry-Syrup9223
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    Cheezburger Image 10506117888
    via cottonbro studio

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

  • 11
    DeScepter Efficient workers are punished with more work. It isn't a fun lesson to learn, but it's one you'll never forget.
    via DeScepter
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    abstractmodulemusic Glad you came out on top in the end. Also glad your manager got demoted, she had no business in a management position.
    via abstractmodulemusic
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    porthos40 Yeah once you open the door, they will as more of you. I work part time at fedex, they came to me to train new hire. Told manager that's not my job
    via porthos40

  • Wanting to prove your worth at work is all fun and games until you overdo it. Once people start throwing complaints, the only thing left is to step back and watch how your workplace crumbles without you.

    Do yourselves a favor and learn from this mistake without actually living it. 

  • 14
    III_Apricot 7668 Left a job after 12 years because it felt like I was carrying it too much; they relied on me but did not want to facilitate me moving in a direction | needed to stay both productive and sane.
    via III_Apricot 7668
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    Closed up shop within 12 months, sorry for my former colleagues and our clients, but felt kind of vindicated. See, you couldn't cope without me!
    via III_Apricot 7668
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    ApprehensiveClub6028 Never - ever-go above and beyond
    via ApprehensiveClub6028
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    ApprehensiveCoast727 I totally thought you were going to start a union
    via ApprehensiveCoast727
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    Sure_Acanthaceae_348 Good on you for acting your wage.
    via Sure_Acanthaceae_348
  • 19
    CXavier4545 our management team tries to add more tasks to new hires all the time and the eager beavers take it on with enthusiasm then a couple years in, ☺ no promo same raise as the less productive employees ③
    via CXavier4545
  • 20
    AQ-XJZQ-eAFqCqzr-Va Good for you! You determine your worth, not them. More people need to understand this.
    via AQ-XJZQ-eAFqCqzr-Va
  • 21
    Username Chx_Out Ouch. Good story - my favorite part was when they lacked the intelligence and/or humility to realize that they had a solution available all along, and all they needed to do to save everything was to offer you a raise and promotion...
    via Username_Chx_Out

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boss workplace-stories employee manager job tales-from-the-workplace reddit story ceo overworked-employees workplace Reddit company quitting
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