Employee threatens to walk out mid-shift when 2 coworkers keep disappearing in break room for 10 minutes or more: 'Zane and Marissa keep doing it like they're invincible'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
May 30, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

It can be frustrating when you feel like you're the only one pulling your weight. I remember this feeling from group projects in school back in the day. There would always inevitably be one person who does all the work and then everybody else who saves their part until the last minute. It's a rite of passage. And unfortunately, this doesn't always stop once you graduate high school. When working in a group situation, there is always going to be somebody who works harder than the others. It's the laws of humanity. There also might be people who just don't know how to collaborate with others and can't figure out how to share the load.

It can be frustrating when you're the one who feels like you're doing the most. Maybe you all are working on the same project and one of you spent a lot more time on it, but you will all get equal credit. This can feel disheartening especially at a job where, odds are you spend most of your time.

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  • 01

    AITA for deciding to leave work if my two coworkers stay in the back for more than 10 minutes?

    I (M) work in a place where two of my coworkers, let's call them Zane and Marissa, have developed a habit of vanishing into the back room together during shifts. Every time we're scheduled together, they disappear for long stretches, leaving me alone up front doing all the work.
    via u/Similar_Sock_1718
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10512164864
    via Unsplash+ (Andrej Lišakov)

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

  • That's what happened in this job situation when two employees caused some major slack for a third to pick up. Understandably, the third employee got a little tired of covering their lack of enthusiasm. So they came up with the plan to get themselves out of it. Read on for the story.

  • 03
    And it's not a one-time thing, it's a pattern. I'm left juggling everything by myself while they're God knows where, doing who knows what. It's frustrating, demoralizing, and honestly just disrespectful.
    via u/Similar_Sock_1718
  • 04
    OH AND GUESS WHAT!! Management has already talked to them about this. More than once. Nothing changed. Zane and Marissa keep doing it like they're invincible.
    via u/Similar_Sock_1718
  • 05
    And if you try to bring it up directly, Marissa immediately gets defensive and snaps with something like, "Well I've been here since [whatever time she clocks on] and I already did everything!"
    via u/Similar_Sock_1718
  • 06
    Okay?? And?? You're still on the clock?? It's not your break time?? Just because you were here earlier doesn't mean you're now entitled to vanish and leave your coworkers stranded like it's recess. We're all getting paid to be here and do our jobs, not hide in the back while someone else cleans up the mess.
    via u/Similar_Sock_1718
  • 07
    So I've reached my limit. this has been happening for over a year. I've decided that the next time they both disappear into the back and stay there for more than 10 minutes, I'm leaving. I'm clocking out and walking out. I'm done being the only one who cares.
    via u/Similar_Sock_1718
  • 08
    Some people are telling me that's dramatic or unprofessional, but I feel like it's the only way anyone's going to take it seriously. So... AITA if I walk out next time they vanish on me again?
    via u/Similar_Sock_1718
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10512164352
    via Pat Ferranco

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

  • 10

    Commenters came in with their thoughts.

    BeautifulParamed... 11h ago Report it. Everytime. Its managements job to sort them out, not you. Theyve been spoken to once, hopefully good managers will escalate.
    via u/BeautifulParamedic55
  • 11
    Neenerkat • 11h ago Family emergency. A family member called and you had to leave. You tried to find them to tell them but couldn't find them. Leave a note up front and punch out. Let the chips fall...
    via u/Neenerkat
  • 12
    getfukdup 10h ago NTA But thats dumb; just go back there with them and make it as awkward as possible. "So, what you guys up to. Can I watch?"
    via u/getfukdup
  • 13
    Goozump 10h ago NTA but kind of dumb. Sort of likely to be considered quitting your job. Might just tell your boss that you are fed up and will quit if it continues.
    via u/Goozump
  • 14
    Watching Telly Now • 10h ago . Why don't you go out the back and join them? "You guys have been out here for ages, it's my turn now. And there's nobody up front, so you'd better get a move on. I'll be out in [however long they've been hiding]."
    via u/WatchingTellyNow
  • 15
    Traditional_City_... • 10h ago Why in the world would you wait until the next time? Leave this job and find a better place to work with better management.
    via u/Traditional_City_383
  • 16
    Fancy_Introductio... • 7h ago OP, I would casually mention the new cameras that have been installed in the back room!
    via u/Fancy_Introduction60
  • 17
    Lea... ⚫5h ago • Edited 5h ago . I think you should consider the possibility of not caring. Do only your job, only at a pace that works for you. People are waiting an hour for fast food? Not your problem. People can't pay cause you're not currently at the register? Not your
    via u/Leather_Persimmon489
  • 18
    problem. Let the customer complaints pile up, let the work pile up, let the place fall apart, whatever is relevant. Make this situation somebody else's problem. Anyone asks why you're the only one here? Be honest and short. "My colleagues. are in the back" "For an hour?" "Yes". No speculation on what they're doing. Let people reach their own conclusions.
    via u/Leather_Persimmon489
  • 19
    Stop feeling the job needs to get done. This mindset will burn you out in this situation. I'm guessing you get paid by the hour and receive the same wages if the place is doing well or not. It's the manager's job to keep the place running smoothly and only the owner gets more money if you do the job of three people.
    via u/Leather_Persimmon489
  • 20
    Just try to not care, cause clocking out will result in less income for you and it's the only thing you should care about
    via u/Leather_Persimmon489
  • 21
    KathyOverAndOut ⚫ 10h ago Tough situation but, my goodness, there's a limit! I agree that in other situations, walking out is not the best solution because it's best to let management handle it. But if they don't? And if it's been more than a
    via u/KathyOverAndOut
  • 22
    year? Seriously? Just how much patience does OP have to have waiting for those in charge to, you know, actually do their job? | know that just because someone does a bad job it's no reason to do the same yourself, but after a year of this nonsense it becomes. ridiculous to be the only one following the rules.
    via u/KathyOverAndOut
  • 23
    Now, are you intending to walk out as a protest? Or do you mean walk out as in "quit"? Not sure what your end goal is. Because there's every possiblity that walking out will get you fired. Here's another idea. When they disapear, go to the back yourself, or to another part
    via u/KathyOverAndOut
  • 24
    of the store. Do just what they're doing. That way no one can get mad at you for something that not only are they doing too, but that they've been allowed to do for an entire year. I have the feeling that the only reason it hasn't become a problem yet is because there's always someone out front (you) to cover things. Then
    via u/KathyOverAndOut
  • 25
    stand back and watch how quickly management acts when suddenly customers are leaving because no one is helping them.
    via u/KathyOverAndOut

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace drama job bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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