‘I never said I was taking his shift’: Entitled coworker assumes fellow employee will take his shift without receiving confirmation, then sneakily tells boss they found shift coverage

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Jun 12, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

If you work irregular hours week to week, then you know how annoying it is to race to find shift coverage if you have plans on a day you had hoped you'd be free. This scheduling process makes it nearly impossible to have a life outside of work and leaves you allergic to future planning. We all want to get our shifts covered when needed, but it's not cool to repeatedly pressure another colleague into taking your shift because you have plans—they can have plans, too.

A perfect world would consist of everyone having all the time they need for the things they want to do, but we're not in a utopia—we are in reality! So, your best bet is to ask around your entire team to see if anyone is willing to tie up your loose ends.

In this next story, an employee's coworker assumes that the employee will cover their shift without receiving a definitive yes, and goes over their head to their boss on the morning of the shift. Scroll to read the entire story below.

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  • Having worked in the service industry for upwards of three years, shift coverage is a nuisance. You want to be there for your colleagues in their times of need, but you also need to prioritize your own downtime, too. It's difficult to find a healthy balance, but it's not difficult to wait for a definite answer.

  • CALENDAR SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 21 110 16 17 18 19 22 22 23 23 28 29 29 30 30 24 25 26 331 "On the day of the shift he called the store and said he wouldn't be coming in."
    via Curated Lifestyle For Unsplash+

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

  • "Coworker said I took his shift and I didn’t."

    My coworker had asked me a week prior about a shift he wanted covered, and if I would be able to cover half of his shift. In response I told him that I would
    via Ok_Bat_7805
  • check the schedule, and let him know. He went ahead and told our boss that I would be able to cover the beginning of his shift
    via Ok_Bat_7805
  • and ran back to me saying it would be such a great help if I did that. I feel like he was pestering me to take his shift so I tried to ignore his constant asking.
    via Ok_Bat_7805
  • I checked the schedule later and saw that the day he wanted me to cover I was working a 4 am shift and he wanted me to stay until
    via Ok_Bat_7805
  • around 11:30 or 12:00. I told him the shift was too long and he responded with, "well I'm going to need you to stay until 12 or 11 even"
    via Ok_Bat_7805
  • On the day of the shift he called the store and said he wouldn't be coming in because I apparently said I would cover for him until 11.
    via Ok_Bat_7805
  • Cheezburger Image 10516312064
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • Thoughts? Would I get in trouble for this? I never said I was taking his shift. I know I could've tried to be more direct, but I do think he kind of put his shift on me without my approval.
    via Ok_Bat_7805
  • Puzzleheaded Home249 No a shift swap needs to be formally approved. If the manager didn't confirm with you that it was swapped then it wasn't swapped.
    via PuzzleheadedHome249
  • bobtail872 usually, bosses want the job done and no drama, regardless of what is just. some people create tricky situations and they bet you will take the hit rather than risk the heat of an irritated boss. whatever the outcome, learn and grow. good luck
    via bobtail872
  • Denied Appeal1 When stuff like this happens, you need to immediately tell your boss whether you have accepted or not accepted the shift. That's it - that's all there is to it.
    via DeniedAppeal1
  • Littlefreddyk Don't let that snake bite you twice!
    via Littlefreddyk
  • PM_ME_OCCULT_STUFF I understand now this is why in order to swap or take shifts at my job, the main person has to email the boss and CC the other, with the request details and name of person requested; then the other person has to respond in email saying they accept the shift for x time x date x hours.
    via PM_ME_OCCULT_STUFF
  • It THEN has to be approved and the boss emails back saying if its approved or not. They also cannot be within 24 hours of the shift, otherwise you just have to call in. I thought it was a bit annoying, but I can see why it has to be that way.
    via PM_ME_OCCULT_STUFF
  • jsseven777 I don't think anybody can tell you if you'll get in trouble for this because we don't know anything about your company's rules and policies.
    via jsseven777
  • That being said, the correct course of action is to in writing tell the coworker that you are not able to cover the shift and to tell the scheduler and/or your boss that there was a mixup and that you are not available that day to work.
    via jsseven777
  • Ok_Bat_7805 It's for a barista position! I already talked to another shift lead and told them what had happened, but I can't help but worry! The coworker that wanted me to take part of his shift is actually a shift lead- so I really don't know how it all works!
    via Ok_Bat_7805

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terrible coworkers shift antiwork workplace-stories work stories manager work coworkers working reddit story workplace reddit thread work shifts Reddit coworker
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