Employee creates itemized closing checklist to stop lazy coworker from getting out of closing duties: 'I got a little petty in the most professional way'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 13, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Everyone knows what it's like to have a team member who isn't pulling their weight. You have likely experienced multiple iterations of this dynamic throughout your life. 

When you were in middle school, you likely were partnered up with a problematic student on a group project at some point. You likely went through the trouble of messaging that student that your portion of the project was complete, and it was time for them to do their fair share. Then, your anxiety likely kicked in as the clock was ticking and the project was due while your partner had done next to nothing. So, you stepped in to do their portion of the work, but you swore you would only do this once because you didn't want to be personally penalized for their lack of effort.  

I wish I could say this dynamic fizzles out into adulthood, but it only gets worse because the stakes only get higher. When you have a group project at work, whether it's a big presentation or performing closing duties at a bookstore like this author, collaborating with someone who refuses to do the work never gets any easier. Keep scrolling below to see how this author got even with her lazy coworker.

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    Cheezburger Image 10528428032
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • As several members of the online community pointed out, the laminated checklist was a particularly deft touch, as was getting the manager on board with this new policy. Not only did that demonstrate the author's commitment to the job in her manager's eyes, but more importantly, she found a way to ensure that her coworker would no longer be able to sneak out just as the laborious work was beginning.

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    I used to work at a locally owned bookstore. It was a pretty chill job, nothing corporate, just a small team of six people rotating
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    shifts. We had opening and closing duties that were clearly listed on the backroom whiteboard. It wasn't rocket science. Just stuff like counting the drawer, vacuuming, restocking displays, and wiping down counters.
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    Then there was Megan. She was nice enough during the day, but when we worked closing shifts together, she would "accidentally" disappear around 7:45, and we closed at 8.
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    Sometimes she'd be "checking something" in the stockroom, other times she'd say she was going to the bathroom and just never come back until I was already locking the door.
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    That meant I ended up doing all the closing duties. Every time. I brought it up to her once, really casually, like, "Hey, I noticed I've been doing most of the closing
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    stuff lately. Mind helping with the floors tonight?" She smiled and said, "Oh no! Sorry! I totally didn't realize!" Then did the same exact thing again the next shift.
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    So I got a little petty in the most professional way. I typed up a closing checklist with spaces for initials next to each task. I laminated it and taped it right next to the time clock. I
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    didn't single anyone out. I told the whole team it would help keep track of who did what, and our manager thought it was a great idea.
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    Sure enough, the first night Megan and I closed after that, she paused when she saw the list. She half-heartedly vacuumed a corner of the store, signed off,
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    and left me with the rest. The next morning, I sent our manager a photo of the checklist, with her name next to one task and mine next to everything else.
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    Didn't even have to complain. The manager pulled her aside later that week and told her closing would be rotated fairly
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    from now on. After that, Megan either pulled her weight or swapped shifts entirely to avoid closing. Either way, I never had to scrub the coffee counter solo again.
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    Cheezburger Image 10528428288
    via Unsplash+ (Zetong Li)

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

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    grupopulizzi • 5h ago You didn't even need to be confrontational, you let the receipts do the talking.
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    vitorwazla • 5h ago The lamination detail took me out like, yes, make it permanent!
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    riut63.5h ago You gave her a chance to fix it, and when she didn't, you fixed it for her. Respect.
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    nerdybettylafea ·5h ago Megan really thought disappearing into the void was a valid strategy ❤❤
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    • appleblossom1962 · 3h ago Great job. Can you imagine what her home looks like if she can't take the time to vacuum or wipe down a coffee counter at work?
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    AteStringCheeses... 2h ago Your manager loved it because this is actually the best way to go about it. I work in manufacturing in a facility of a few hundred
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    people (owned by a company of several thousand) and this happens. all the time. S k at your job? Conveniently forgetful? No accountability? Here, have a checklist.
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terrible coworkers workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work coworkers petty revenge petty entitled people karma entitled people toxic-work-environment
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