Entitled manager tells employees to "wake up when the store opens" to see if they need coverage: 'You can control what we do at work, but not when we're home'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jul 24, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

This head manager is acting as if his employees are on-call workers, and he's about to have quite the wake-up call. 

Some bosses act like their jobs are their whole lives. They simply cannot fathom why an employee isn't available to cover a shift, or why a person might request a few days off. This type of manager only thinks about the store and its bottom line, and they expect everyone else to do exactly the same thing. Unfortunately for them, that work ethic just isn't realistic for most people, and it's not even healthy to think about your job 24/7, no matter how much you adore your work. 

This boss is so adamant about the workplace being properly staffed that he basically wants his employees to be on call. I wonder if he's just unfamiliar with workplace laws because what he's asking is, to use the technical term, a big no-no. You can't just insist that your employees do on-call work without paying those on-call wages. It'll be interesting to see if anyone reports this behavior, or if the manager will backtrack with haste to avoid any trouble. 

Next, read about what happened when a boss denied an employee's vacation: "I fail to understand how that is my problem." 

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  • 01
    So we had a mix up with the schedule today. A coworker is out for a few days and our assistant manager was in charge of finding coverage. We got coverage for yesterday but not today to no one's knowledge until this morning.
    via u/iamliterallyinsane
  • 02
    My manager was alone when the store opened. Since it's the weekend, we have more traffic than usual, so my manager was desperate to find someone to cover. They call everyone, even a few emergency contacts, and sent a text in the group chat asking if someone could come in.
    via u/iamliterallyinsane
  • 03
    One of my coworkers comes in an hour later to cover. I come in for my shift a few hours later and my manager is not thrilled with the lack of planning. They ask why nobody else responded. A few of us say we didn't see the message because we were still sleeping at the time.
    via u/iamliterallyinsane
  • 04
    Then my manager said we needed to wake up when the store opens and check our phones to see if the store needs coverage, then we can go back to sleep.
    via u/iamliterallyinsane
  • 05
    Yeah, that's not happening. If I decide to sleep during a time I'm not scheduled that's on me. You can control what we do at work, but not when we're at home.
    via u/iamliterallyinsane
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10533308672
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • 07

    This is exactly how the employees should react!

    MrMustache61 АНАНАНАНАНАННАНАНАН АНАН
    via u/MrMustache61
  • 08
    MRicho Maybe they should pay a 'stand by' rate to be available for a call out.
    via u/MRicho
  • 09
    BJntheRV Sorry but as someone who has been the manager in that situation, dealing with the store solo while trying to find coverage is just part of the job. But, also, that's why we always had someone on- call when it was a busier day as a backup.
    via u/BJntheRV
  • 10
    CordeliaGrace Pay me for being on call. You won't. That is exactly why I didn't say anything to my coworkers- I can't force them to be on call and not compensate them.
    via u/CordeliaGrace
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10533308928
    via Fotos on Unsplash+

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

  • 12
    Tkieron Tell him, "If I have to wake up when the store opens then I'm getting paid starting then until the end of my shift. I'm not an 'on call' employee. It's not my responsibility to find coverage. If you want me to find coverage, promote me to manager."
    via u/Tkieron
  • 13
    More_Branch_5579 Thats a big no. If they want you to wake up, they can pay you
    via u/More_Branch_5579

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management workplace-stories talesfromretail manager retail retail worker work coworkers workplace
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