Store owner finds out manager took the entire staff out for coffee instead of opening the store in the morning, considers firing manager for poor judgment: ‘They left and locked the doors’

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Aug 12, 2025 7:00 AM EDT

Every decent manager struggles to find the balance between being liked and being respected by their employees. Some managers value being friendly with everyone and seek companionship along with the people who work under them. Other managers understand that respect is usually earned by setting the rules and enforcing them, which doesn't go hand in hand with being friends with their employees.

That doesn't stop some managers from trying, which is exactly what happened in the story below. 

A store owner was surprised to discover that one morning at 9 am, instead of opening the store, his entire staff locked up and went out to get coffee, and they were all led by their manager. They returned from their "morning break" half an hour later, and only then opened the store for customers. Shocked, the owner is now at a crossroads, not knowing how to reprimand the staff and the manager for their actions.

What would you do? Keep scrolling to read the full story and information in the comments to form your approach.

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  • 01
    "The entire scheduled staff left the building" SORRY CLOSED PLEASE COME BACK AGAN
    via Getty Images

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

  • 02

    WWYD? In my absence employees all left at opening and returned a half hour later, including staff manager and hourly employees...

    In short, I was out of office at another work engagement. I happened to check my ring notifications (which I honestly *rarely rarely* ever do) and saw that the manager, as well
    via DogPurple5515
  • 03
    as two salaried and one hourly employee all left, and locked the doors. They all returned at 9:31. Keep in mind, we are a business open 9-5, and the entirety of the scheduled staff
    via DogPurple5515
  • 04
    left the building, and the hourly employee clocked in and then went on this break. Apparently, they all went to get coffee together
    via DogPurple5515
  • 05
    immediately upon arriving to work. I see this as a poor judgement call by the manager on staff that I trust in my absence. I
    via DogPurple5515
  • 06
    am extremely generous with PTO, and overall have a pretty casual work environment- I see this as taking advantage of perhaps both of those things. Am I seeing this wrong? WWYD?
    via DogPurple5515

  • As much as we encourage healthy relationships with managers and mutual respect, we are not sure this was the way to go. Opening a store 30 minutes late because the entire staff went to get coffee is unheard of, and we definitely think some boundaries must be enforced.

    Keep scrolling to read what others thought.

  • 07
    random929292 Do people come to your place or business? If you have clients or potential clients walking in or phones would be ringing, this is a big issue. If that isn't
    via random929292
  • 08
    the case and your employees just all took a long coffee break but that doesn't directly impact the business, a different issue
    via random929292
  • 09
    DogPurple5515 OP Yes, people come in all day. It is a retail place as well as offices.
    via DogPurple5515
  • 10
    DogPurple5515 OP Also, since you brought up "break." We have hour-long lunch breaks built in for each employee, as well as two other 15 minute breaks in a typical 9-5 shift. The logic that the hourly employee presented is that they were
    via DogPurple5515
  • 11
    using both of their two 15 minute breaks at the start of their shift. Which...OK. Do we need to Webster Miriam "break?" As in a brief cessation within an interval of work? (interval had not started.) And also following said logic, does that mean anyone can show up 30 minutes late on any given day, and claim "they were on their breaks?"
    via DogPurple5515
  • 12
    Stefie25 You may have to set a policy on when breaks should be taken. My current employer's policy is your breaks can't be taken at the beginning or end of day & cannot be used to extend your lunch break. My previous employer just said they couldn't be taken at the beginning or end of the day; they didn't care if people used their breaks to take a longer lunch break.
    via Stefie25
  • 13
    PUERTAS MAS. CALMERIA 4 2242295 BARCELONA
    via Marquise de Photographie

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

  • 14
    hartjh14 Curious what the rest of the story is.
    via hartjh14
  • 15
    DogPurple5515 OP A new coffee shop opened 2 blocks away and they wanted to go. So that's what they did.
    via DogPurple5515
  • 16
    hartjh14 So meet at 830 and be at the store by 9. I managed retail for 8 years and never had anything close to this happen. I know things have changed since then, but this seems like a soft protest of something.
    via hartjh14
  • 17
    Fire-Kissed Fire the manager. If the manager wants to be "one of the crew" then they shouldn't be a manager. A manager's role is to lead and direct, not condone poor business decisions so they can be liked.
    via Fire-Kissed
  • 18
    DogPurple5515 OP I think this is the crux of the matter I don't quite know how to address. They've worked for me for a very long time, but I don't think they can grasp the managerial aspect of their job- they want to be friends with the staff in and outside of work first.
    via DogPurple5515
  • 19
    Ok Artichoke_2928 A lot more context is needed to really evaluate here, but from what I see a manager took his team out for a 30 min coffee break? Seems like he might be a good leader.
    via Ok_Artichoke_2928
  • 20
    DogPurple5515 OP Her team. And I would constitute a "break" as being a rest period between two intervals of work. And you don't open a business 30 minutes late without the owners permission.
    via DogPurple5515
  • 21
    Hertje73 There is no coffee machine at your office?
    via Hertje73
  • 22
    DogPurple5515 OP We have an $800 Breville espresso maker I bought that is sitting in the kitchen.
    via DogPurple5515
  • 23
    Double Strike2704 Nothing says casual work environment like a boss who checks the ring camera when they aren't there.
    via Double_Strike2704
  • 24
    DogPurple5515 OP Both my home business ring cameras send notifications to my phone. I was waiting to see something delivered at my house to have my neighbor grab it. Opened the notification and see my employees locking the front door to my business. But OK a. 'le, carryon.
    via DogPurple5515

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management boss workplace-stories employee fired manager job owner retail tales-from-the-workplace reddit story workplace opening Reddit company
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