19-year-old new employee puts 50-year-old baker in her place: 'Cat needs an attitude adjustment'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Aug 12, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

If you step up into a new workplace and make waves, you can't be surprised at the ripple effect! 

Look, when you first start off in the workplace, you're going to make a ton of mistakes. No matter what the job is, you'll have to learn by doing. You might see a sign instructing you not to do something, but you ignore it… and then get in trouble. Or maybe you try to take shortcuts, only to realize that fixing the resulting mistakes take 10x longer than just doing it the right way the first time around. And one particularly important lesson to learn is listening to the other workers when they tell you what to do or not do. It might be your first instinct to roll your eyes when they tell you something, but they're telling you for a good reason! 

This young worker got into a disagreement with an older coworker, and she even left a snarky note about it. As this person wrote about the situation, she seemed to think that the internet would side with her. But comments were split about 50/50, with people largely scolding her decision to write a note. At least that new employee is still willing to learn and change, and who knows — with a sincere apology, Cat will forget all about this whole thing by next week. 

Next, read about the TikToker who has spent 8 months buying and returning 110-pound anvils to test the limits of free shipping: "This may be the funniest thing someone has ever chosen to do with their use of free will."

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10541120000
    via A. C. For Unsplash+

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

  • 02
    I (19) am a new hire. My coworker, I'll call her cat (45-50) is notorious for nitpicking, trash talking, and making just all around nasty comments about employees. So I've only been working about a week and a half now so I'm very new and still learning the job of being a deli worker. Cat, works in the bakery and isn't any sort of manager, same status as me, just a few feet over in the bakery. For reference, I've been told by my
    via u/Own-Studio-7436
  • 03
    manager that I'm a very good worker and they're going to give me 40 hours a week now since I've done so well. (New hires are only given 29 max) I treat everyone with kindness and I've been treated very kind back in the deli, but today I had some troubles with Cat.
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  • 04
    Now the actual AITAH story I was putting dishes away and didn't know where a utensil went exactly, I had seen both bakery AND deli use it. I asked a deli member where I should put it, he let me know it's a bakery tool, so go ask them where I should put it. I went down and asked 2 bakery ladies where I should put this utensil. They let me know it's Cat's. Cat turned to me and said
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  • 05
    "Can't you see me baking? I'm a baker so obviously that's mine? You see all this? Bakery stuff. Now give it here" she has also been complaining about me forgetting a trash can when I close (it's out of my way and I forget) and that the hot dog cleaner is never clean so she won't start hot dogs in the morning like she's supposed to.
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  • 06
    So I left a note saying "I cleaned the hot dog roller again, if it's not clean enough Cat is welcome to show me how! See you all at 2 :)" I usually leave notes to the morning crew that I appreciate them, and I'll see them when I come in so it's not like a note I went out of my way to write, as I usually leave one.
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  • 07
    I'm new! And this is my first job in a deli! I don't know how to perfectly clean a hot dog roller! I don't know where every utensil goes?? So I figured if she wants it done right she can teach me. AITAH??
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  • 08
    I left a passive aggressive note back, and I think it may make me the a hole because 2 wrongs never make a right.
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  • 09

    Commenters were split: about half thought this person was out of line, while others thought they were trying their best to address the issue

    Willing-Helicopter26 YTA. To be fair Cat needs an attitude adjustment, but friend you've been working there for 10 days and are starting a war with a grown woman who has experience and likely gets tired of new hires not doing things correctly (and it sounds like you're not without mistakes). Also, how do you know that Cat is notorious
    via u/Willing-Helicopter26
  • 10
    for all these bad traits if you haven't even seen a full pay period. You're approaching her with malice out the gate. If you can't learn to get along with Cat, you're likely to be invited to leave pretty quickly. Especially when leaving written taunts.
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  • 11

    This person is still young, but it's a good time to learn to speak to a manager about these types of issues instead of involving a random coworker

    Own-Studio-7436 OP This is completely fair! I've had people I work with let me know that she can be quite nasty, and got to experience it first hand so I know it's not rumors or employee talk. They just let me know that she can be very harsh so don't take it to heart and I don't! I truly don't take it to heart but I don't appreciate being talked to like I'm stupid. So I know she can be mean
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  • 12
    Also, my job is pretty neat! Not that you asked at all, but we get paid every Friday! I've gotten to see 2 paychecks so far and it's pretty rad. But you're very right, there's no point in going toe to toe with this women, I really do want to be taught how to clean the roller though and she's more than welcome to teach me since she's the only one that's complained about my cleaning!
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  • 13
    WEIGHT SCALE
    via Pablo Merchán Montes For Unsplash+

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

  • 14

    Some people thought that the coworker was in the wrong for being snippy, but that this person still mishandled things

    happybanana134 YTA. Cat snapped at you and that was wrong of her. However, leaving snarky notes around is really unprofessional and foolish.
    via u/happybanana134
  • 15
    OneHumanPeolple NTA. There may be a better way to ask for training on the hot dog roller cleaning though. Ask during the shift. to be shown how to do it because that's really important for health and
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  • 16
    safety. So is the trash. Cat sounds like a bit of an AH, but you can't let people like that get to you. Keep doing good work and don't take her bs seriously.
    via u/0neHumanPeolple
  • 17
    OhmsWay-71 NTA. Suggestion. Go a little early for your next shift and ask to speak to your manager. Your goal is to come out on top. and cover yourself. You say something like... "You know I love it here already right? I want to make sure I'm doing everything right, and I heard that Cat
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  • 18
    did not like the way I did the hot dog machine, so I left a note with it asking if it is not right this last time that Cat show me how to do it properly. I just wanted to let you know that I am on top of things and want to learn"
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  • 19
    That way if she does make an issue, she will look wrong. If she's a grumpy employee, they are aware so I would not worry about it too much. Stay clear of her and don't engage with her if you don't need to. Best to stay clear of drama.
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    Mase WEIGHT SCALE
    via Pablo Merchán Montes For Unsplash+

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

  • 21
    Own-Studio-7436 OP This is a wonderful idea! I just shot my manager a quick text that was along the lines of your suggestion. I'll make sure to stay out of it from now on, just got to me for a second there and I know it really shouldn't have lol
    via u/Own-Studio-7436
  • 22
    OhmsWay-71 Bu ies sk, and the one at work can make life miserable. You got this. Kill her with sunshine.
    via u/Own-Studio-7436

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