'No call-outs or missed shifts for ANY REASON': Newly-hired employee spots red flags in hiring contract

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Aug 29, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

Workers, if you call out from your job, that shouldn't be your responsibility to deal with. Management should have to handle that! 

If you're calling out of work sick, we can go ahead and assume you're not feeling well. (Maybe you're lying in order to do something fun with your friends, in which case, good for you, but this part doesn't apply to you.) Maybe you've got a horrible migraine or a bout of food poisoning that has got you keeled over. So why in the world would management expect you to get your phone out and start messaging all your coworkers to see if they can cover your shift? Although some places do insist upon this, it's just an easy way for managers to get out of doing a basic tenant of their job. 

This place is straight-up banning their workers from calling out. That is a super-silly way of dealing with it! Obviously people are going to call out for any number of reasons, and if you just fire them every time, you're going to have like a 900% turnover each year. 

Next, check out the story of the employees who got petty revenge on 6 phone reps who wouldn't stop blowing up their line: 'I explained that we didn't have 500 mobile [phone] accounts.'

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • Cheezburger Image 10547042048
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • "Should I not work at this place I just got hired at?"

    There are to be No Call-Outs or Missed Shifts for ANY REASON!! You are responsible for your shift. If you need a day off or cannot make it to work that day, you are not to call You are to arrange for a co-worker to cover shift. or Manager(s). If you have arranged for a co-worker to cover your shift in advance, you are to write a note showing who is working for who on that shift and post it next to the schedule. If it is last minute, you are to text or call the Manager on duty to let them who is
    via u/Royal-Drummer-8881

    Here's the page of rather strict rules, like making employees cover their own shifts (since they're literally never allowed to call out) and telling them "If you want to make money, show up for every shift on time." The tone here isn't very professional, is it? 

  • There is to be no Tardiness If you are going to be late, you must call or text the manager on duty to let them the reason and what time you will be here. Any lateness will result in a delay of your 90-day and annual reviews, which will directly affect whether you receive a raise. If you want to make more money, show up for every shift on time.
    via u/Royal-Drummer-8881
  • Just got hired as a host at this restaurant but their rules seem sorta strict with call offs this is the paper they want me to sign before my first day. Is this normal for restaurants and working as a host? I've been a host elsewhere
    via u/Royal-Drummer-8881
  • and it wasn't like this they were also strict but nothing like this you could still call off and it wasn't my responsibility to find someone to cover for me. The pays sorta mid too so idk if I should just look somewhere else for a job.
    via u/Royal-Drummer-8881
  • Cheezburger Image 10547054848
    via Andrej Lišakov For Unsplash+

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

  • MJ @morga... nah. if it's an expected absence, sure. but what if you get into a car accident on the way to work? what if you get a phone call a family member passed away? what if you wake up incredibly ill? they are managers for a reason, it's their job to handle these situations.
    via @morganisawizard
  • Cpt.... @cptfuz... Yeah, if I'm sick enough to not be able to work, I'm too sick to start calling people to cover for me. I always try to be on time and expect others to be too, but the wording and tone of all of this is a red flag to me.
    via @cptfuzzyboots
  • Brot... @jeoc42 I can see no call-offs period as an issue. There may be one or two a year that you legitimately can't make it, and can't get a cover for, even if your life is mostly stable.
    via @jeoc42
  • Eliza ... @elizjoh... We literally are dealing with several of these now. Leadership: please be on time Employee: *storms off the HR*
    via @elizjohns13
  • Weave @diaper Having to find someone to cover your shift if out sick is unreasonable. If you are trying to change scheduled time in advance then not unreasonable. That said an employee who does find coverage if they can is going to be well loved by management.
    via @diaper
  • Employees who try to make life easier for their managers are the ones who are taken care of. Those who cost their managers extra work are not.
    via @diaper

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

boss workplace-stories jobs job bosses work coworkers contract workplace notes
Scroll Down For The Next Article