Waitress refuses to cover unreliable 23-year-old coworker’s shift after she fakes a family "emergency", so coworker falsely accuses her of being toxic, in an attempt to turn manager and coworkers against her: '[They said] I should be a girl’s-girl'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Oct 31, 2025 7:00 AM EDT

There's nothing worse than that one person who seems to have everyone around them fooled…Yet, you're the only one who manages to see straight through them. Some people just have stronger intuition, the kind that spots deceit from a mile away. The worst part? It can feel isolating when no one else seems to notice what you can. And when that person happens to be a coworker, it turns an ordinary job into a daily test of patience, especially when you're forced to interact daily…or in this case, barely at all…

This college student knows that struggle all too well. She is committed, persistent, and undoubtedly the most reliable employee they have. But not everyone at her restaurant shares that same work ethic. Her one coworker in particular has a terrible habit of asking her to cover her shifts, each week, a different excuse miraculously occurs. The latest? A so-called "family emergency."

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  • After finally putting her apron down and refusing to cover yet another last-minute shift, things took a messy turn. Her coworker managed to ‘rewrite’ the story, telling managers and other staff that she’d been extremely toxic and controlling…all because she refused to give in to her lies. Now, the gossip is spreading through the restaurant like wildfire… but the question remains: will her coworkers see through the lies, or will this lazy troublemaker cost her her job?

  • 01
    Waitress standing with her arms crossed.
    via gettysignature

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    AITAH for refusing to cover my coworker’s shifts anymore after she lied about me?

    i (21f) work part- time at a restaurant as a senior in college. it's not terrible but the people can be... a LOT.
    via Sultry-Dolphin-2989
  • 03
    i'm one of the few employees who actually shows up on time and does side work and doesn't bail on closing
    via Sultry-Dolphin-2989
  • 04
    because of that my manager ALWAYSSS asks me to cover when someone calls out. i usually say yes because i need the money but it's exhausting sometimes there's this girl i work with "taylor" (23f) who's fake nice asf like she'll hug everyone and say "love you bestie" but then shit talk people in the break room.
    via Sultry-Dolphin-2989
  • 05
    she's late constantly AND flirts with the manager but somehow NEVER gets written up. a few weeks ago she texted me last minute asking if i could cover her friday night shift because she had "a family emergency" (as far as i know she lives alone).
    via Sultry-Dolphin-2989
  • 06
    i said no because i already had plans cuz it was my bsfs birthday dinner which we had planned for WEEKS.
    via Sultry-Dolphin-2989
  • 07
    she got passive aggressive and said "must be nice to have no empathy". then i said whatever bro i'm not covering for you the next week my manager pulled me aside and asked why i'd been "bitchy" to taylor.
    via Sultry-Dolphin-2989
  • 08
    Coworkers laughing behind the counter.
    via gettyimagespro

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    apparently she told him i yelled at her over scheduling and called her lazy??? literally none of that ever happened.
    via Sultry-Dolphin-2989
  • 10
    i explained the situation and showed him our texts. he said he believed me but told me to "try to be a little more understanding" next time then two days later because the universe hates me she called out again and my manager asked me "can you please cover for her?
    via Sultry-Dolphin-2989
  • 11
    she said you two worked it out". i was like um no we didn't and that i won't be covering her shifts ever again period.
    via Sultry-Dolphin-2989
  • 12
    now taylor's been giving me dirty ass looks and trying to turn our other coworkers against me.
    via Sultry-Dolphin-2989
  • 13
    one girl even said i was being "petty" because "women should support each other" and i should be a "girl's girl" like what the hell a few coworkers have also been rlly weird toward me saying that i shouldn't hold grudges but i'm like... what grudge?
    via Sultry-Dolphin-2989
  • 14
    she lied about me and tried to get me in trouble but now I'm the one who's difficult?
    via Sultry-Dolphin-2989
  • 15
    i feel like all i did was set a boundary and everyone hates me for it so AITAH for refusing to ever cover her shifts again?
    via Sultry-Dolphin-2989
  • 16
    Stressed young woman on a call.
    via gettyimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 17
    NTA PsiBlaze But since your manager is taking her side, it's a NO to EVERY shift to be covered until you find a new job. Your manager is officially as bad as Taylor.
    via PsiBlaze
  • 18
    MTClarity I'm pretty sure a hard worker who takes extra shifts can get another job in like an hour. Leave this dysfunctional mess and find a better dysfunctional place to work.
    via MTClarity
  • 19
    JeffInVancouver I guess Taylor's flirting with the boss is paying off for her. NTA.
    via JeffInVancouver
  • 20
    LooseProduce9519 They are only acting like that to you because now they are being asked to cover her shifts and they don't want to do it.
    via LooseProduce9519
  • 21
    cthulularoo Looks like you can add a few more people to not cover. They can start covering each other. Explain to the boss that you will not be covering for someone who lies about you. End of story. Its not your job to cover people, you're doing them and the company a favor. That favor can be rescinded at any time. NTA
    via cthulularoo
  • 22
    InnocentlyInnocent You need to stop covering for others because it has now become expected of you instead of being appreciated. Talk to your manager about this and say that you want to be a team player and help the team but if it becomes toxic and hostile maybe it's not working.
    via InnocentlyInnocent
  • 23
    curiousblondwonders "Tell Taylor to own up to her lies that I have proof of or it wont change on my part" Nta
    via curiousblondwonders
  • 24
    NTA j_jqqq I expect the poor treatment you're experiencing from other co- workers is due to her bad- mouthing you. Let them cover for her if they're so ready to take her side.
    via j_jqqq
  • 25
    Consistent_Ad_6642 NTA. The manager is useless. Why ask if you'll cover if she said you worked it out? The manager knows she's SAF and letting her get away with it.
    via Consistent_Ad_6642

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terrible coworkers covering boss antiwork workplace-stories emergency employee rumors drama flirting shifts work coworkers askreddit workplace dishonest waitress
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