23-year-old employee refuses to cover her 26-year-old coworker's shifts until she repays the $800 she lent her 15 months ago: 'I’ve covered at least 14 of her shifts this past year, and she has never covered for me.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Nov 22, 2025 11:00 AM EST

She's only paid her back $100 of the $800 she "borrowed" over a year ago.

When you lend money to somebody, your relationship totally changes. If you gift your children or grandchildren a down payment for a house that you never expect to get back, that's totally different. But if you lend them that money and expect them to pay it back to you, that will be looming over your heads until the money is paid back. You won't have a normal parent-child relationship if, every time you see each other, you can't shake the resentment of having lent money or the guilt of not having paid it back sooner.

Some people don't feel any guilt about borrowing money without repaying it promptly. In fact, they will spend money on literally anything else but paying this person back, because deep down they feel entitled to their money and don't really care if they ever pay them back. It might be a cynical way to look at the world, but you can't tell me you don't know at least one person who is exactly like this.

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  • Pretty young waitress in workwear bending over table while setting down glass with toothpicks and looking at you in cafe or restaurant
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

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

  • The coworker in this story is one of those people whose actions speak louder than words. Not only does she owe her younger coworker $700, but she also constantly demands that her younger coworker cover her shifts and never returns the favor. The responsible 23-year-old finally took a stand against her wild demands, but now her coworkers are mad at her!

  • Am I the bad guy for refusing to keep covering my coworker’s shifts when she still owes me $700?

    I, 23F work at a coffee shop with Kayla 26F. 15 months ago she was sobbing about vet bills and rent so I lent her $800 cash. We wrote it down, both signed it, she promised to pay back. But I've gotten exactly $100 total since then. Meanwhile she's out getting new tattoos, Uggs, concerts, the usual. I've covered at least 14 of
    via u/Goldrubs1
  • Brown and white fur boots
    via Thibault Penin

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

  • her shifts this past year due to hangovers, dates, I'm tired, babysitter issues etc. Never once complained. She has never covered for me, not even when I've asked in advance. Last night she texted begging me to take her opening shift today because she's exhausted. I'd just worked a
    via u/Goldrubs1
  • A woman holds her phone while lying in bed in her bedroom
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

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

  • double and was scheduled to close again. I told her no, that I'm done covering until she pays back the $700 she still owes me. She freaked out, called me heartless played the single-mom card then posted a vague sob story in the work group chat. Now half the
    via u/Goldrubs1
  • team thinks I'm a harsh for holding money over her head. I'm out almost $800 and tired of being her doormat. AITA for finally saying no?
    via u/Goldrubs1
  • Outside-Bowler6174 NTA. This seems very manipulative. She essentially scammed you of $700 and then repeatedly asked to cover her shift for unjustified reasons. Hangovers are entirely her fault, dates are her fault for scheduling, etc. She's using you to cover her arbitrary life issues interfering with work, then played the victim. If things don't go well just take her to small claims at this point.
    via u/Outside-Bowler6174
  • Goldrubs1 OP Exactly! She's been using me as her personal safety net, and it's time I cut ties and prioritize myself. I'm done being her enabler
    via u/Goldrubs1
  • Crafty-Asparagus2455 Exactly, she's using ypu. Whether she even sees it or not. I bet she does, but you're too nice, and she's figured that she can just walk all over you. And she did. Standing up to her is the right thing. Although she will likely decide you've been mean and use that as a reason to not pay you back because she thinks you owe her. You'll never see that money again.
    via u/Crafty-Asparagus2455
  • DwayneBaroqueJohnson Now half the team thinks I'm a harsh for holding money over her head Then there's nothing stopping them from covering her shift or paying you your 700 bucks. NTA.
    via u/DwayneBaroqueJohnson
  • VironLLA honestly, i doubt the coworkers heard the $700 part since who the fuck would side with the person who only pays back 12% of a loan over 15 months? at that rate, OP will need to wait almost a decade to get repaid
    via u/VironLLA
  • gev1138 15 months already? OP is not getting another quarterback. Or a Nickelback.
    via u/gev1138
  • Correct_Wishbone_798 If she would work her scheduled shifts she'd have the money to pay you back.
    via u/Correct_Wishbone_798
  • firstWithMost I lent her $800 cash. Big mistake. Don't do that in future. Direct your sobbing coworker to the nearest bank. NTA for not wanting to cover her shifts. You've got your own job to do just like everyone else. If she can't do her job maybe it's time for her to go so someone who wants to come to work can have the chance.
    via u/firstWithMost
  • City_Girl_at_heart Never lend money you can't afford to write off. It's harsh, but necessary.
    via u/City_Girl_at_heart
  • Kamic1980 She made it public by taking it to the work chat. You need to, in the work chat, list 1. When money was lent, agreement for repayment, when the $100 was repaid, amount outstanding 2. The number of concerts, tattoos and expensive items you know she's got since then INSTEAD of repaying you 3. Number of shifts you've covered for her since then 4. Number of times she's refused to cover for you
    via u/Kamic1980
  • 5. How many hours you would have worked having come off the double and needing to close if you'd covered for her (and the fact this was the first refusal) Then state anyone who has an issue can cover for her. Then you need to let her know if she doesn't repay you in the next month you're taking her to small claims court.
    via u/Kamic1980
  • OkFrosting7204 This is so unprofessional imo. It shouldn't be discussed with anyone at work, shouldn't be affecting either of their work. Saying that in work chat is going to escalate and backfire
    via u/OkFrosting7204
  • ooral Are you the person that owes the money? The moocher brought it to the public domain, in order to game sympathy, time for OP toto have rest of the team put up or shut up. Cover her shifts and contribute to the debt, they will be next to be burnt.
    via u/ooral

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terrible coworkers coffee shop employee barista coworkers money problems reddit story employees workplace lending reddit thread Reddit money workplace story jobs
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