Overworked employee refuses to take over coworker's tasks after he leaves work early one too many times, boss gets involved: ‘I already have my own workload’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Dec 4, 2025 6:00 PM EST

We all struggle with maintaining a workload that we can handle, and there are many factors we take into consideration when we build our work schedule. It's important not to overload ourselves, not to take on tasks that are outside our job description, while still doing enough to prove ourselves to our bosses and ensure we get to keep our jobs.

If we try to add on top of all that the workload of a coworker, the whole delicate system can crumble.

The employee in the story below made the mistake of agreeing to take over a coworker's tasks when they left work early one day, and before they knew it, it became a habit. The coworker would leave work hours before the shift ended, and expect this employee to simply do his job for him.

After that happened a few times, the employee put their foot down and refused to encourage this behavior any longer. This led the entitled coworker to turn to the boss and complain about the employee's refusal to "be a team player". As if he were the poster child of a team player…

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  • AITA for refusing to cover for a coworker who keeps leaving early and expecting me to handle his work?

    I work in a corporate team where everyone usually helps each other out when things get busy.
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  • Businessman Looking at His Watch
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I'm fine with that. But one coworker (let's call him R) has started leaving early almost every day for the past two months.
    via Business-Mark3998
  • He'll send me a quick message like, "Hey can you finish this one task for me?" or "Just handle this request if it comes in." It's never "urgent" it's just his regular work.
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  • At first I helped, thinking he had something going on. But it kept happening. Sometimes he leaves at 4 PM, sometimes 3:30, while the rest of us stay till the end of the shift.
    via Business-Mark3998
  • I finally told him last week that I won't be able to cover for him anymore because I already have my own workload.
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  • He said, "Bro it's just teamwork, why are you being rigid?" Then he told our manager that I'm "not supportive" and "not a team player." Luckily my manager asked me first and I explained the situation.
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  • Now R is giving me attitude, not responding to chats properly, acting cold, and telling others that I "refused to help the team" over "minor tasks." I don't think it's my job to constantly do someone else's work just because they feel like leaving early every day.
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  • AITA for refusing to cover for him anymore?
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  • Business man looking at a clock
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 71077345p NTA. You boss is already aware. Just ignore him and do your job. He will be fired soon enough!
    via 71077345p
  • saryiahan It's not your job to do his work. Definitely not
    via saryiahan
  • jmccar15 Does this question really need to be asked? What do you think the answer is?
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  • Cheezburger Image 10581947904
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  • PizzaBagelB ty Definitely not the jerk. You've been patient, helped when you could, but it became his habit. Standing up for yourself and your time is not only fair, it's necessary. Let him deal with his own work.
    via PizzaBagelB**ty
  • OP Business-Mark3998 He is an old timer, I mean He was way before When I came in, May be because of that he does this
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  • Birdbraned What has your boss thought about the time theft?
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  • OP Business-Mark3998 He works from Different location in India.. basically he works from Bangalore and we work from Gurgaon.. so he doesn't have that kind of visibility here
    via Business-Mark3998

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Tags

boss aita workplace-stories employee manager job tales-from-the-workplace coworkers overworked-employees workplace company
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