Employee forced to work all night to cover for coworker after he lies about completing their project, they report him to their boss: ‘He got a formal written warning’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Dec 17, 2025 6:00 PM EST

If we could all take a "mental health" day to log off work and forget all about our responsibilities without any repercussions, we all would probably jump on that opportunity. However, most jobs don't exactly offer that option, and deciding to forget all about your responsibilities at your job most definitely has repercussions. 

You can't fake your way into completing your work. Well, you can definitely try to, but don't be surprised if that quickly backfires.

Take Dave in the story below as an example. Dave decided to take a day off work for his mental health, and lied to his coworker that he had finished his part in their combined project. When it became clear to Dave's coworker that he didn't actually do his job, the coworker was forced to pull an all-nighter to do the job for him.

On Monday morning, the coworker confronted Dave for lying about working on the project, but all Dave had to say in response was "Thank you for having my back".

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  • However, the coworker didn't, in fact, have Dave's back. They reported Dave's actions to their boss, and now Dave is facing the consequences of his actions…

  • Tired Businessman Working Late at Night
    via thecorgi

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

  • AITA for reporting my coworker after he lied about finishing our project to take a “mental health day”?

    I (28M) and my coworker, Dave (30M), were partners on a major client presentation due Monday at 9 AM. We split the work, I was doing the data/models, he was
    via Busy-Suit-573
  • handling the design and slides. We agreed to have everything ready to merge by 5 PM Friday. Friday afternoon, I'm finishing my part. I message Dave at 3
    via Busy-Suit-573
  • PM asking for an update. His words, "All good, slides are done and polished. I'm fried though, I'm gonna log off a bit early for a mental health
    via Busy-Suit-573
  • afternoon. See you Monday!" I said okay and logged off too, relieved. Sunday night, I get a gut feeling and log in to check the shared.
    via Busy-Suit-573
  • folder. The slide deck is there, but it's just a rough, half- finished template from Wednesday. None of the polished work he described is there. I panicked and spent all
    via Busy-Suit-573
  • night until 5 AM doing his half of the work to finish it. The presentation happened and went fine, but I was exhausted and running on caffeine.
    via Busy-Suit-573
  • Now Monday morning, I confronted Dave. He admitted he lied. He said he was burnt out and just wanted the long weekend, and figured he could
    via Busy-Suit-573
  • "throw it together quickly" Sunday night but fell asleep. He apologized and thanked me for "having his back."
    via Busy-Suit-573
  • Person in a suit putting their legs up on a couch
    via Kirik

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

  • I was furious. I went to our boss and reported the situation. I said I didn't feel I could trust him as a partner. Dave got a formal written warning. Now, he and a few other coworkers are calling
    via Busy-Suit-573
  • me an asshole. They say I should. have just talked to him, that I "solved" the problem by doing the work, and reporting him was vindictive and could hurt his career. They say I didn't care about his mental health.
    via Busy-Suit-573
  • SomeoneInQld NTA - the other guy FA and FO
    via SomeoneInQld
  • OP Busy-Suit-573 \#neededtohearthat
    via Busy-Suit-573
  • kidd_gloves NTA. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes
    via kidd_gloves
  • binger5 Deadlines are different than just being stressed out. Random stressed out situation you can take a couple of mental health days and then catch up. When you're an adult and facing a deadline, you finish it or find people to help you finish it. NTA
    via binger5
  • bythebrook88 >They say I didn't care about his mental health. Fair, but Dave didn't care about OP's mental health either! Or the mental health of both of them if they'd showed up to the 9AM presentation without a finished slide deck.
    via bythebrook88
  • LinkzGal "They say I should have just talked to him, that I "solved" the problem by doing the work, and reporting him was vindictive and could hurt his career. They say I didn't care about his mental health." Well, apparently he didn't care about hurting YOUR career, and, by extension, YOUR mental health.
    via LinkzGal
  • Nta wanderingstorm You didn't get Dave written up. Dave got himself written up.
    via wanderingstorm
  • Straight_Pace_6620 He is not u responsibility. Complaint to HR if those nasty coworkers bullied u again.
    via Straight_Pace_6620
  • Only_Constant_8305 NTA - coworkers like these are the worst
    via Only_Constant_8305
  • EwwDavvidd NTA. Dave needs to be accountable for his work, especially client work. You did the correct thing.
    via EwwDavvidd
  • NTA Puddin370 He could have given you a thorough update on Friday. You completing the work wasn't about having his back. It was to make you didn't fail. I don't blame you. I wouldn't want to be paired with him ever again.
    via Puddin370

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boss workplace-stories employee fired manager job presentation coworkers project overworked-employees workplace company
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