Snowed-in employee calls off at 5 AM, boss tries to send ride share to pick them up anyway: 'The roads are so bad here'

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jan 26, 2026 10:00 PM EST

When you're not working, do you still answer your work phone?

If you have a certain kind of job, you might need to be on call all the time. If you own a small business, you probably always have your phone on. Even if you have other people helping you, if something goes wrong, it's on you, and it's on you to sort it out right away. Or if you work in medicine, you might be expected to answer the phone when you're not there, because the consequences tend to be grave. But the rest of us who aren't fully responsible for their place of work… we're allowed to keep our "me" time to ourselves. It's okay if we ignore a call or two if we're not working, because our time is our own. Especially if you've already called out or been given the day off. You get to protect that time. 

But what about exceptional circumstances? Right now, a lot of the Northeast United States is covered in snow. And if you have the type of job that requires a commute, you're probably thinking twice about going in. You would hate to incur unnecessary risk just to get to your office job. These are the types of situations where we should all have grace for ourselves and each other, and let things slow down just a little bit. It's not often we get a true snow day, and if we can afford to take one, we absolutely should. But that's not what happened to this worker. 

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  • A person in a snow jacket faces a row of snowed-in cars.
    via Mayer Tawfik

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

  • This non-essential worker did the right thing and called out of work on the morning of his snowed-in shift. He didn't want to risk traveling through possibly unplowed roads, and he figured it could wait a day. But his boss thought otherwise. He thought he could get him into the office if he arranged for transportation. The trouble was, it wasn't the right kind of transportation. So the employee was left wondering if they indeed needed to risk their life in order to make it to work. Scroll on to read the full story and find out what happened. 

  • I called off at 5am. At 7am my boss asked if I would come in if I had "transportation"

    I thought he was coming to pick me up on his way to work. I am completely stuck due to my car being plowed in. My boss went to work without me and just told me he is calling a ride share service to my house.
    via u/sonofacrakr
  • I absolutely do not want a complete stranger coming to get me. I trusted my boss because he has AWD and I don't trust that some kid won't show up in a random car just because there is a ton of money to be made today (no one is out on the roads).
    via u/sonofacrakr
  • The roads are so bad here that it's restricted to emergency personnel only. I work at the front desk and it's not necessary. Thoughts?
    via u/sonofacrakr
  • A man in a black parka jacket makes a phone call inside a phone booth while it snows outside
    via Paul Lichtblau

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

  • Commenters gave their thoughts on the situation.

    chezmichelle Just a reminder you don't have to answer calls or texts from work when you are not working, including when you call off due to weather.
    via u/chezmichelle
  • Wrenlet Just stay home. They already said "emergency vehicles only" that's should be more than enough to tell your boss "no, not today".
    via u/Wrenlet
  • newforestroadw... You may find your insurance is not valid if the roads are restricted to emergency only. Although, in all honesty, probably no-one will be calling at work anyway if it's that bad
    via u/newforestroadwarrior
  • Varnigma Ask him if the company will cover all medical bills in the event you're in a crash while some stranger is driving you to work.
    via u/Varnigma
  • kbyyru would he also be calling a ride share service to bring you home after this shift? if he picked you up personally, would he also be bringing you home after this shift? bosses seem to love figuring out any way to get someone *INTO* work, but not so much the *AFTER* work.
    via u/kbyyru
  • jmw403 Why does anyone answer their phone? I don't answer the phone if my own family is calling me, so there's no way in hell I'm answering if work calls.
    via u/jmw403
  • rainbownthedark I'd pretend I didn't see it, lol. I don't know how much you get paid, but I certainly don't get paid enough to risk my life for the damn job.
    via u/rainbownthedark
  • homelabWanna... When roads close and people ignore them, if they get blown over there's an additional fine to boot. I think for non-commercial vehicles it's like $2,000
    via u/homelabWannabie
  • MommaGuy If it's not an emergency room or some other facility that keeps people from dying, he can send JC himself and it's still a no. Just how many clients does he think will show up in a storm?
    via u/MommaGuy
  • Savven I literally cannot fathom why people constantly answer their phones off the clock. I actively prevent my husband from doing this all the time because they do not value or respect YOUR free time. They constantly take and take, but people always let it happen. ugh.
    via u/Savven
  • Anyway, to answer your question; You answered the phone, now you gotta go to work in shitty weather, with a driver who makes you uncomfortable. Next time don't answer when you're off the clock.
    via u/Savven
  • AlpineRavenNE Id just ignore it and if asked later just say you didn't see the text until late that evening.
    via u/AlpineRavenNE
  • AnamCeili The roads are restricted to emergency personnel. You are not that, nor is any rideshare driver. Tell your boss that you will be abiding by the state of emergency established by your Governor, and thus staying home.
    via u/AnamCeili
  • NEVER risk your life for a job (unless maybe you're a neurosurgeon or something).
    via u/AnamCeili
  • tidymaze Maybe remind your boss that the roads are restricted to emergency personnel only, and he can't make that determination. Also, you don't own a shovel and can't dig your car out? Are you just going to wait until it all melts?
    via u/tidymaze
  • pwnageface Im torn on this one. If you called off, stay off. However, sounds like you explained why and boss came up with a solution that they are paying for. Also, you have a fairly important job if youre the front desk person... idk. On the one hand im like yo fuck them! And on the other hand im like damn, what a guy willing to help you out.
    via u/pwnageface
  • Idubdubl Is it just that you don't want to admit that you could have called the rideshare yourself?
    via u/Idubdubl
  • SenatorPardek He should have told you the plan up front, but for liability purposes picking up an employee has some serious potential issues associated with it
    via u/SenatorPardek

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boss antiwork workplace-stories snow day uber driving workplace Horrible Bosses rideshare
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