Dance studio boss demands 24/7 availability from her staff, forces employee to constantly cover last-minute shifts

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jun 25, 2026 10:00 AM EDT

If your boss is asking for on-call availability, they need to pay you for it. 

This is a pretty simple idea, but it doesn't always have simple consequences. The employee in this story, shared on the antiwork subreddit, found out. Some jobs have unpredictable hours, and that's just the nature of it. You can't totally control when you're going to work, and you have to live with that. But those kinds of jobs come with different expectations, and you're still allowed to set boundaries. If you're on call, then you better be paid for being on call. But most jobs just try to get away with taking advantage of their employees and getting them to come in whenever they want. It's important that you live a life outside of work. It's your life, after all, and you only get one shot at it. So if you're constantly compromising yourself to do a job that doesn't respect you, then that's a huge issue. The person in this story was experiencing that in a huge way. She just wanted a part-time job to help with living expenses. What she got was an unworkable situation where her boss expected way too much of her without giving much in return. In these kinds of jobs, things come up. 

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  • Shifts need to be covered at the last minute, and that's just the reality. But it's never the fault of the low-level employee for not being able to cover a last-minute shift, especially if you already made plans. It's the manager's responsibility to better staff the operation to fill in the gaps. That's what their job is, and that's what they are paid to handle. Things don't always work out this way, though, and some managers need to learn to respect their employees more. That's what happened here. But when you're young, and you're just starting out, you don't know just how much disrespect you're expected to tolerate. Sometimes you need an outside perspective to help figure it out. Keep reading to see what happened here.

  • Cheezburger Image 10642002176
    via Look Studio

    A tired receptionist sits at her desk

  • Boss mad that I'm not available 24/7 for a part time job. How do I help her be more realistic?

    I work a part time job at a dance studio. I work on Saturdays from 11am to 2:30pm. sometimes she needs me to stay longer if a client books the space. sometimes a client books weeks in advance, sometimes they book a few days in advance but generally speaking, it's not always with a long notice.
    via throwdisaway2024
  • anyways, the other day she got a space rental request but I had already made plans after my normal shift that ends at 2:30pm. she's all like "I specifically hired you because I need someone to cover space rentals". in my mind I'm like sure... but if nothing is booked and I get an opportunity in my life thats not related to this job, I'm not gonna NOT do said
    via throwdisaway2024
  • thing. if you want me to be always available IN CASE the studio gets booked for something, then you need to pay me to keep my availability open 24/7. of course I didn't say this to her and just apologized but I really want to help her understand how unrealistic this expectation is, especially for a part time job in NYC.
    via throwdisaway2024
  • unicorn8dragon This sounds like you're young and that this is a part time job for some extra money. You're hired for whatever hours are agreed to. Generally speaking it's more than reasonable to require a week's notice of your schedule.
    via throwdisaway2024
  • If she wants someone to be available 24/7, unfortunately she should be paying them to be on call. Unless you're desperate for the money, this job isn't worth the grief if this is a reoccurring interaction.
    via throwdisaway2024
  • Next time, don't apologize if you're not in the wrong (doesn't sound like it, here). And set reasonable boundaries, 'I need a week's notice if you need me, otherwise I have other plans and obligations.' Unfortunately people take advantage of other people if they sense weakness, which apologizing and not holding firm boundaries communicates.
    via throwdisaway2024
  • And if she doesn't respect your time, don't respect hers.
    via throwdisaway2024
  • Cheezburger Image 10642001920
    via Look Studio

    A receptionist sits at a desk with her head on her hands

  • Commenters gave their opinions and takes.

    TheLuteceSibling "I work my scheduled hours. With sufficient notice, I can flex my schedule a little, and I'm often happy to do so for a little extra money, but my time outside of our agreed schedule is my time. If you want me on-call, we can agree on a schedule and suitable payment for that."
    via TheLuteceSibling
  • codercaleb Ask her to pay more of your $5k monthly rent!
    via codercaleb
  • scorpiopersephone You can set some sort of deadline you're comfortable with. Like you need 1 week notice if you'll be working past your scheduled shift. If she wants you on call then there is on call pay that is probably required in your state.
    via scorpiopersephone
  • RunningAtTheMouth You get paid for: • Waiting to engage . Engaged to wait. If you're not getting paid for that, you're not obligated to prepare for that.
    via RunningAtTheMouth
  • I think it's wonderful that you can be available sometimes - and you should continue to do that. But unless she's paying extra for checking with her first, it's not something she has any right to.
    via RunningAtTheMouth
  • Additional_Lead3616 Is it possible to have a conversation about introducing a best practice around last minute bookings. She only agrees. to the booking after consulting with you? If you are willing & able to be available for said booking- you both move forward with the reservation. Otherwise, no.
    via Additional_Lead3616
  • You didn't mention anything around pay, but there could be a stipend or commission around these last minute bookings to entice you further. Studio gets booked & you also come up on pay. Win/Win.
    via Additional_Lead3616
  • 0_0-22 Yeah the that own my work are the same way. They expect us to be available for full time hours even tho we only get 20-25 hours a week.
    via 0_0-22
  • Fantastic_Key_8906 You can't. This person sees you as someone that can be pulled in on short notice when required. If that is not what you are expecting you should find something else. Its not like this is an uncommon thing. But you don't have to accept it if you don't want to as long as you can find another job.
    via Fantastic_Key_8906
  • Shoesietart It sounds like you and she need an agreement regarding sufficient notice for bookings, i.e. bookings require at least 48 hours notice. This would not obligate you to be available in 48 hours but it builds
    via Shoesietart
  • more flexibility for everyone. 48 hours minimum notice allows you to change your plans, if possible, or to not make any. Or propose an approach that works for you. The key thing is sufficient notice and acknowledging that sometimes you are not available.
    via Shoesietart

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boss antiwork toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working bad bosses toxic-work-environment
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