Fast food employee uses manager's words against her so she doesn't have to work late.
Dealing with management is the worst part of any job. Poor communication, micromanaging, and disrespect are just a few things managers do that make working even more unbearable than it already is.
On a popular Reddit thread in the Malicious Compliance Subreddit, one woman takes advantage of a rude manager's choice of words.
She writes:
So I work at a Canadian coffee chain called Tim Hortons, basically Canadian Dunkin Doughnuts. I was about halfway through my shift the other day when my manager Kathy came up to me while I was busy and said, 'you’re staying late because you owe me a favor' and walked away. Someone had called out, and she wanted me to cover part of their shift.
Now, if I stayed late, I’d be working twelve hours, and I’m on my third straight day working out of five and had to be up early the next day for another shift. Not to mention I didn’t even owe Kathy anything. The 'favor' she’s referring to is when she sent me home early because we weren’t busy, which she had to do, or she would get in trouble.
Now in Canada, an employer can’t force you to stay late like that, so I walked up to Kathy when I had a free moment and said, 'if you want me to stay later, you can ask me properly. I don’t disrespect you, so I expect to be given respect in return.' Kathy gets snippy 'oh, calm down; I was just joking with you.' I was about to fight back, but a lightbulb went off in my head.
I walked away and continued my work. When the people on the next shift started showing up, I ran my plan past them, and they gave me the go-ahead. Cue malicious compliance. Instead of staying later, I went home at my usual time. I didn’t stay later as I hadn’t agreed to anything. Nearly the second I sat down at home, I got a call from none other than Kathy,
Me: hello?
Kathy: where are you? I said you were staying late today.
Me: you said you were joking.
Kathy: Yeah, with how I asked, but I figured you needed hours and weren’t going to say no, so I assumed you’d stay.
Me: I can’t. I’m busy. This is why you should’ve appropriately asked. Click
Kathy had to cover the shift. The worst part is I probably would’ve considered covering it had she just asked me nicely, but I’m a petty b*tch.
The internet loves when a boss gets told off.
ToastedMaple says:
By the way, in Canada, if they send you home early, they HAVE to pay you for a minimum of 3 hours or half of your scheduled shift, no matter how long you have been there. Show up for 30 minutes and get sent home? You're supposed to be paid. Make sure that happens.
SheWhoLovesToDraw says:
Classic bully response. You told her she was being offensive, and her immediate response was to gaslight you and try to make you seem like you're in the wrong. 'Oh, calm down! I was just joking with you!'
I also love the 'I figured you needed hours and weren't gonna' say no, so I assumed you'd stay'. Top notch management right there!
jehan_gonzales says:
You weren't being a petty b*tch. You were being an adult. Which can seem like a petty b*tch when you're a child.
You did the right thing, OP! Tell your manager that assuming makes an a** out U and ME!