Coworker Bombards Guy With Text Messages Calling Him A “Childless Man Child” After He Refused To Cover Her Shift That Fell On Her Son’s 1st Birthday
Most of the time, issues are as complicated as human beings themselves. Sometimes, however, it can be a simple, clear-cut ordeal. Like this little story from the internet.
We have a situation of two retail workers and a manager in conflict with each other over a last-minute scheduling problem. Simple enough.
But what makes this story spicy is the sheer entitlement some of the folks in this situation have. And no matter how many times it happens, we can’t but still be amazed that it’s a thing.
More Info: Reddit
Working in retail is often bad enough as it is without a coworker blaming you for their inability to participate in their son’s b-day last-minute
Image soure: Tights Rus (not the actual photo)
OP, the Original Poster, also known as u/MayITakeYourGoat on Reddit, turned to the Am I The A-Hole community to settle an issue he had with some of his coworkers.
OP works in retail. One morning, he got a text message from his manager, asking (well, more like ordering) him to come in to fill in for another coworker, Brenda. Turns out Brenda’s son was turning 1 that day, and she couldn’t make it to work.
And that’s exactly what happened in this Redditor’s story, asking the AITA community for some perspective
Image source: MayITakeYourGoat
Her shift started at 2PM and OP got the message at around 10AM, but only read it at 12PM. Just as well, OP already had plans, so that was a no on his part.
However, the manager wasn’t having any of it and started showing some attitude. He said that OP is heartless and horrible (strong words to begin with) for making Brenda miss her son’s 1st birthday.
But then OP asked the key question here—why didn’t Brenda plan this in advance? It’s not like birthdays fall on different dates each year. The manager did the classic maneuver of saying they’d talk once OP was at work.
OP also provided an update, saying Brenda herself attempted to text him, but he just ended up blocking her
Image source: MayITakeYourGoat
Well, sure enough, Brenda started texting. No idea how she got his number, but she did. She too had something awful to say about OP. After a short argument, he blocked her (and her husband, as she used his phone too).
The only conclusion this led OP to was that he needed to find a new job, so he started applying.
Image source: makelessnoise (not the actual photo)
The folks of the Am I The A-Hole? community were as surprised with this kind of entitlement and arrogance from Brenda and the manager respectively.
While the only thing folks had to say against OP was that he could have used more professional language, what OP actually said was still pretty tame compared to what the other two said. Also, this is a retail job, where professionalism is often thrown out the window.
Folks online were all in support of OP, as surprised as he was by how entitled and clueless Brenda was
Everyone agreed that OP is in the right here. A birthday is something folks can plan way ahead, so this was no excuse for neither Brenda, nor the manager to get mad.
Some shared their own retail stories, swearing they’ll never work there again because of situations like this. Others advised OP not to get trampled by the manager and to stand his ground as retail managers are often on the worse end of the spectrum when it comes to managing.
OP himself also provided some more context in the comments. Like what his manager is like, voicing his ideas on abortion and birth control—anything but professional, that one, so who could blame OP for lacking professionalism? Needless to say, the work environment is toxic.
In a couple of other comments, he rants about how Brenda could have not been able to plan this way ahead of time. It’s the same with Christmas—the date does not change, so plan ahead! He explained how his girlfriend’s daughter effectively has 4 different Christmases, and all are planned thoroughly.
Whatever the case, folks thought OP is not the jerk, far from it. The post got a modest 5,300 upvotes with nearly 500 comments and a single Reddit award. But that’s over 5,000 supporting OP, so it’s definitely something.
You can check out the post in context here, or take a look at our other articles that decide who’s the a-hole and who’s not here. But be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
Her child is 365 days old. He is not going to remember his first birthday. It's also apparent that the OP forgot her son's birthday. Otherwise she would have tried to switch shifts with someone as soon as the schedule came out.
Badcat, if you remember your first birthday then you are in a tiny minority. Childhood (or infantile) amnesia affects virtually everyone and can last up to the age of four.
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Somehow, I can't picture someone bitterly complaining: "My childhood was ruined when my mother had to go to work on my 1st birthday." On the other hand, I could see someone saying, "Ma, it's been nearly 20 years, now please shut up about missing my first birthday or go see a therapist."
"I'm sorry that you forgot that it's your kid's first birthday but today is also my cat's bat mitzvah. I planned ahead and, honestly, this is far more important"
Shouldn't that be a cat mitzvah? (btw- Mousletov! to her)
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Her child is 365 days old. He is not going to remember his first birthday. It's also apparent that the OP forgot her son's birthday. Otherwise she would have tried to switch shifts with someone as soon as the schedule came out.
Badcat, if you remember your first birthday then you are in a tiny minority. Childhood (or infantile) amnesia affects virtually everyone and can last up to the age of four.
Load More Replies... Somehow, I can't picture someone bitterly complaining: "My childhood was ruined when my mother had to go to work on my 1st birthday." On the other hand, I could see someone saying, "Ma, it's been nearly 20 years, now please shut up about missing my first birthday or go see a therapist."
"I'm sorry that you forgot that it's your kid's first birthday but today is also my cat's bat mitzvah. I planned ahead and, honestly, this is far more important"
Shouldn't that be a cat mitzvah? (btw- Mousletov! to her)
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