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Manager Tries Everything To Prove Employee Faked Flat Tire, Red-Faced When Employee Provides Proof
Woman sitting in car at night, looking concerned and thoughtful after employee misses work due to flat tire.

Manager Tries Everything To Prove Employee Faked Flat Tire, Red-Faced When Employee Provides Proof

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Work sucks enough without having to take unnecessary heat from your boss. Long hours, office politics, and an overall lack of job satisfaction all add up to weeks that seem to last forever and weekends that fly by in seconds flat.

A woman who got a flat tire on her way to work sent her general manager messages explaining why she’d be late. What she wasn’t prepared for was the manager going out of her way to prove she was lying. She shared her story with an online community.

More info: Reddit

RELATED:

    Work is enough of a struggle, but this woman’s general manager thought she’d make it even tougher for her

    Snow-covered street with parked cars under thick snow, illustrating challenges causing employee misses work due to flat tire.

    Image credits: Shawn Dearn / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

    The woman got a flat tire on the way to work, so she sent her general manager a text explaining her situation, but got no response

    Employee misses work due to flat tire, GM goes out of their way to verify and uncover the truth behind it.

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    Text excerpt about driving to work and time management illustrating employee’s missed work due to flat tire and GM’s efforts to check the truth.

    Text describing an employee missing work due to a flat tire and the GM going out of their way to check the truth.

    Text message about employee missing work due to flat tire, GM offering help by requesting tire photos and assistance details.

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    Text showing employee details flat tire with tools and location in a selfie while explaining missed work situation.

    Text on a pale background about sending pictures delayed due to poor service and finally sending after an hour.

    Text describing calling roadside assistance to replace a tire safely after employee misses work due to flat tire.

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    Text on white background about a resort employee discussing sales and banquet chef accommodations with shared office space.

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    Text describing a general manager checking on an employee who missed work due to a flat tire and ensuring productivity.

    Flat tire on off-road vehicle with wrench attached, illustrating employee misses work due to tire issue.

    Image credits: Kenny Eliason / Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    The general manager called her in to a meeting with her boss the next day and blatantly accused her of lying about having a flat tire 

    Text excerpt discussing workplace interaction and misunderstandings related to employee work and management behavior.

    Text excerpt explaining an employee missing work due to a flat tire and communicating with their manager for approval.

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    Text excerpt showing a meeting scheduled by GM to discuss an employee missing work due to a flat tire situation.

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    Text excerpt showing a manager doubting an employee’s flat tire excuse for missing work and checking the truth on the road.

    Employee missing work due to flat tire, with GM checking the situation and showing concern onsite.

    Alt text: Employee misses work due to flat tire, GM checks and sends roadside assistance document to confirm situation.

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    Text showing a GM warning an employee about possible dismissal after missing work due to a flat tire.

    Text on screen showing a message about sending proof and receiving a response regarding an employee missing work due to flat tire.

    Text excerpt highlighting a general manager going out of their way to check the truth about an employee missing work due to a flat tire.

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    Employee in a meeting with general manager, discussing work absence due to flat tire in a modern office setting.

    Image credits: Tima Miroshnichenko / Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    Shocked to her core, the woman told her general manager that she’d be happy to send over proof that she did indeed have a flat tire

    Alt text: Employee misses work due to flat tire, showing support and concern from a general manager helping on the roadside.

    Text message conversation showing frustration about a manager wasting time checking on an employee's flat tire excuse.

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    Text message conversation about employee’s struggle, mentioning quitting and experiences since starting work at company.

    Text excerpt discussing thoughts on quitting and concerns about industry reputation in a small professional community.

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    Alt text: Employee misses work due to flat tire while general manager goes out of their way to check the truth behind it

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    Text excerpt showing a GM checking for a flat tire after an employee missed work, revealing the truth about the situation.

    Text discussing roadside assistance for a flat tire in snowy mountainous conditions and warranty coverage.

    Text screenshot showing a person explaining to a work friend about an employee missing work due to a flat tire.

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    Text on a white background expressing refusal to snoop around an employee’s car to find evidence of lying.

    Image credit: Born-Recipe-7938

    After talking with her partner about it, he said he was surprised she hadn’t quit on the spot, especially since she’d been disrespected with no apology

    A snowstorm turned OP’s usual hour-long commute into a three-hour nightmare, with some drivers stuck for 15 hours. The next day, she hit something on a hilly highway, getting a flat tire. Unable to safely jack the car in icy conditions, she called roadside assistance and informed her general manager.

    She sent photos: the flat tire, her tools, her location, even a selfie. With poor reception, it took an hour to send. She explained roadside assistance would replace the tire, but her general manager (GM) didn’t respond. When she finally arrived at work, the GM physically grabbed her shoulder mid-conversation and ordered her back to her desk.

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    The following Monday, the GM scheduled a last-minute meeting with her and her boss. She was accused of lying, with the GM claiming she’d driven out to “catch” her faking. The employee offered roadside assistance proof, which the GM demanded. Shockingly, the GM had spent nearly an hour snooping instead of working.

    Later, her boss revealed the GM had even peeked inside her car for “evidence”—her work bestie even confirmed seeing it. OP had never felt so disrespected at work and considered quitting on the spot. After all, who needs enemies when your GM moonlights as an amateur private investigator on the clock?

    Woman sitting in a car at night, looking worried due to a flat tire causing her to miss work.

    Image credits: Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

    From what OP tells us in her post, her GM is a real piece of work, and seemingly on something of a power trip, too. Short of quitting, what can OP do to put her GM in her place? We went looking for answers.

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    First off, OP mentions that her GM manhandled her. According to LegalClarity, when harassment escalates to physical contact, it may result in criminal charges. Offensive touching can lead to battery charges, which hinge on the lack of consent and intent to offend, regardless of the degree of force used.

    Failure to address physical harassment can expose employers to legal liability. Victims may file claims with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or pursue lawsuits for negligence in handling harassment complaints, something OP’s boss would probably want to avoid.

    Now, what about the GM’s lies? In his article for AWNA, Gary Pinchen writes that workplace investigations (usually carried out by HR) play an important role in resolving disputes. According to Pinchen, you’re entitled to procedural fairness, which entails giving an employee a fair and reasonable opportunity to respond to issues or evidence that justify punishment or termination.

    While facing a false accusation at work may be upsetting, it’s critical that you stay calm, seek clarification, document everything, consult with HR, avoid gossip, stay professional, consider mediation, and seek support. 

    We’d say OP has a good chance of turning the tables on her GM and proving that she was the one being dishonest all along. We see a meeting with HR in her future, unless she decides to give the whole mess a skip and quit after all.

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    What would you do if you found yourself in OP’s shoes? Do you think she should go after her lying GM, or write the whole thing off and start looking for another job? Let us know in the comments!

    In the comments, readers told the woman that they thought her general manager was trying to get her to quit and advised her to make a formal complaint as soon as possible

    Screenshot of a discussion about an employee missing work due to a flat tire and the GM’s reaction.

    Screenshot of a Reddit conversation discussing employee missing work due to flat tire and GM involvement.

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    Online discussion about an employee missing work due to a flat tire and a GM checking to find the truth.

    Screenshot of a discussion about an employee missing work due to a flat tire and the GM's unusual response.

    Screenshot of a discussion about an employee missing work due to a flat tire and the GM’s effort to check the truth.

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    Employee misses work due to flat tire, manager shows concern by personally checking the situation and offering support.

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    Reddit discussion about a general manager going out of their way to check on an employee missing work due to a flat tire.

    Online discussion about employee misses work due to flat tire and GM going out of their way to check the truth.

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    Commenter discusses employee’s flat tire excuse, suggesting legal advice and documenting interactions with management.

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    Online discussion about an employee missing work due to a flat tire and the GM going out of their way to check.

    Reddit user discusses employee missing work due to flat tire and GM going out of their way to check the situation.

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    Reddit comments discussing employee missing work due to flat tire and grateful GM checking the truth.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussion about employee missing work due to a flat tire and management checking the truth.

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    Commenters discussing an employee missing work due to a flat tire and suggestions to look for other jobs.

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    Poll Question

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    Ivan Ayliffe

    Ivan Ayliffe

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    After twenty years in advertising, I've decided to try my hand at journalism. I'm lucky enough to be based in Cape Town, South Africa and use every opportunity I get to explore everything it has to offer, both indoors and out. When I'm not reading, writing, or listening to podcasts, I spend my time swimming in the ocean, running mountain trails, and skydiving. While I haven't travelled as much as I'd like, I did live in !ndia, which was an incredible experience. Oh, and I love live music. I hope you enjoy my stories!

    Read less »
    Ivan Ayliffe

    Ivan Ayliffe

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    After twenty years in advertising, I've decided to try my hand at journalism. I'm lucky enough to be based in Cape Town, South Africa and use every opportunity I get to explore everything it has to offer, both indoors and out. When I'm not reading, writing, or listening to podcasts, I spend my time swimming in the ocean, running mountain trails, and skydiving. While I haven't travelled as much as I'd like, I did live in !ndia, which was an incredible experience. Oh, and I love live music. I hope you enjoy my stories!

    Rūta Zumbrickaitė

    Rūta Zumbrickaitė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Hi! Here at Panda's I'm responsible for Photo Editing and all of the things surrounding it. I love finding great, moody or even dramatic photos to fit the story. Besides that, I'm a proud owner of 3 cats with the silliest names and a bazillion plants<3You can find me at a makeup counter with headphones swatching all of the sparkly eyeshadows

    Read less »

    Rūta Zumbrickaitė

    Rūta Zumbrickaitė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Hi! Here at Panda's I'm responsible for Photo Editing and all of the things surrounding it. I love finding great, moody or even dramatic photos to fit the story. Besides that, I'm a proud owner of 3 cats with the silliest names and a bazillion plants<3You can find me at a makeup counter with headphones swatching all of the sparkly eyeshadows

    What do you think ?
    arthbach
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I like the advice of 'leave the disaster behind you'. Putting in a complaint with HR, the owners etc will not make it easier to get a new job. However, after a new job has been secured, the person could always write to the owner, and outline their reasons for leaving.

    Fluffyllama30
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah because I wanna just chill on the side of the road right after a blizzard

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    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Another boss who thinks they're Napoleon.

    Load More Comments
    arthbach
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I like the advice of 'leave the disaster behind you'. Putting in a complaint with HR, the owners etc will not make it easier to get a new job. However, after a new job has been secured, the person could always write to the owner, and outline their reasons for leaving.

    Fluffyllama30
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah because I wanna just chill on the side of the road right after a blizzard

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    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Another boss who thinks they're Napoleon.

    Load More Comments
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