We and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our site to personalize content and ads, provide social media features, and analyze our traffic. You can read more about it and change your preferences here.
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.
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
Employee misses work due to flat tire, manager shows concern by personally checking the situation and offering support.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
Commenter discusses employee’s flat tire excuse, suggesting legal advice and documenting interactions with management.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
Commenters discussing an employee missing work due to a flat tire and suggestions to look for other jobs.
ADVERTISEMENT
Poll Question
Total votes ·
Thanks! Check out the results:
Total votes ·
Newsletter
Subscribe to Access Exclusive Polls
By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!
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!
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!
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
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
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.
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.
36
4