Server gets unfairly suspended over a covered shift — gives the perfect response when management calls him for backup
While the server was having a relaxed week, the restaurant was struggling with staff shortages.
A server (u/consistent_ebb_4269) had been working at a restaurant for about three years. They were an asset to the business; they never showed up late to work and even picked up extra shifts when required. Everything was going well until the server asked for a day off. Although the manager had approved their leave, the restaurant owner suspended the server for not showing up at work. Later, when the restaurant fell short on staff, they insisted the server return to work, but they refused and watched the place run into chaos. They posted the story on Reddit on January 20.
AITJ for refusing to help my job when they were short staffed after they suspended me unfairly
byu/Consistent_Ebb_4269 inAmITheJerk
The server was so good at their job that customers had specifically mentioned their name in Google reviews. "I'm not trying to brag, but I am genuinely their best server... Management knows this and has told me multiple times how much they rely on me," they wrote. The tension, however, began when they requested a day off. The manager agreed because they were supposed to have a new girl join in who could cover their shift. But the restaurant owner didn't think it was a good call. "Tuesday afternoon, I got a text from the owner asking why I didn't show up. I explained exactly what my manager told me, and he said the new girl doesn't count as a real server yet and that I was responsible for finding an actual server to cover. So in his eyes, I just no-showed," the server wrote. Consequently, they were suspended for a week. The server was pretty annoyed, but had the best week off from work. "I slept in every day, watched movies, played disc golf, hung out with my girlfriend and friends. No alarm, no stress, and no rude customers," they recalled. While the server was having a relaxed week, the restaurant was struggling with staff shortages.
On Friday, the owner called the server and requested that they return to work. "I told him I hadn't learned my lesson yet and couldn't possibly come in. He got quiet and said he'd figure it out," the server recalled. The following week, they returned to the restaurant, and surprisingly, everyone was nice to them. "No one has said anything about the suspension, and the owner has been weirdly polite ever since," they wrote. It's annoying how the owner suspended the server for something they hadn't done, but expected to return immediately when the restaurant demanded.
The work culture has become so toxic that people feel guilty asking for leave. A survey by Zippia found that more than half of American respondents (61.3%)feel guilty about taking time off work. The 'guilt' fact apparently also depends on the gender, meaning the survey found that female workers are 20% more likely to feel guilty than male workers. What's surprising is that workers are 58% more likely to feel guilty for taking a sick leave than a vacation. Another survey of 2,000 Americans also uncovered shocking statistics. The study found that nearly 60% of working professionals in the USA have a horrible work-life balance. While 46% said they never have time to relax, 38% reported working for 'too many' hours.
Meanwhile, netizens went all out, supporting the server while calling out the owner; for instance, u/tiny_note8134 commented, "You were suspended. That means you don't work there that week. You did exactly what suspension means, and he's mad because he thought he'd punish you and still have you available when convenient. That's not how it works." u/evening_delay_1856 shared, "Heavens no, you’re NTJ. That man cost you a week’s wages. He’s the jerk. You put it to him perfectly. Evidently, he has learned the lesson, though… If he wanted to blame somebody, he should have blamed the manager. And what does he have a manager for if what the manager says doesn’t count? He’s lucky that you didn’t go find another job during your suspension." Similarly, u/softstaticwave0 commented, "They suspended you; that means you’re not working. You don’t get to be punished and then treated like an emergency backup at the same time."
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