AITA for not covering anymore shifts for the other girl at my workplace?

[Anonymous]

Hi there. At my workplace, there is only 2 of us girls that covers nighttime work (i do Tuesday-friday 12am-5/6am) and the other girl does Saturday-Monday, usually the same times.

over the last month, the weekend girl hasn't been turning up and i have had to pick up her slack and its getting a bit beyond the joke now, i dont usually plan to do anything on my days off. But its still very frustrating when i will be at home spending time with my partner and i get a message from the other girl asking me to cover her, cause she's got a headache or stubbed her toe or just something that is just dumb.

when i asked her to cover one of my shifts in return for doing one of hers, she makes up excuses or doesn't. This weekend i planned on seeing my grandma and she cancelled on going to work, so now i have to cover her (my boss didn't ask me, i was forced). Im at my wits ends, cause this has been going on for a bit over a month now. I like my days off too and it makes it feel like i can't plan weekends, cause i dont know if she will turn up or not.

i did send my boss a message and said “i will this time, but after Monday, i won't be able to cover her anymore. I have plans outside of work on my days off and had to reschedule them, this time. Next time i won't be able to”. My boss said “okay, thanks. Tell me what your plans are next time, cause i dont know”. I was thinking ‘i shouldn't have to, since they are my days off’.

i am planning on using my weekends to catch up with family/friends and making mondays my days to see my therapist, i do try and make plans on my days off. But figured if i have mondays unavailable the weekend girl will have to woman up and do her work, i understand times can be tough. But I've never asked her to cover for my shifts. But she dumps all of hers onto me and as you can imagine, im annoyed. But WIBTA if i was to stop covering her?

[DreamCrescent]

You’re doing fine. You have a strong work ethic and a high sense of responsibility. You’ve shown your reliability and your dedication when you’ve stepped in multiple times to cover a coworker’s absence


Then your supervisor started taking advantage and dropping the ball on her own responsibilities. She needs to make sure that shifts are covered, it comes with the title. The easy lazy way is to infringe upon your days off when there’s no coverage


It’s time to draw your boundaries. I know it’s hard to say no to a supervisor but you’re entitled to your time off. Simply “sorry, i can’t, i’ve already made plans.” she has to figure it out. Doesn’t matter if your plan is to stare at the ceiling on your day off.


I’ll just remind you, when you say no, when you draw your boundaries, you must be direct and final. None of this “sure this time but not next time” business. It opens the door for the supervisor to negotiate your boundary, like she’s asking you to tell her how far she can push. You don’t need to give her an itemization of your plans beforehand, you’re available or you aren’t when you’re asked


and don’t worry, you’re not at risk for trouble. You’re working your shifts, you’re meeting expectations


Good luck, girlie 🍀

[Asker]

I've been at the job for almost a year now, i know my boss won't really be mad at me. As its actually hard for find people to work the days/hours. I usually turn up pretty early to catch up with a few people before they go home, i have only had 3 days off so far (2 days when i was really sick and 1 when i had to babysit as a emergency came up), im very reliable for my job. But i do like my days off too

I do think my boss is getting a bit annoyed having to make me cover for all the shifts the other girl doesn't want to do, the job was fine when i first started, as the weekend girl didn't do this, but over the last month its gotten progressively worse. At least 1 day out of the weekend is when she has to have the time off.

It was very hard for me to make plans a few months ago, as she told me that a family member was terminally ill and if they passed, she would have to leave and i needed to come in. Regardless of me having plans or not. I have offered her if i did 1 of her shifts, could she do mine and she said “no sorry”.

I was working Mondays originally, but she whinged and complained until she got them back and now she's been back on mondays, she has been slacking off and expecting me to go in.

My partner suggested that the next time she wants me to cover her, i should say “no” and leave it at that or dont even message her back and pretend i was sleeping

[Oliverlogan263]

You're totally not the asshole here, luv. That other girl is taking major advantage by constantly making you cover her shifts last minute. It's not fair that you have to rearrange all your plans and cancel on friends/family just cause she's being lazy.

You've seriously been helping her out for over a month? I wouldn't put up with that for so long. Your days off are your time, you shouldn't have to spend them on the clock just cause she can't handle her responsibilities. Like you said, shit comes up sometimes but it's too many excuses at this point.

I think you gave her a fair warning that you're not covering anymore after this weekend. It's on her to find someone else to take her shifts going forward if she keeps slacking. Your boss should understand you have a life outside work too and need time to recharge. The other girl is the problem, not you for sticking up for yourself finally.

Don't feel bad at all, boo. Enjoy your plans on your days off from now on without having to drop everything when she bails. She made her bed, now she can lay in it. You did your part covering all this time, so you're definitely NTA here in my book.

[handsomelad70]

"Woman up," GREAT ONE !!! I'm sure you could complain to your HR Department about her shirking her duties.