I (23F) work at a small cafe, and things can get pretty chaotic, especially in the evenings. That day, we were short-staffed and busy. I was on front counter the entire shift, taking orders, handling payments, and cleaning as I went. Another coworker was in charge of online orders.
Right before closing, our manager came out asking why a big online order was never made. Before I could even say anything, my coworker said it was probably my fault since I was “right there all day.” That caught me off guard because I never touched the online system once that shift.
The manager then suggested I stay late to remake the order so it could be fixed quickly. I explained that I didn’t make the mistake and that I had already mentioned earlier I couldn’t stay late because I had plans. I wasn’t rude, I just said I didn’t think it was fair for me to take responsibility for something I didn’t do.
My coworker got irritated and said I wasn’t being a team player and that I should just help out instead of arguing. I said I was willing to explain what went wrong or help in other ways, but I wasn’t going to take the blame or stay late for someone else’s mistake.
I left at my scheduled time. Since then, he’s been acting cold and telling people I left him to deal with everything alone. A few coworkers think I should’ve just stayed to avoid tension, but it feels wrong to be expected to sacrifice my time and be blamed just because it was convenient.
AITAH?
NTA, if you work at a small cafe I’m going to assume you’re not being paid enough to sacrifice your time for the sake of a coworker.
NTA and your manager should shut that shit down.
NTA. This coworker is mad that you didn’t take the blame for something that was not your responsibility, stay late to fix his mistake, and hold him accountable for said mistake. So now he is badmouthing you? He is your coworker, not your manager. He has no authority to tell you to stay late. The fact that he tried to guilt you into staying instead of asking says everything about him as a coworker. The other coworkers who are telling you to suck it up are not your friends.
NTA. I love that you stood up for yourself. Not everyone can do that.
Coworker can fuck off. How dare he call you selfish after blaming you for his mistake
NTA. I’m assuming the manager was nowhere to be seen until close? If any manager is not prepared to come out and help during the peak times, that’s a sign they are only looking for a desk job and cannot run a business to save their life.
So hot take: I think this is a ‘small’ NSH moment as you were in the right explaining what happened, and what you can and cannot at that moment and the coworker possibly went into survival mode — maybe they were already under hot water from some thing else and didn’t want that flack as well.
The true AH is the manager. I’ve been a customer service manager for years and one thing all great managers have in common is knowing what’s going on. Your manager was clearly unaware of who had what role for the day. Yeah, I would have asked the same question, but also I would have already known the answer. Furthermore, if the “employee” makes a mistake of that kind of magnitude and you asked for and was denied help form the other employees – then you’re making that order along with never forgetting how we got to that situation in the first place.
NTA, Your co-worker’s mess up isn’t your responsibility. If he just admitted to his own fuck up and then maybe asked for your help that would have the most professional route to take. Opposed to just throwing you under the bus.
What are the chances if this worked and you were saddled with the blame. Would your co-worker stay behind to help out? My more pessimistic side would say probably not.
Also, I feel like this issue should have been caught way-way earlier by the on-shift manager if the order was large enough for it to be noticeable and unfilled by them.
NTA – A “team player” wouldn’t have thrown you under the bus to begin with. If anything, the manager should have asked both of you to work “as a team” to resolve the situation or handled it themselves.
Ignore the slacking liar, he’s not going anywhere in life. I’d have a meeting with your boss about this dude.
Why do I have to avoid causing tension when you could’ve avoided causing artificial tension
NTA but you still could have handled it better by explaining more. Better communication is always a good thing, and then people wouldn’t be upset b
NTA
“Team player” “acting cold”