Retail Worker Criticized for Refusing Shift on Day Off After Sudden Layoffs, Sparks Online Support

A 22-year-old retail employee, known as ‘AliceWillxo’ on Reddit, shared her frustration online after being branded “not a team player” for declining to work on her day off—just days after her employer abruptly laid off half of the store’s staff.

In a post on the r/antiwork subreddit, she explained that she works at a small mall-based clothing store, where three of the six employees were unexpectedly let go due to “cutbacks.” That left only her, a part-time coworker, and the store manager to handle all shifts.

She had her first day off in over a week scheduled for Thursday and had made plans to catch up on rest, run errands, and attend a doctor’s appointment. But at 8 AM, her manager texted asking if she could come in to help out, saying the store was extremely busy.

“I replied saying I couldn’t because I had plans and wasn’t on the schedule,” she wrote.

Later, she noticed her manager had posted a passive-aggressive story on Instagram, seemingly aimed at her, about “some people only caring about themselves.” The next day at work, the manager told her she was “reconsidering [her] reliability” and commented that true team players step up during tough times.

“I’m making $15 an hour, with no benefits or paid time off. After firing half the staff, you don’t get to guilt me into giving up my only break,” she added. Since then, she said, her manager has been ignoring her at work.

My manager said I “Wasn’t a team player” for not coming in on my day off after they fired half our team
byu/AliceWillxo inantiwork

The story quickly gained traction online, with many users expressing support and solidarity, while also criticizing the company’s poor treatment of employees. Commenters shared similar experiences of being shamed for setting boundaries. One wrote, “A former boss tried to intimidate me because I didn’t jump at every last-minute request. I walked away from that job.”

The viral post has reignited conversations around workplace boundaries, burnout, and how companies expect loyalty from employees without offering proper compensation or respect in return.