Is this a red flag or just a bad joke or what?

11 Comments

1. Liz MilneOctober 17,2025 at 11:28PM UTC

   Absolute red flag :( I had someone do that to me my first day. My colleague is an absolute walking disaster (messy, disorganised, practically schizophrenic the way she changes from being a decent person to stabbing everyone in the back and openly angling for the manager's job) and she'd bitten off way more than she could chew, pulling A LOT of stock off the shelves (this was my first week and I know now that a) she shouldn't have done it that day, she was meant to be training me, b) she didn't need to reorganise the shelves that way - do one bit at a time, never making a huge mess like she did and c) that she had a very ambitious idea of her own skillset - she thought she was quicker and more efficient than she actually is). Anyway, she had no chance of finishing on time, so she locked up like 40 minutes before she should have (retail outlet) and blatantly ignored people rattling the door trying to get in when they should have still had 20 minutes or more to shop. I was gobsmacked, but new (as previously said), so didn't say anything until she laughed delightedly and said 'Oh, I'll just say you misunderstood me and locked up instead of just closing the door. You're new, so you'll get away with it.'

   Well.

   I was not having any of that and said so forcefully at the time - she laughed it off and told the manager her story, but I'd already messaged him what had actually happened and he had my back.

   Those would-be customers complained about her and they described her to a tee, so I was vindicated, but yeah, what a nasty thing to do to someone new to the job and to someone who is technically your subordinate :(

   Defo stay on your guard and document ALL interactions with her from now on, if she's like my colleague she will 100% throw you under the bus if she thinks she can get away with it...

2. AnonymousOctober 18,2025 at 2:20AM UTC

   My boyfriend told me to record my shifts. I’m only there 3 hours in the morning, so I can just record the full shift. Idk what I’d do with the recordings though..

3. AnonymousOctober 18,2025 at 5:17AM UTC

   I was in a different kind of job, but had a similar thing happen - the person who was training made some errors and blamed it on me. Since the database was time-stamped and the errors were after I went home and before I came back in (The database was only available onsite at that point), I could prove that I did not make the error.

   After that incident, I documented my time carefully so that if she made an error, she had to make it when I was there to correct it or it would obviously have been her error, not mine. Don't know if she was trying to get me fired or not. I did end up leaving for a very much more pleasant and better-paying job as soon as was feasible.

   I would recommend for your situation that you do what has been suggested and document what are doing. Hopefully, management knows what is going on and backs you up, but you are wise to be on guard, as you indicated.

4. AnonymousOctober 18,2025 at 10:20AM UTC

   I would consider it a red flag until proven otherwise. Be on your guard and document everything you do. However, don't let her cause you to leave; when a boss or co-worker is toxic, it is a pleasure to outlast them at the workplace and work with their much nicer replacement.

5. AnonymousOctober 19,2025 at 9:51PM UTC

   I wondered that too; from the context, my best guess was "domestic service provider."

6. Esther WormanOctober 20,2025 at 1:15AM UTC

   Direct Service Provider ?

7. pauline jensenOctober 20,2025 at 2:11AM UTC

   Please don't use initials or acronyms as the audience doesn't know what you mean we don't know what a "dsp" is.

8. AnonymousOctober 20,2025 at 3:36AM UTC

   Says who? Some of us find these longer replies instructive. If this response challenges your reading skills, please go read some other post. Let's keep our responses supportive. The world is cruel enough without adding to it...

   Perhaps you need to write about a situation that bothered you and you are still hurting? If so, I wish you the best.

9. AnonymousOctober 20,2025 at 6:59PM UTC

   I would not take it to heart...it was a joke and plus new people make mistakes, no big deal and are always learning. So, I would laugh it off depending on how long you have been working there. If it's been a month, no big deal, but after your three month review you should have a semblance of everything and if you have complaints, you should definitely bring it up to be addressed.

10. AnonymousOctober 21,2025 at 12:26PM UTC

    Danger, danger Will Robinson! That is a big red flag. If you hadn't caught her mid-act, you would have never known. I'd be on guard and start documenting everything. Good luck!

11. AnonymousOctober 22,2025 at 4:22PM UTC

    When you are in such a personal role as a DSP you are often dealing with either behavioral or developmental issues. Compassion is what is most important in your role and I assume you are a very compassionate hard working DSP. In your new role perhaps sit down with your manager and find out about specific clients that need special handling because of their needs and see/ask how others had catered to those needs. If this person is targeting you it is likely because they are either jealous or lack the compassion and warmth that you have. See if a private conversation with them about how you expect to be treated and how you will treat them in return. Let them know that you are still new and hope they will support your being a part of the team to help the clients you serve. If they are not warm to this conversation please let your HR person know that you are possibly being taunted or targeted and want their help. Good luck in the new role. Don't let this person rain on your parade.