In the modern workplace, there are a variety of behaviors that can either make or break a work environment. From simple interactions to more complex situations, each action taken can have a profound impact on the people around us.
This is especially true for managers and leaders, who set the tone for the rest of the team. In this story, we will explore a recent incident involving a manager and their employee, Kate, and the implications of workplace behavior on team morale and productivity.
OP, a 34-year-old manager of a small retail store, decided to check on the store on her day off to ensure everything was running smoothly with the two new hires.
When she arrived, she found her friend and employee Kate, who is 21, in the back showing off some fancy gourmet dark chocolate truffles that her boyfriend had gifted her.
OP asked if she could try the chocolate, and Kate hesitated before telling her that she could buy some on the website and that she had a pamphlet with all the flavors available. OP insisted that she only wanted to try a nibble to see if it was any good.
Sharing Is Caring, Just Not Here
Kate hesitated again, saying that it wouldn’t be right to give away a gift from her boyfriend. OP tried to make a lighthearted joke, suggesting that Kate was being stingy.
OP left the store about twenty minutes later, but an hour later, she received a text from her assistant manager Marla, informing her that Kate had asked to leave early because she wasn’t feeling well.