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Florist Asks If They’d Be Wrong To Fire Husband’s Boss’ ‘Disaster’ Teen Daughter From Their Shop

Artem Varnitsin / EyeEm/GettyImages

Redditor Dizzy-Text873 is the owner of a flower shop and was looking to hire some part-time employees.

She did not mind at first when her husband found someone to help out at the store, but he also had an ulterior motive.

When things did not work out as hoped, she visited the “Am I the A**hole?” (AITA) subReddit to ask a “Would I Be The A**hole” (WIBTA) question.

She asked:

“WIBTA if I fire my husband’s boss’s 17 year old daughter from my flower shop regardless of what my husband says.”

The Original Poster (OP) wrote:

“My husband and I have been married for 8 years. He works in computer science at a large company.”

“My grandparents opened a flower shop many years ago, it was handed down to my parents, and now I run it.”

“I hired Jessica, as a favor to my husband’s boss. Tbh, husband has really been a**-kissing lately as a much higher paying position is going to be opening up and he wants to get it.”

“I know he is being considered but he wants to know he has it in the bag. So after hearing his boss talk about his daughter needing a summer job, he jumped and said we’d love to have her at the flower shop.”

“I could use more part time employees, and he knew that, so I didn’t mind that he offered it to her without telling me first.”

“Well it’s pretty much been a disaster and she’s been here a month. Here’s some of what I deal with:”

“-honestly gave up on trying to get her off her damn phone.”

“-She only works 3 maybe 4 days a week for a few hours, but you can bet she will call off late notice for one of those.”

“-she’s careless, drops things or steps on them and then laughs it off thinking she’s being cute.”

“-we don’t have a uniform. Just jeans and whatever t shirt you can move around in. Jessica, idk why you think wearing a crop top to work is appropriate.”

“-moves so slow -other manager (a good friend of mine) can’t stand her, says I need to just get rid of her.

“I’ve told my husband I can’t take it anymore. He insists she only needs to be hired through the summer and she will leave after.”

“I guess she is a big daddy’s girl and is an angel in the eyes of my husband’s boss. I’ve tried to talk to her, but nothing seems to work. Like I’d almost rather pay her to Not come in if I have to pay her.”

Strangers on the internet were asked to declare one of the following:

  • NTA – Not The A**hole
  • YTA – You’re The A**hole
  • ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
  • NAH – No A**holes Here

A majority of Redditors believed the OP would not be the a**hole in the situation.

Meanwhile, her husband was not let off easily in the comments for unilaterally suggesting the boss’s daughter work at the shop.

“NTA but the repercussions from your husbands job could come anyway, even if you are in the right.”

“The resolution here isn’t really an AITA style thing. My suggestion would be to simply reduce her hours until it is pretty much nothing. That way she isn’t there and you aren’t dealing with the repercussions of letting her go.”

“Then after a couple months, you thank her for her summer of service and let her go.”

“Does she deserve any of that? Nope.” – ACorania

“just document things in her employee file. schedule her for less shifts or have her do stuff that takes no effort. or fire her idk. NTA anywayo.” – lovemykittiez

“NTA but your husband sure is. He’s a big boy, if he wants a promotion he can get it on his own.”

“And truthfully this hurt his chances more than it helps. Enact a strict no cell phone policy and make the other employees obey it as a means to an end.”

“If she misses shifts and is late document it all. And then let her go and go back to your peaceful existence. And find someone who wants to work in your shop. Sounds cool, I wish I could have that summer job!” – apearlmae

“Absolutely, husband is the AH. The fact that he has to, or is willing to, do this level of a**-kissing to get a promotion is indicative that he probably doesn’t deserve it.”

“And he’s willing to compromise his wife’s business?! If she has to fire the teen, and the husband doesn’t get the promotion, will he blame his wife? Ugh. What a mess.”

“The term ‘don’t sh*t where you eat’ extends to a lot more than just workplace affairs. Don’t mix up your personal life and professional life.” – KatieLouis

“Kissing a** is one thing, but pressuring your spouse to do so on your behalf, at the detriment of her business, is quite another.”

“If they agreed that this what what needed to happen, to help his career and their joint situation, that is fine. No a**holes there.”

“But this is him unilaterally suggesting her for the job, and now pressuring OP to keep her. OP and the husband is not in agreement. The question is whether OP is an a**hole for taking care of her business, even if it might hurt her husband’s situation (which he himself created).”

“Or if the husband is the a**hole for pressuring OP. Or, of course, if they pressure is really just him asking nicely – no a**holes.”

“The way OP describes it, he is insisting. And hence, being the asshole in this situation.”

“NTA.” – 343427229486267

“NTA but oh man, I’ve been in a situation like this – we hired the son of a partnership business partner. We tried talking to him more times than we would have with any other employee, but it went in one ear and out the other.”

“If you’re willing to compromise with your husband on this a bit, maybe you should try using an escalating scale of disciplinary action. We allowed up to three (documented and signed) verbal warnings (provided each warning was a separate type of offense), then a written warning (not much different from the verbal, but it had a more in depth description of the offense), then a suspension, then termination.”

“I know it’s not as ideal as firing her outright, but then you’ll at least have a documented paper trail when it’s time to terminate her employment which may help ease your husband’s worries?” – katie-didnot

Overall, the OP was regarded as not the a**hole for wanting to fire the boss’s daughter. Redditors also thought it might be better if the OP could come up with ways that would make the teenager want to quit.

Written by Koh Mochizuki

Koh Mochizuki is a Los Angeles based actor whose work has been spotted anywhere from Broadway stages to Saturday Night Live.
He received his B.A. in English literature and is fluent in Japanese.
In addition to being a neophyte photographer, he is a huge Disney aficionado and is determined to conquer all Disney parks in the world to publish a photographic chronicle one day. Mickey goals.
Instagram: kohster Twitter: @kohster1 Flickr: nyckmo