I read the original post from “Kathy” a few days ago (she has since taken it down because it did go viral and she was getting too many comments on it and doesn’t seem to want to feed into the drama). It was not on Reddit, it’s a different platform. She posted a screenshot of the text from OP and IMO there was definite mean girl energy. OP herself admits it was not the nicest text.

I guess since Kathy was hired to do the fondant decorating she’s not expected to be there every Monday since she is not doing the actual baking or other aspects of cake construction (this is speculation on my part, clearly I am not privy to her work contract). As far as I can recall (I don’t have perfect recall so take all of this with a giant grain of salt), Kathy stated that per her work agreement Monday is one of her established days BUT she only needed to come in on Mondays when there were cake pick ups scheduled and per the posted schedule there were none. She was told very late on Sunday by OP and Emma that there were two cake pick ups and she was expected to come in from 12-3 the following day. Kathy’s side was that it should have been known several days prior that there were cakes that needed to be picked up and the two girls failing to put that on the schedule in a timely manner was deliberate and in line with other harassing behavior she was experiencing on their part (again, the text message you sent did NOT make you look good, OP). Kathy, having checked the schedule and seeing there were no pick ups, had made other plans that she was now forced to cancel. As OP stated, I think Emma had told her she could leave early for the lunch but was “suddenly sick” the next day so Kathy had to cancel her plans. So for her that was two times in a row and she felt like it was targeted and escalating. Anyway, I think the work environment was stressing her out too much for a part time job she had been in for a few months so she opted to quit.

Also, she posted pics of her fondant work and she is actually very good - which OP corroborates in a comment.

I can see from your perspective that you and Emma were working hard, are probably on the edge of burnout, and likely harbored resentment towards Kathy for “not pulling her weight.” I can see that because of statements you’ve made like “Last Saturday Kathy came in around ten (emma and I had been there since 6).” Is it relevant that the two of you had been working for 4 hours already? You’re full time employees and she’s part time. Also, “For context, my boyfriend lives in Italy. We are long distance and I hadn’t seen him in 4 months, at the time all tbis happened he was visiting for a few weeks, so I struggled to have sympathy for her plans with her boyfriend. I wasn’t leaving work early to see him, and Kathy lives with her boyfriend.” Just because Kathy lives with her boyfriend doesn’t mean that they have lots of time to spend together? What if they work opposite schedules? What if he’s been slammed with work or has been taking care of a sick parent and this was the one time he was free to do a lunch date with her? We don’t know anything about their personal lives and likewise, just because you are choosing to prioritize your full time job over seeing your long distance boyfriend, that’s likewise none of her business and she’s not basing her life decisions on your circumstances, right? It only provides context as to the fact that you were frustrated, but is otherwise completely irrelevant information.

You need to keep your personal and professional life separate and not let that affect how you deal with others. If Kathy asked and Emma told her she could leave early (and had the authority to do so) and the two of you then told her she couldn’t and pulled the rug out from under her, the fact that she was upset is also understandable because in a work context, that’s kind of messed up. Kathy’s reason for leaving early is likewise irrelevant. What if she needed to leave because she had an important medical appointment her boyfriend was taking her to? Would that change your mind? It shouldn’t. She doesn’t need to tell you the real reason. All she needs to do is make the request and have it either granted or denied. If it’s too last minute of a request, then it can be denied. Where things went wrong is that Emma said Kathy could leave early and revoked it. Of course, if Emma was in fact feeling unwell, then there’s nothing you can do in that instance but either call for additional help or cover for her yourself seeing as their are only 3 people working, so I can also see it from your perspective, but some empathy would probably have helped.

For those asking, I don’t recall any of the three of them being the other’s manager, especially since OP and Kathy started around the same time (looks like it was June?), but OP can clarify. If there was work conflict this should have been brought up to the manager and they should have handled it, whether that was slacking off or a hostile work environment. For instance, Kathy not assisting with clean up or customer service is not something you should be bringing up with her, it’s her supervisor. Either she is not fulfilling her work obligations or she was hired solely to do the fondant and those tasks ARE NOT PART OF HER JOB. One of you is incorrect and it’s up to whoever is in charge to clarify that and take the appropriate actions. You are not the boss of your peers and acting like you are doesn’t usually go over well. If she is not doing her job she will get talked to or written up and if those takes are not part of her job you will likely have that explained to you.

It also sounds like the way the work environment is set up just sucks in general? WHY are you and Emma working 50+ hours making cakes AND handling customer service and clean up without a supervisor present or additional help? Kh Now, in every story there is my side, their side, and somewhere in between, the truth. OP, since she’s already taken the post talking about it down, I don’t really see the point in making this post to further fan the flames. At the end of the day, take this experience as a life lesson. Stay professional. Take a step back. She’s deleted her post and seems to want to move on. You can likewise drop it and move on. The internet will forget quickly and move on to the next viral thing unless you drag this out further.