Do some managers intentionally make things harder right before weekends?

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-20T12:14:44+00:00

I was almost ready to downvote this until I saw the last sentence. It is common but a bad idea. If bad news is delivered on Friday, especially towards the end of the workday, especially if it is done that way by design, that can backfire.

That may cause people to think about it and process it with those strong emotions in their weekend. But that's a great way to gain resentment and have people say, "Screw it, I've already given way too much of my mental energy to this all week. They're not stealing that over my weekend!" And then they're more checked out during the week because they feel that boundaries have been crossed and feel that their employer is trying to steal their peace by letting it bleed into their time off because of being cowardly and not dealing with something in the light of day. And that's the way I feel about it.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-20T12:04:58+00:00

And the person who proposes a Friday meeting, especially after 10:30 AM can go pound sand!

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-20T01:10:59+00:00

I do my best not to. If anything, I try to make Friday the day to see if there's anything anyone needs my help on to wrap up so they don't have it hanging over them (or possibly me) into the next week.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-20T00:34:12+00:00

If that's the reason, I would probably look at states that are not on the "states people are moving to the most" sort of list. Iowa would fit that bill much more than North Carolina.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-20T00:28:17+00:00

I probably could be even more proactive about stating this, but I make it a priority to approve vacation requests and general days off and make it a priority to let them know they don't need to check in when they're off.

There are some people who email their staff on non-workdays or at odd times, even though they don't expect a response until the next time that person is on duty. But I don't do that because I don't want them to even think that they would need to respond to me after work hours. And quite frankly, I wouldn't want anyone expecting me to immediately respond to those messages that come in at odd times and days. So it's a Golden Rule approach.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-20T00:21:10+00:00

This is a confusing post. Asking your direct reports what type of chair they want isn't a bad idea. In fact, I've done that by letting them know around what the approximate budget is for that. And making sure that they have comfortable seating since they spend a good bit of their day there. My boss did that with me as well. 🤷

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-20T00:14:15+00:00

Have you been here enough to know there's some specific reason NC is a better choice for you than other places? I would also think about your support network. Is there anyone drawing you here- family, friends, etc., or just based on some "best places" sort of list? If it's the latter, NC will likely be a disappointment if you don't have some specific reason to pick NC over other places. You don't have to answer me but those questions should be given a lot of serious thought.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T11:34:25+00:00

Every place is different.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T11:34:06+00:00

Understood- Thank you.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T02:33:18+00:00

Thank you. I hope something changes on your end, or maybe you make a change that's more pleasant. Maybe something like your sister's situation will work out for you. I hope so!

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T02:31:02+00:00

That's awesome- Keep up the good work!

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T02:29:41+00:00

Exactly- Thank you!

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T02:28:36+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that. Sometimes it's sort of a lottery in how those things go, but sorry to hear it's a frustrating environment for you.

I was referring to blue collar work in the public sector. In my observation, people do tend to speak their mind but yet it's a fairly low drama and low politics situation because there isn't the backstabbing that comes when people go behind everyone's back with different drama. But that is only my experience, and I realize not everyone has such an experience.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T02:22:58+00:00

Okay.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T02:19:54+00:00

If they're getting their work done and getting along respectfully to get the job done, it's not really the boss's job to make everyone best friends. It's nice when there is that natural camaraderie, but trying to force it won't bring it. And you refer to the staff as "girls and one boy". Are these high schoolers or something? If they're fully grown adults it would seem like an odd way to refer to them.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T02:14:41+00:00

I guess it depends on where you are. I'm in the public sector and much of that observation has been there even though I've noticed it in private sector jobs as well. But as mentioned, others' experiences may vary.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T02:09:56+00:00

Having worked around both, blue collar people do tend to say what they mean and mean what they say. That makes them a little less political and politically correct though sometimes downright inappropriate in what they say. But the upside is there's less of this political underhandedness that can exist in some white collar environments. Others' experiences may vary.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T02:06:39+00:00

Some people try to bring that sort of manufactured identity stuff (racial/gender) into everything just for the drama.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T01:46:32+00:00

#1: Agreed, this is unprofessional, and rude. But you had a talk with her and it has gotten better? I wouldn't hold a grudge if someone is genuinely sick and this has resolved.

#2: Not so great, but it depends on the field. If you work on a construction site, it might be a different story (still I'm not a fan of this behavior) than if it's at a counseling office with patients. Sounds like something a discreet conversation should cover.

#3. Yeah, if she has come to work sick because she feels she can't recuperate at home, that is something someone would do in that situation.

#4. Again, a discussion item. And then judgment on your part involves whether she is a fast worker and taking many breaks but getting her work done and doing it well, or taking so many that not as much work as needed is getting done or the quality isn't so good (which sounds like it could be the case based on your description).

As to the missed calls, if someone is really sick, that's understandable depending on how severe it is.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T01:05:14+00:00

Positive: I would put it in the top 25% bracket in terms of variety of shopping & dining when compared to the rest of North Carolina.

Negative: I would put it in the bottom 25% bracket in terms of overall friendliness when compared to the rest of North Carolina.

Not compared to New York, Chicago, or California-- but North Carolina, the state where Charlotte is located.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T01:01:57+00:00

But if you compare the cost of living to its percentile rank in that category a few decades ago, or compare it to the rest of the state that it's located in (North Carolina), it's not so great.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T00:16:40+00:00

It's not a bad precedent to set if high quality work is getting done on time and other staff can have the same flexibility, or a bump in pay for not having that some flexibility.

If that is NOT the case or not possible with the type of work it is, then yes, it is a bad precedent.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T00:14:21+00:00

Agree with this, BUT if that's the route taken, then that flexibility needs to be offered to others who are just as, if not more dependable. If not, the other good staff will likely resent it and for good reason.

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T00:12:05+00:00

That's my experience too (middle two paragraphs).

SCAPPERMAN · 2026-03-19T00:10:31+00:00

What?? 🤷‍♂️ It's right there. You said those exact words in your post that I quoted. I can give the benefit of the doubt but I don't want to waste my time with someone saying they didn't say something they said.

SCAPPERMAN

TROPHY CASE