August 18, 2025 at 1:15 am

He Went To Pick Up His Paycheck When He Was Told To, But The Restaurant Hostess Gave Him An Earful Because It Was Lunchtime

by Ashley Ashbee

Pexels/Reddit

A lot of industries and social experience have an unwritten code of communication. You’re supposed to infer what is appropriate and what isn’t.

Unfortunately this guy didn’t get the memo. See the unfortunate way he found out.

AITA? Called rude for picking up my check.

I work at a restaurant. I won’t go into any detail about the establishment itself. I just started about a week ago, and have worked four shifts so far.

I came in the morning to pick up my check. I was told the lady who hands them out was in a meeting.

Things are about to get really hostile.

I was then told to come back after 12pm. This is all the information I was given.

I go home and play some Oblivion Remastered and show back up around 12:25pm. There was a shift lead working in the front of house area who was told I was there to pick up my check.

She started speaking about me at a high volume (to the point she had to of known I could hear her).

“That’s so rude,” she said.

But now he wonders if it’s justified.

“She’s on her lunch break. He shouldn’t be coming up here to pick up his check. I didn’t even see him work here last week. Why is he even here? Coming in while she’s on lunch!”

She then realized I was looking at her and listening so she smiled and waved. I smiled and waved in return.

AITA? I’m not really familiar with this line of work. I’ve been there for literally four shifts and I don’t feel like I overstepped.

I would have happily waited for her to get off lunch. I was not in any sort of rush. Maybe they meant after 12:59, but after 12 was definitely a miscommunication if I had to say.

Here is what people are saying.

A red flag for sure!