There’s a fine line between helping someone out and letting someone completely take advantage of you.

One barista watched that line disappear as her coworker continued asking for favors while ignoring to pay back a hefty loan.

Eventually, the imbalance grew so obvious that she had to draw a boundary her coworker didn’t like.

Read on for the full story.

AITA for refusing to keep covering my coworker’s shifts when she still owes me $700?

I, 23F, work at a coffee shop with Kayla, 26F.

Fifteen months ago she was sobbing about vet bills and rent, so I lent her $800 cash.

We wrote it down, both signed it, and she promised to pay it back.

It turns out, Kayla wasn’t so good about keeping her word.

But I’ve gotten exactly $100 total since then.

Meanwhile she’s out getting new tattoos, Uggs, concerts, the usual.

She’s proved extremely undependable in other ways too.

I’ve covered at least 14 of her shifts this past year due to hangovers, dates, “I’m tired,” babysitter issues, etc. Never once complained.

She has never covered for me, not even when I’ve asked in advance.

So when she came begging yet again, this barista shut it down.

Last night she texted begging me to take her opening shift today because she’s exhausted. I’d just worked a double and was scheduled to close again.

I told her no, that I’m done covering until she pays back the $700 she still owes me.

Kayla was quick to play the victim.

She freaked out, called me heartless, played the single-mom card, then posted a vague sob story in the work group chat.

Now half the team thinks I’m harsh for holding money over her head.

But this barista is fed up.

I’m out almost $800 and tired of being her doormat.

AITA for finally saying no?

Kayla knows exactly what she’s doing.

What did Reddit have to say?

This coworker really doesn’t seem like the most trustworthy person.

These other coworkers should pay up or mind their own business.

This commenter echoes the same sentiment.

This redditor thinks there’s an important life lesson somewhere in here.

Kind people don’t deserve to be taken advantage of, but that doesn’t always stop someone desperate enough to latch on to the closest good samaritan.

If her coworker wanted kindness, she should’ve tried offering some back.

If you liked this post, you might want to read this story about a teacher who taught the school’s administration a lesson after they made a sick kid take a final exam.