AITA for making my colleague work different hours and not caring about her money ?

A Reddit user (21F) has been commuting to work by train since April, getting up early to save money. A new coworker, X (23F), offered a ride to work, but the user politely declined, as taking the train is significantly cheaper for her.

X now complains about the refusal, saying she has to pay full price for gas and even accusing the user of making her change her work hours. The Redditor feels they shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting to save money, but their coworkers disagree. Read the full story below.

‘ AITA for making my colleague work different hours and not caring about her money ?’

Since april i’ve (21F) had to take the train to get to my work. I work 7-3 but i have to get up at 5am to not be late for my train at 6. I’ve gotten used to this and feel no need to ask anybody for a ride. But we have a new coworker (23F, lets call her X) who is really polite and funny and overall i like her a lot.

X is from my town and recently asked me if i would like to drive to work with her, since she has a car and i don’t. I’ve considered it but because i have a lot of discounts (im a student) the cost of taking the train is 4 times less than what i would have to pay if i drove with her (if we split the cost of gas in half). So i declined politely.

Here’s the issue: this happened two weeks ago and now some of my other colleagues told me that i was TA for refusing. I also found out that X talked s**t behind my back because of this situation. They said that because I refused she has to pay full price for gas and she’s also young and needs the money.

Additionally, as i said i work 7-3 but my other coworkers work 8-4. If I agreed to drive with X, our boss agreed to let her work 7-3 as well (which she prefers). Apparently I should have taken this into consideration (even though she didn’t mention this at all) but honestly even if she told me I wouldn’t change my mind.

I got accused of making her work different hours on purpose (wtf!) and heartless for making ‘another young woman like me throw away money’. I think it’s ridiculous! Im 21 trying to save money for rent (I wanna move out from my parents house next year) and I also pay for my university, so i try to save every penny.

X is still trying to convince me to agree but as for now I still said no. I feel like X should take the train as well (even tho she’s not a student and won’t get a discount its still cheaper than buying gas) if she wants to save money. Im sure our boss would still let her work 7-3 then… But at the same time i understand X, driving is much more comfortable than taking the train and she lives further away from the train station than i do.. So… AITA??

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

Worth-Season3645 −  NTA….What the what? Other colleagues want to pressure you for not accepting rides to work from another city-worker? Because she is young and wants to save money? I would tell them, “And I’m not young? I don’t want to save money, as a college student? I was already working here.

She took a job here knowing she had to drive. I do what I can to save money. I take the train. Why doesn’t she? So, you all think I should spend more of my money than I gave to save her money? Why exactly? If it bothers you all so much, I suggest you take up a weekly collection and spend more of your money and pay for her gas.”

Even_Enthusiasm7223 −  You are not responsible for her work hours or commute costs. She was being nice, but no is a fine answer. If the CO workers are that upset let them pay for her gas. People get mad for the dumbest reasons. You are doing nothing wrong, enjoy your train ride.. Nta

Lucky-Resolution890 −  NTA. if she can’t afford having a car, then she should take the train as well.

GoreGoddezz −  NTA. You’re not obligated to accept her offer just bc she asked. And based on her response to your no, i’d say you dodged a bullet. However, I would tell all these people talking that if they want to cover your share of the gas, which is more than you pay now, you may be willing to accept the offer. That should quiet them down. Besides… If your boss really wanted to give her 7-3, he would. It wouldn’t be contingent on you needing a ride.

OrciEMT −  NTA. You’re not supposed to subsidize your coworkers car.

Ok-Position7403 −  Your coworkers are awfully invested in something that is none of their business. I would take it with a grain of salt that she talked s**t about you. Sounds like THEY are the ones that are upset about it. It’s possible they took her factual telling of your response to a level in THEIR heads that she never once voiced.

Even if coworker comes up with an offer that saves you more money I would decline. Keep as much distance as you can from these nosy busybodies. NTA. If they bring it up again I’d just say, “I’m good. If you want to help her so bad, you should look for another solution because what I’m doing works best for me.”

EducationalFront574 −  Nta so they think it is ok for you to have to spend more money on transportation  so she can save on the cost of gas to drive herself to work?? Are all the people you work with this stupid. 

Snurgisdr −  NTA. You have the correct solution in your last paragraph – if she doesn’t want to pay for gas, the solution is not for you to pay her gas, it’s for her to take the train.

mdthomas −  she has to pay full price for gas and she’s also young and needs the money. Additionally, as i said i work 7-3 but my other coworkers work 8-4. If I agreed to drive with X, our boss agreed to let her work 7-3 as well (which she prefers). None of this affects you in any way. Apparently I should have taken this into consideration

Why? It doesn’t affect your work, so your employer can’t make you do it. You’re not responsible for your coworker. I got accused of making her work different hours on purpose. Her hours are a concern for her and her supervisor, not you. making ‘another young woman like me throw away money. She chooses to drive, she chose her car, she pays for the gas. You have nothing to do with it.. NTA

Human-Obligation3621 −  NTA. You could offer to pay her what it costs you to ride the train in order to help defray her costs and then she could work your schedule and it wouldn’t cost you anything extra. It doesn’t make sense for you to pay more money so that she can save money. Anyone who is supporting her doesn’t seem to have the full story.

After this experience however, I wouldn’t consider carpooling with her. She is clearly not as nice as she appeared at first if she is willing to turn the whole office against you because… you didn’t want to give her money? Who knows what she will consider your responsibility next? Steer clear!

She is the one who accepted this job knowing her transportation options and their associated costs. You had nothing to do with it and you are simply choosing to continue to have nothing to do with it.

Was the Redditor wrong to prioritize their own financial situation and decline the ride offer, or should they have considered their coworker’s circumstances more? How would you handle this situation? Share your thoughts below!