AITAH for letting my coworkers quit because I got fired?

Workplace drama is nothing new, but when a new manager comes in swinging a power trip and fires one of the most senior employees over a technicality, things can spiral fast. That’s exactly what happened when OP—a bartender with four years of experience and a reputation for training nearly every new hire—was fired for pretending to take a shot in exchange for a $100 tip.

Under strict “no drinking on shift” policies, the new manager saw this as a blatant violation, even though OP didn’t actually consume alcohol. Now, the entire bar staff is on the brink of a mass walkout, and OP is left wondering: Did I go too far by influencing my coworkers to quit?

‘AITAH for letting my coworkers quit because I got fired?’

Expert Analysis:

At the core of this situation, we have three major issues:

The ethics of bartenders pretending to drink
The power dynamics of a new manager enforcing strict rules
The consequences of workplace influence

The Ethical Debate: Is “Fake Drinking” Really Wrong?

What OP did is a well-known industry trick—pouring juice to make it look like alcohol so customers feel like the bartender is participating. This boosts tips while maintaining professionalism.

According to Doug Radkey, a bar consultant and author of Bar Hacks: “Bartenders should never drink on the job. However, fake shots are a common industry practice to maintain rapport with regulars while staying sober.”

The issue? There’s no way to prove OP wasn’t actually drinking—which is why many bars explicitly ban even the appearance of drinking.

Power Struggles in New Management

New managers often enforce strict rules to establish authority, but this can backfire if they alienate key employees.

Professor Robert Sutton, an expert in workplace power dynamics, notes: “Managers who assert dominance too aggressively risk damaging morale and creating resistance among employees.”

Instead of building trust, the new manager fired OP as a show of force—without considering how this would impact team morale.

Did OP Go Too Far in Influencing the Staff?

This is where the debate gets tricky. Did OP just share their frustrations, or did they actively incite a rebellion?

Dr. Amy Edmondson, a professor at Harvard Business School, warns: “Employees with strong influence in the workplace must be mindful of how their words impact others, as their opinions can create unintended workplace shifts.”

OP’s frustration was understandable, but their wording encouraged dissatisfaction. Saying things like “you don’t deserve a psycho watching over you” likely fueled resentment, leading to the mass quitting plan.

While OP didn’t force anyone to quit, they used their influence to steer the team’s emotions—which can be seen as stirring workplace unrest.

What Did Reddit Think?

Reddit was divided on the issue—some believed OP was unfairly fired by a power-hungry manager and simply used a common industry trick (NTA), while others argued that OP knowingly broke the rules, fueled workplace rebellion, and left in an unprofessional manner (YTA).