This 22-Year-Old Charges Coworkers Cash to Cover Shifts – Savvy Side Hustle or Shady Scam?

When most people picture Thanksgiving, they imagine turkey, family, or maybe Black Friday deals. For one 22-year-old Redditor, the holiday meant something different: relaxation, gaming, and hanging out with his pet ferret.

He had requested the time off well in advance, making sure he could spend the day exactly how he wanted.

But his peaceful plan quickly turned into an unexpected hustle. A coworker desperately needed that Thanksgiving slot, and instead of kindly swapping or saying no, he saw an opportunity. His offer? He’d give up his shift for $400.

The Deal: Vacation Fib or Fair Market Value?

At first, his coworker balked at the price. Four hundred dollars for one shift? That’s more than some people make in a week. But after a bit of back-and-forth, she caved. The Redditor sweetened the deal with a little white lie: he claimed he had “vacation reservations” that would cost money to change.

In truth, there was no vacation. Just a quiet apartment, a video game console, and a ferret waiting to be spoiled. Still, the money changed hands, the shift was swapped, and the Redditor walked away $400 richer.

The Fallout: Roommate Throws Shade

While his coworker might have been satisfied, his roommate wasn’t buying the story.

Booking holidays off only to turn them into profit struck him as manipulative. “You’re gaming the system,” the roommate argued, suggesting the Redditor had crossed a moral line.

The criticism hit a nerve, sparking the Reddit post that ignited debate.

Was this young man a savvy hustler who simply recognized the value of his time, or was he a jerk for lying and cashing in on a coworker’s desperation?

Expert Insight: When Shift Swaps Become Side Hustles

Workplace consultants note that shift swaps are common, especially in industries with unpredictable schedules like retail, food service, and healthcare.

A 2023 labor study found that nearly 60% of hourly workers cover shifts for colleagues at some point during the year. But charging money changes the equation.

“Transparency in workplace agreements builds trust, while deception can backfire professionally,” says career expert Alison Green of Ask a Manager.

In other words, it’s one thing to request compensation for your time, but lying about the reason undermines trust and risks long-term fallout.

The Redditor may have gotten his $400, but if the truth about his so-called “vacation” slips out, his reputation could take a hit. Trust once broken, especially in a close-knit work environment, is difficult to repair.

The Gray Area: Hustle vs. Exploitation

There’s no denying both sides have a point. On one hand, the Redditor’s time off was his to keep or sell.

His coworker willingly agreed to the deal, valuing her holiday more than the cash she paid. By that logic, it was simply a market exchange.

On the other hand, the deception complicates things. Had he been upfront about wanting $400 just for his time, the transaction would have been cleaner.

But by fabricating vacation costs, he pressured his coworker into believing her request caused him financial harm. That’s where the line between savvy and shady blurs.

Reddit’s Verdict: Divided Like Leftover Pie

Unsurprisingly, the online community had strong feelings. Some applauded the Redditor’s entrepreneurial spirit, joking that he should turn his shift-swapping strategy into a business.

Others saw it as selfish and unethical, accusing him of monetizing kindness.

“The ferret is the only innocent party here,” one commenter quipped. Another warned, “This is the kind of stunt that makes coworkers resent you forever.”

The thread became a digital tug-of-war between those who admired the hustle and those who thought it crossed a moral boundary.

The Bigger Picture: Lessons from a $400 Shift

It asks how far someone should go to protect their time and whether financial gain is worth risking trust and relationships.

The Redditor proved he could win the short-term game: he got his $400, his day off, and some extra time with his ferret.

But in the long run, the decision left ripples, roommate tension, coworker dependence, and Reddit’s watchful eyes.

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

A worker sparked debate after booking holiday time just to relax and game, later charging a desperate coworker $400 to cover the same dates.

This worker faced mixed reactions after admitting they lied about having vacation reservations to secure $400 from a desperate coworker

Some saw the move as savvy, but many called it out as flat-out lying and workplace exploitation.

Side Hustle or Side Eye?

This holiday tale raises a tricky question: is it wrong to profit off coworkers when they’re desperate, or is it simply smart to value your own time? The $400 payday might have made Thanksgiving sweeter, but the dishonesty left a bitter aftertaste.

Readers, what do you think? Was this young man a clever entrepreneur defending his free time, or did he cross into shady territory by lying to secure the cash?