It was just a joke

[Boozy]

So my manager was working at her other store a few days ago, and I was working at my usual store.

We were chatting via e-mail throughout the day, and she mentioned that she had forgotten to bring any water with her and she was thirsty. She was alone and no one else was scheduled to come in for a few hours, so she couldn't just leave the store and get some. I told her to close up for five minutes, put a sign on the door, and get some freakin' water. No point in getting dehydrated on a dead slow morning.

She refused, and I joked that Co-Worker would come in at 1pm to find a shriveled, manager-shaped husk. Manager joked that maybe if that happened she could at least go home for the day. I joked back that our company has never let anyone go home just because they've become a shriveled husk of their former selves. Lest we all would have left long ago.

So my manager gets a good chuckle out of it, but apparently after she left for the evening, she got thinking about it seriously. Her job is really taking a toll on her, and she's decided to leave. She hasn't got another job yet, but she's applying at tons of places. It won't take her long to find something.

I suppose it was bound to happen, but it sucks that my stupid joke was the catalyst. I really like my manager and I don't want to work with anyone else.

[Gurndigarn]

I suppose it was bound to happen, but it sucks that my stupid joke was the catalyst.

Eh. It happens, especially in retail.

I really like my manager and I don't want to work with anyone else.

Ask her to give you a call when she finds something.

[PuckishOne]

Nah, Boozy, don't be so hard on yourself...that was a great joke, and if it made her pay attention to what was really going on in her head, she should be thanking you, IMO. Sometimes we know what the proper course of action is but don't want to reveal that information to ourselves.

And Gurndigarn is right: Since it sounds like you're on good terms with her, ask her to keep in touch with you and find out where she ends up working. It could be a great connection for you, and you'd get to work with someone you already know you like!