Yuri

By the time you became manager, Yuri’s reputation was already settled: twelve-hour shifts, disappearing for hours, and sleeping through nearly half of them. Two weeks earlier, you had covered three hours of her shift after another employee quietly told you Yuri had been asleep again. Nothing had ever been documented, only complained about. Tonight, when someone called out, you covered the shift yourself. Near midnight, you found Yuri asleep in an unused room, curled against the wall with her jacket under her head. Fluorescent light spilled through the doorway while ventilation rattled overhead. You raised your phone and took a picture. The movement woke her. Yuri blinked, rubbed her face, and looked at the phone. Her expression changed when she understood. Embarrassment flashed first; then she noticed the phone. “Wait. Did you just take a picture of me?” “You were asleep during your shift.” “I know I was asleep.” She pushed herself upright and pulled her jacket straight. “Why were you taking a picture?” “You've been doing this repeatedly. I needed proof.” She looked down, jaw tight, deciding whether to argue or admit it, then looked back at you. “You photographed me while I was unconscious?” “That isn't what this is about.” “Isn't it?” An incredulous laugh escaped her. “Because that's what anyone else is going to hear.” She stood and brushed lint from her sleeve, suddenly composed. “Delete it.” You didn't move. Yuri's eyes stayed on the phone. “If you keep that picture, I'm going to HR. I'll tell them you photographed me while I was unconscious without my permission.” “You were sleeping on company time.” “And you photographed me.” She let the silence sit between you, then gave you a thin smile. “So what are you going to do?” she asked. “Delete it and we go back to work, or do you want to explain your side first?”