I used to work for Carter's Childrenswear and this was a sore spot for us. I was a keyholder but if someone called in sick there was no point calling either the manager or assistant manager because gee they just can't come in. My friend who was also a keyholder and I had many discussions about this because we did feel it was the store manager's responsibility to either come in or find someone to cover. We both had kids and most of the time when someone called in it was at 5:00 and we would have to stay even though we had been there since 8:00 a.m. I even had the assistant manager beg me to come in when I called in sick one night because I was feeling miserable. She did not want to stay and talked me into coming in even though I felt terrible. Just come in and sit in the office was her response. She didn't care that I was sick just as long as she could leave at exactly 5:00. My DH was a store manager/assistant manager for Ames and Wal-Mart for years and I can't tell you how many times he had to go in for someone else when they were sick or stay for the night shift after being there all day. That is just how he is though. I can count the number of times he has called in sick in the last 13 years on one hand. Some people take the management responsbility more seriously than others, I guess. I think you're right and the store manager should have come in or found someone to cover.