malicious compliance

Manager scolds game developer for deviating from script to find errors, complies and ignores major bug: 'No deviations. Just follow the document as written'

Ben Weiss

Comments

Client tells graphic designer to stop "pestering" them about the project, panics 3 weeks later when they forget and their sidelined project has made no progress: 'We’ll reply when we’re ready'

Brad Dickson

Comments

IT guy gets promoted by arriving late at 9 and leaving at 2 to attend a sites they can't access after their warnings about the ineffective process are ignored: 'You want me in 3 places at once? You got it!'

Brad Dickson

Comments

Employee refuses to continue working in-office on their designated WFH days after their boss scorns them for taking an approved remote work day: ‘[She said] I should think well about my work ethics in the future’

Lana DeGaetano

Comments

Employee told he is going to lose all of his leave by the end of the year, takes it all at once, leaving projects struggling to be completed: 'Use all your PTO before December 31 or lose it? Alright, don't mind if I do, even if the project burns...'

Brad Dickson

Comments

45-minutes before closing, VP demands employees cannot clock out until ALL emails are answered, employee maliciously complies: ‘I had 46 unread emails… Only 2 were actual client questions.’

Elna McHilderson

Comments

Boss reprimands employee for showing too much personality in emails, employee complies and gets accused of sounding too cold: 'I thought you didn't want personal touches'

Ben Weiss

Comments

18-year-old café employee told by her new shift lead to stop talking, stops talking entirely, forcing the lead to backtrack: 'You’re not paid to talk, you’re paid to work'

Brad Dickson

Comments

'I just stood there': Manager demands employees stick only to assigned tasks, employee complies by refusing to help customers outside of their department

Bar Mor Hazut

Comments

Boss questions employee's work ethic when they work from home for one day despite working their previously agreed upon WFH days from the office: 'You want me to honor my in-office-days? Okay, but you'll be forced to honor my WFH-days'

Brad Dickson

Comments

Boss bans phones in the workplace, employee complies until boss needs to reach her urgently: 'I wasn’t about to get written [up] for breaking a policy she just finished enforcing'

Ben Weiss

Comments

Boss pressures employee to postpone PTO due to upcoming project deadline, employee refuses, citing HR policy: 'Managers are responsible for planning around employee availability'

Ben Weiss

Comments

Neighbor complains resident is taking over their yard, leading resident to resurvey the properties, discovers entitled neighbor built their house too close to the property line: ‘Their whole house might be torn down’

Bar Mor Hazut

Comments

Overworked employee working 75 hours a week gets criticized for not being efficient enough, leading employee to cut their work time in half: ‘This was my wake-up call’

Bar Mor Hazut

Comments

18-year-old worker told not to come in at all if she's late for work, turns around and goes home: 'Instead of rushing in, I turned around and went home'

Brad Dickson

Comments

Graphic designer told to stop "pestering" client, designer complies, client's project goes up in flames: 'As per your request, I did not follow up'

Ben Weiss

Comments