This epic tale of payback takes the kind of mastermind-level plotting and scheming most people could never pull off. That being said, I have definitely gotten some level of second-hand fulfillment from this employee-turned-boss's story. Now, I have never been in this kind of position professionally where a manager of mine took my ideas without giving me credit. I need to have valuable ideas in order for that to happen. Still, I can empathize with feeling like your manager is out to get you and…

No one goes to a fast food restaurant for nutrition per se, but we should expect the bare minimum with regard to sanitation. Now, we're not here to tell you that fast food is bad for you. First of all, that's a given. Second of all, how are we going to stop you for those restless late nights when the only thing that can give you some semblance of joy is a large Oreo milkshake and an order of chicken nuggets? Still, if you find yourself walking into a fast food establishment on one of those desp…

Who doesn't have nightmares about work emails? Whether it's you sending an email to the wrong person or receiving a dreaded email from your manager, we all have anxiety concerning the ubiquitous phenomenon that is emailing. Sometimes, I even get anxious about sending someone without an attachment or with an egregious typo, especially in my early working days as an intern. In fact, I can't imagine the stress this intern was under when she opened her work email one day only to discover that her a…

Anyone who thinks being a good employee means always checking your email when you're on paternity leave has to check their priorities. Sure, bosses tend to put a ton of unnecessary pressure on their employees, as if to say that checking their emails is more important than tending to their newborn child. In fact, this is almost the most obvious example of employers prioritizing work over life and livelihood. It really doesn't get more obvious than that. However, these are the moments in one's ca…

From pilfering water to stealing company time, these managers were sure they had the perfect punishments for these “thieving” employees.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with finding a loophole within your company's various policies. Make no mistake: your employers are finding loopholes all the time, especially when it comes to finding ways to pay you less. So for the sake of reciprocity, what's wrong with using your work's flawed and unspecific policies to your own advantage when it's appropriate? This thread was posted to Reddit's r/MaliciousCompliance subreddit by u/notarobotnorealy , who worked at a popular chain and was rec…

Let this story serve as a friendly reminder to never let your managers think you'll take on responsibilities outside of your job description with little to no reward. This kind of behavior often starts in small, subtle ways. Perhaps your supervisor asks you to fetch them a coffee despite not being their executive assistant, or perhaps they ask you to stay after work for a short period of time for a delivery. The key is that when this happens, you draw a line in the sand from the very beginning.…

The first big no-no of managing an already well-run team is to ignore the voices of your employees. Sadly, people swoop in out of nowhere all the time and claim that their goal is to make things easier for everyone to do their work effectively and productively. However, all of that is easier said than done, and more often than not, new managers already have their own ways of doing things regardless of whether or not that works for the team they are managing. Now, you would think if the manager…

No one ever said that new office policies wouldn't be met with a little pushback, especially when it comes to in-person work. We all know that return-to-work policies should be delicately handled in a way that, at the very least, feels like a suitable compromise between the employer and the employee. Unfortunately, that compromise rarely happens; instead, we as employees often are expected to take these new strict policies in stride. Thankfully, every so often, someone finds an opportunity to t…

Everyone thinks their profession has the craziest people, but that's simply because they haven't considered working in some of these spaces. Whether it's a kitchen crew or in the fashion industry, the following professions are the go-to industries if you are looking to find some weirdos, narcissists, or just straight-up insane coworkers. Now, if we're being honest, there are those among us who thrive in these kinds of environments. Personally speaking, I prefer not to go to work and actively lo…

You have to mess up royally to get fired on Day One, but the reality is… it happens. We often talk about what compels people to walk out of a job interview or what has made people quit on the spot. However, if we haven't experienced this already, one day we are going to find ourselves on the other side of this conflict and in the unfortunate position of having to fire someone for inappropriate behavior. Maybe you all didn't do enough of a good job during the hiring process to be sure that this…

It's never too late to realize your colleagues and managers do not have your back. As a younger person in the 21st century, it's fairly easy to enter the working world armed with cynicism about everything, but for many people, the deluded notion of “your work is your life” is a hard one to shake. Despite all the signs around you saying otherwise, there are still some folks out there who foolishly cling to the idea that all the hard work will be worth it when you get that one promotion. Of cours…

There is nothing more eye-roll-inducing than confirming your suspicions that your boss does not follow the same rules you are expected to follow. It's like when you're in school and you're expected to complete the math test without a calculator. Then, later that day, you see your math teacher grading the same test with a calculator right by her side. If authority figures are unable to lead by example and to live up to the same set of expectations they enforce onto others, then they shouldn't be…

There are many ways to get even with your boss after you were unjustly fired, but revealing company secrets has got to be the most high-stakes option. Now, as someone who does not have the guts to pull this kind of petty revenge off, I have to step back and marvel at some of these folks for speaking their truth. That being said, they did do it behind the anonymous safety net of this r/AskReddit thread, but still, I guess we should give credit where credit is due. As for my company secrets, that…

At one point in everyone's professional career, you come across a manager who says something so ridiculous you have to question how it's possible that they are in charge of you. It could be a moment of sheer ignorance or a tone-deaf comment. Sometimes, it's troubleshooting technology, which is occasionally understandable. However, sometimes, it's as simple as “Where do I find the Spam folder?” and you really have to question how these people have functioned successfully over the last several de…

Sometimes, the best way to get revenge on your manager is by being as direct as possible. That means making it clear that they are the ones who are making your life at work all the more challenging. That means calling them out when you can. Sometimes, it's the only way you can actually stand up for yourself. Now, personally speaking, I would never do what this employee did. I'm too much of a people pleaser to name my work enemy in a company-wide email, but I understand that this person felt the…