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toxic-work-environment

'We are going to make a custom cake to rub it in': Petty boss plans to mock employee on their last day, weighs options for how to get even

'We are going to make a custom cake to rub it in': Petty boss plans to mock employee on their last day, weighs options for how to get even

When numerous employees leave a company in a short amount of time, you would think the boss would decide to start being nice. Unfortunately, that would require having faith that bosses had enough self-awareness to know that they might be part of the problem. It goes back to the classic “if everyone else is crazy, you're the one who is insane” saying. But of course, we cannot expect the horrible bosses of the world to wake up from their deluded simulation of reality and realize that their experi…
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'You know what? Keep the schedule. I quit': Pizzeria manager cuts employee's hours because he took one break, employee stands up to him and quits

'You know what? Keep the schedule. I quit': Pizzeria manager cuts employee's hours because he took one break, employee stands up to him and quits

Most managers with an authority complex end up flexing their muscles when they absolutely have other tasks they should be prioritizing. Perhaps they understand that truth deep down, and as their coping mechanism, it's far easier for them to assert dominance over their employees rather than focus on what they're doing wrong as bosses and why things aren't running smoothly. That is certainly the case with this manager, who decided to cut an employee's hours significantly as a semi-punishment for…
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'My manager never spoke to me again after that incident': IT boss asks employee stop using operating system, causes clients lengthy delays

'My manager never spoke to me again after that incident': IT boss insists employee stop using operating system, causes clients lengthy delays

This boss made the company look silly in front of clients. That's what happens when bosses think they know better than everyone else! There should be at least one person in every office who knows what they're doing when it comes to computers. In bigger offices, there might be a whole branch of people who work in IT, while in others, it's just one dude named Joe who instructs you to turn your laptop off and then on again. No matter how big or small, business places across the globe would come to…
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'Choose your battles': Employee refuses to turn off light switch because he clocked out, gets criticized in the comments

'Choose your battles': Employee refuses to turn off light switch because he clocked out, gets called out in the comments

There is a time and a place to start a squabble with your manager. There are moments when things have gone way too far and you feel like you'll have to stand up for yourself or else you'll be going down a dangerous path, one where you'll be easily manipulated and unfairly mistreated. When those situations arise, you'll know in your bones that it's time to speak up. However, it's important not to confuse these important moments with meaningless ones, and being asked to switch off a light after y…
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'I do not want to work for someone like you': Job candidate walks out mid-interview after boss shouts at another employee

'I do not want to work for someone like you': Job candidate walks out mid-interview after boss shouts at another employee

Sometimes, it's hard to tell as an interview candidate if you're potentially stepping into a toxic work environment. People tend to present the most performative versions of themselves when they're interviewing someone. Everyone seems to be extra smiley and people only seem to be talking in euphemisms. Direct answers to direct questions are hard to come by during the interview process unless you force their hand. And because everyone's being the best versions of themselves, it can be difficult…
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'"If it's not in writing, it didn't happen" goes both ways': Boss wants to know why employee wasn't working during their in-person meeting, employee starts writing everything down

'"If it's not in writing, it didn't happen" goes both ways': Micromanager boss wants to know why employee wasn't working during their in-person meeting, employee starts writing everything down

This employee decided to call their boss's bluff, writing that their boss “thinks she's won.” It's not every day you hear about a boss this overbearing. U/Nerdfury83 shared a story about their new manager at their job---her title really should be “micromanager.” The OP works at a phone job, taking calls that have recorded logs. The OP's boss is so strict that she is literally counting the seconds that OP isn't on a call! While phone jobs are notoriously strict about the time employees spend on…
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Update: 'You just have to work harder': Overworked employee gets back at boss by writing essay about his poor management, quits as organization goes under

Update: 'You just have to work harder': Employee gets back at boss by writing essay about his poor management, quits as organization goes under

Sometimes, the best way to get payback at work is to wait to quit until it's the perfect time to do so. What does that mean, exactly? Well, quitting when you haven't yet made everyone know how valuable you are is definitely not the move. You want them to know what they are missing when you leave so that it's all the more dramatic. You also want to wait until the perfect opportunity has come along so you won't have any dark nights of the soul where you regret your decision and try to convince yo…
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'I have over 320 hours of annual leave banked': Boss wants employee to schedule surgery over Christmas so she doesn't have to take her PTO, employee claps back

'I have over 320 hours of annual leave banked': Boss wants employee to schedule surgery over Christmas so she doesn't have to take her PTO, employee claps back

This certainly won't be the last time a selfish boss makes an outlandish suggestion. This employee has been working at the company for nearly four years and has saved more than 320 hours of PTO, yet when they were scheduling their upcoming surgery for January 2024, their boss suddenly took major issue with this decision. First of all, let's all remind this Redditor that no matter how much control it may seem like her boss has, she is not your doctor and she has no right to make suggestions abou…
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'My supervisor turns up unannounced': Guy's manager shows up at home while he's on sick leave to intimidate him

'My supervisor turns up unannounced': Guy's manager shows up at home while he's on sick leave to intimidate him

Calling an employee's sick leave into question is one of those toxic workplace traits one would hope would have been eradicated by now, but unfortunately, you can't stop horrible bosses from being horrible. This thread was posted to Reddit by u/BigJhed , who had been working as a civil engineer when he had to request three months off on sick leave while recovering from an unfortunate car accident. By the end of this period, his supervisor informed OP that his paid sick leave would expire at the…
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'My boss threatened to call my new job': Employee gives notice, boss holds grudge, tries to get new employers to revoke their offer

'My boss threatened to call my new job': Employee gives notice, boss holds grudge, tries to get new employer to revoke their offer

The way in which an employer responds to news of your departure is perhaps the most revealing moment of their overall character as a boss. There is the possibility that they will keep things professional and will respect your decision to pivot into something different. And then there's the more common response, which is the more selfish one. With this option, employers will take the news personally. No matter how professional you are, they will make your final weeks at the office all the more d…
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'I firmly and categorically DECLINED': Job applicant asked to do free, unpaid work as part of the interview process, he rejects them

'I firmly and categorically DECLINED': Job applicant asked to do free, unpaid work as part of the interview process, he rejects them

Being tasked with performing action items during an interview process that only a full-time employee should be doing is the reddest of red flags. No matter how desperate you are for work, you have to be aware that there is absolutely nothing stopping these potential employers from taking your unpaid work, running with it, and still not giving you the job at the end of the day. If this happens to you as a prospective applicant, please know that you should feel empowered enough to send an inquiry…
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'He could have just told me at 9:30': Boss waits to fire employee until after he gets another project done, employee lashes out

'He could have just told me at 9:30': Boss waits to fire employee until after he gets another project done, employee lashes out

Talk about a complete waste of a day! This employee had nearly completed all of his daily work tasks when his boss up and fired him in the afternoon. His boss even revealed that he had known since 9:30 am that morning and couldn't bring himself to do it. Now, there are a couple of explanations behind the boss's behavior. Firstly, he could be more conniving than he comes across. Perhaps he wanted the employee to finish whatever project he was working on before firing him so he could be rid of hi…
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'I'm literally never late': Boss demands employee to text her as soon as she leaves the house, employee complains to her boss's boss

'I'm literally never late': Boss demands employee to text her as soon as she leaves the house, employee complains to her boss's boss

There is a reason why you should avoid giving your boss your phone number if you can help it. Sometimes, you don't have a choice, but what you do have control over is when you choose to respond to your boss. The reality is that engaging with your boss is part of your paid employment. Therefore, you really only need to do it when you're on the clock. It can be hard to draw those boundaries, especially in this day and age when it's nearly impossible to unplug. However, if you do manage to establi…
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'Lisa is absurd': Nosy coworker keeps trying to get employee to share her lunch, confronts her in the office kitchen

'Lisa is absurd': Nosy coworker keeps trying to get employee to share her lunch, confronts her in the office kitchen

Is Lisa not capable of making her own lunch? Can you imagine being wired in such a way that you genuinely would feel entitled to your coworker's lunch?! Lisa wasn't even slightly senior to OP as far as we know, not that it would be ok if she were but we all know how horrible bosses can be. This thread was posted to Reddit's r/AmITheA**hole subreddit by u/sxrllyya , who became known for making elaborate lunches and bringing them to the office. Now, as someone whose homemade office lunch is often…
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'[He said] you are all replaceable, so we all said ok': 10+ work stories where everyone quit together

'[He said] you are all replaceable, so we all said ok': 10+ work stories where everyone quit together

There are moments in everyone's working lives when management goes too far and everyone knows it. These are the kinds of moments when you look across the room at your coworker and you immediately question if they are thinking what you're thinking. Perhaps there is a clear look in their eyes or perhaps there is a slight nod, the kind of exchange that signifies, “Are we doing this? Yes, yes we are." What happens next is the kind of solidarity among employees people only dream of… if only the circ…
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'They canceled my two weeks off': HR approves employee's PTO for their mother's funeral, then cancels request, employee has an outburst

'They canceled my two weeks off': HR approves employee's PTO for her mother's funeral, then cancels request, employee has an outburst

Every human resources department has been known for some shady behavior to protect the interests of the company rather than the interests of the actual humans who work there. Ironic, much? We all have these kinds of stories, particularly ones that involve employee benefits like paid time off. It's a tale as old as time: an employee requests vacation time for an important event like a wedding or a funeral, their boss approves said vacation time, then shames them in some way as the dates actually…
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