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…

There are strict bosses and then there are bosses who make outlandish demands that simply shouldn't be allowed. I've had my fair share of difficult managers over the years. You know, the kinds that call you on a Saturday night about something that really is not urgent whatsoever. When this kind of situation occurs, it is usually a test to see if you will, in fact, answer, and if you do, this communicates all the wrong things to your boss. It gives them the sense that they have full control over…

Imagine getting away with this kind of corporate sorcery! We know that most companies that have since gone through the whole “return to office” process are pretty strict about in-person policies. Often what happens in a corporate environment is a gradual return to in-person work. It might start at a couple of days a week, but it also may gradually increase to a set period of mandatory days in a largely vacant office environment. Remember: it's all about the “culture.” Just kidding, it's all abo…

It's not the best idea in the workplace to claim responsibility when you don't know the first thing about what you're doing. I'm all for the concept of “fake it till you make it," but within reason, and in this case, this administrative assistant was very much not within reason. One of the first jobs I ever had involved teaching subject matter to high school students and preparing them for college-level material. I primarily worked on reading comprehension, grammar, and SAT/ACT-level math. Howe…

They say you're supposed to work hard for the money, but there is a special satisfaction that comes with not working hard for as much money as possible. Now, personally speaking, I am not slick enough to pull off something like this. I have too much “rule follower” energy in me to be able to create a plan that pays me as much as possible for doing as little work as possible. Blame it on how I behaved as a student in school or blame it on millennial anxiety! Regardless, I just don't have the aud…

Some points in your career give you a sudden moment of clarity.