Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

People Are Applauding The Way This Employee Got Revenge On His Boss Who Made Him Work While Sick
People Are Applauding The Way This Employee Got Revenge On His Boss Who Made Him Work While Sick
User submission
2.3K

People Are Applauding The Way This Employee Got Revenge On His Boss Who Made Him Work While Sick

191

ADVERTISEMENT

There’s no denying it, we all work too much these days. As it’s gotten so much easier to take our job home and on holiday with us, the temptation to do a little extra here and there and never fully switch off is real and has even become an expectation in some companies. (Facebook cover image: Kai Hendry)

RELATED:

    Image credits: Scott Atwood (Not the actual photo)

    This kind of presenteeism doesn’t help anyone and can even be harmful, with even sickness not being enough to keep people away from their desks and bosses becoming ever more demanding. This story, told on the subreddit r/MaliciousCompliance, is a perfect example of a pushy manager refusing to respect his employees’ boundaries, to the point of ridiculousness. Marketing manager benisaboringname was left literally speechless by his boss’s request and decided to comply maliciously (not that he had much choice), to teach him a lesson.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Ben’s voice has thankfully returned and he’s doing well, although not much has changed at the company. “I think presenteeism is definitely an issue in a lot of modern workplaces, especially those that are business services related,” he explained to us here at Bored Panda. “It’s that inability to fully switch off from work. As a shareholder, I would argue it’s upon my own volition should I wish to work. Being ill presented me with a day where there were no distractions (or so I thought!) meaning I could work on things I wouldn’t normally get the chance to do. If it were any of my subordinates, I would advise them against working and we do have contract clauses that state that employees shouldn’t work outside of their contracted hours.”

    And what about the Managing Director? Has he learned any humility from the experience? “Unfortunately, he’s a stubborn individual, no matter how in the wrong he is I doubt he sees the full extent of that – if he does, he hasn’t made it clear…or apologized.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Here’s what people had to say about the situation

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    In today’s demanding work environment, the concept of ‘turning off’ from work seems like a distant memory for many. Employees are often pressured, either overtly or implicitly, to remain connected to their duties regardless of their circumstances. This brings to mind an instance where a woman had to face an unreasonable manager who forced her to come to work while she was unwell.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    To see how one employee cleverly addressed a similar issue, explore the consequences faced by a manager who underestimated their employee’s tenacity.


     

    156Kviews

    Share on Facebook
    Gerda

    Gerda

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    Read less »
    Gerda

    Gerda

    Author, Community member

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    Vicky Zar
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The MD sounds jealous. I bet thats the reason he is such a d******d.

    Freya the Wanderer
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why do some bosses assume that their employees are just machines that can work anytime? Even machines need to be taken offline for maintenance now and then. Good bosses are hard to find.

    Serbob
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nothing new here. This happens constantly at my office. It happened all the time at my last job. I have customers that have it happen often at their offices. There are idiots in business almost everywhere.

    Anna Harding
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to work for a company that made me work at 13 hour day when my dog way dying. We were going to bring him to the vet to put him down but they made me come in before and we’re only giving me one hour off to go to the vet. Our dog died in my husbands arms before he left our house and I didn’t get to say goodyas I had already been at work since 7 am. I was so exhausted already from working late hours and so very upset that I threw up. My boss didn’t care. At 4:30 pm she then decided to swap out a huge chunk of the project and she and I worked until 8 pm! Then she complained that as tomorrow was thanksgiving she had to go home and make mashed potatoes. I responded that I now had to bury my dog using the headlights of my car to see. shes like, “Oh, you win!”

    Jane Zimmerman
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am SO SORRY this happened to you, I'm almost in tears just reading your story. And so glad for you that you no longer work for this person! That was completely heartless and you shouldn't have been treated like that, NOT MATTER WHAT! OK, getting down off my soapbox but I had to speak up for you! Happy new year!

    Load More Replies...
    Jasmine Sunflower Laake
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah so you're gonna have to video call this client. Oh, you lost your voice? Um well just do it, it's important you obviously aren't trying hard enough. Like dude you're risking the client over your ignorance.

    Gracie Mae
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    as someone who rarely called in sick when i actually wasn't (when my children were younger & they were sick), i've had similar experiences. stood my ground & recuperated, but thankfully i've never been forced to show up. i have gone in to work, sick as a dog and actually been sent home by my supervisors. guess it's all about who you work for and i've been lucky!

    Patrick McKemie
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It sounds like you are a dedicated and talented employee. Have you considered taking your skills to another employer? I've worked for difficult managers before, trust me; Less $ and Less Jerk > Than working for an awful person.

    SupriyaG
    Community Member
    7 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How come it's a "learning experience"??..whatever that MD did was a total bullsh*t..

    Gornot
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Downvoted because the OP needs to learn what f*****g clickbait is.

    Michèle Gyselinck
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sounds as though this MD was a f**king a*****e as well as a d**k head.

    Roland Trego
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But this is why Trump is so great: He runs America like a CORPORATION!

    Gipsy Kings fan
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I got flashbacks while reading this! I worked at a big insurance company in the '90s and had a supervisor like this: (1) the employee who was the only person who could program the phone system was out sick with a bad case of the flu. Some sales reps had switched offices, so the supervisor called her at home and forced her to come in to switch their phone lines. I recall there was some kind of threat involved. (2) I was very sick for weeks with bronchitis, sinusitis, and finally laryngitis, after suffering a bad emotional shock, but the supervisor didn't believe I was really sick. I was only out a total of 7 days. The week I had laryngitis my Dr. told me not to talk AT ALL. I came to work with a note explaining this restriction because I was afraid my job would be in jeopardy if I were out longer. When the supervisor saw the note, she acted like it was an unnecessary, terrible imposition on the office because I couldn't answer the phone.

    getsu youbi
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish they did more than call it a "learning experience". Douche-bag MD should have been properly punished.

    Night Owl
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Me too, but at least things still ended up good for the employee

    Load More Replies...
    Carol Emory
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is why I always advocate for people to work with small firms over large corporations. The bigger a company gets, the more out of touch their management is about how real life works. They are all about the numbers, not about the people. My husband and I worked for one of the biggest companies in the country, but we left after just a year because the corporate politics and back stabbing that went on was just too much to handle. Now my husband works for a company that has less than 15 employees. He may not have the huge wages or benefits, but he's a lot happier with not having to deal with corporate stress.

    Robert Pacl
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ask the boss if it's alright to come in with a suspected case of SARS.

    Janet Julien
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Another good reason to learn Sign Language and more than just everyone's favorite for the highway road ragers. It will build a HUGE client base with a less than well represented component for the disabled community as well as showing the company as willing to help do whatever it takes to help the clients. Now, I'm NOT saying that the "South End of a Northbound Mule" of a MB was right in doing what he did BUT just advising that there is more than one way to deal with a situation and one that could be extremely profitable to the company on the whole.

    Mila Ericson
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    interesting this dedicated employee can't recall how much of of the company he owns... " cant recall the exact share division"

    S Bagci
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is normal where I work too. When the employees screw up its the end of the world and heads roll. When management does it every one looks the other way. Also if the director likes you, you can do almost anything and still have a job, including fooling around behind closed office doors during business hours. That just happened here last week and both employees still have their jobs.

    Max L.
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Will they ever learn ? Ranks aren't given from above, they are given from bottom.

    Bill
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He has equity in the company so "Suck it up"

    Kjorn
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    s****y boss. so much bosses are in a power trip. no Wonder people these days as no respect and loyalty to their enterprise, since their enterprise has no loyalty and common sense.

    Hans
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yet another "incapable manager treats employees wrong" story. It is getting a bit dull, alas.

    Person2638
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I personally like reading these. They make me feel happy and quench my daily thirst for revenge.

    Load More Replies...
    Han
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Anyone else want to join a stance against these tiresome articles? Down vote and ignore.

    Aunt Messy
    Community Member
    Premium
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or you could just go whine somewhere else.

    Load More Replies...
    TJler
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    What a pussy if you want to make it in America you have to work when you're slightly sick

    John Louis
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Well....Before we get too excited let's hear both sides of the story. Remember when have you ever heard someone describe a conflict they had with some else and ended the story by saying, "And the whole thing was entirely my fault."

    Vicky Zar
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The MD sounds jealous. I bet thats the reason he is such a d******d.

    Freya the Wanderer
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why do some bosses assume that their employees are just machines that can work anytime? Even machines need to be taken offline for maintenance now and then. Good bosses are hard to find.

    Serbob
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nothing new here. This happens constantly at my office. It happened all the time at my last job. I have customers that have it happen often at their offices. There are idiots in business almost everywhere.

    Anna Harding
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to work for a company that made me work at 13 hour day when my dog way dying. We were going to bring him to the vet to put him down but they made me come in before and we’re only giving me one hour off to go to the vet. Our dog died in my husbands arms before he left our house and I didn’t get to say goodyas I had already been at work since 7 am. I was so exhausted already from working late hours and so very upset that I threw up. My boss didn’t care. At 4:30 pm she then decided to swap out a huge chunk of the project and she and I worked until 8 pm! Then she complained that as tomorrow was thanksgiving she had to go home and make mashed potatoes. I responded that I now had to bury my dog using the headlights of my car to see. shes like, “Oh, you win!”

    Jane Zimmerman
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am SO SORRY this happened to you, I'm almost in tears just reading your story. And so glad for you that you no longer work for this person! That was completely heartless and you shouldn't have been treated like that, NOT MATTER WHAT! OK, getting down off my soapbox but I had to speak up for you! Happy new year!

    Load More Replies...
    Jasmine Sunflower Laake
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah so you're gonna have to video call this client. Oh, you lost your voice? Um well just do it, it's important you obviously aren't trying hard enough. Like dude you're risking the client over your ignorance.

    Gracie Mae
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    as someone who rarely called in sick when i actually wasn't (when my children were younger & they were sick), i've had similar experiences. stood my ground & recuperated, but thankfully i've never been forced to show up. i have gone in to work, sick as a dog and actually been sent home by my supervisors. guess it's all about who you work for and i've been lucky!

    Patrick McKemie
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It sounds like you are a dedicated and talented employee. Have you considered taking your skills to another employer? I've worked for difficult managers before, trust me; Less $ and Less Jerk > Than working for an awful person.

    SupriyaG
    Community Member
    7 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How come it's a "learning experience"??..whatever that MD did was a total bullsh*t..

    Gornot
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Downvoted because the OP needs to learn what f*****g clickbait is.

    Michèle Gyselinck
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sounds as though this MD was a f**king a*****e as well as a d**k head.

    Roland Trego
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But this is why Trump is so great: He runs America like a CORPORATION!

    Gipsy Kings fan
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I got flashbacks while reading this! I worked at a big insurance company in the '90s and had a supervisor like this: (1) the employee who was the only person who could program the phone system was out sick with a bad case of the flu. Some sales reps had switched offices, so the supervisor called her at home and forced her to come in to switch their phone lines. I recall there was some kind of threat involved. (2) I was very sick for weeks with bronchitis, sinusitis, and finally laryngitis, after suffering a bad emotional shock, but the supervisor didn't believe I was really sick. I was only out a total of 7 days. The week I had laryngitis my Dr. told me not to talk AT ALL. I came to work with a note explaining this restriction because I was afraid my job would be in jeopardy if I were out longer. When the supervisor saw the note, she acted like it was an unnecessary, terrible imposition on the office because I couldn't answer the phone.

    getsu youbi
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish they did more than call it a "learning experience". Douche-bag MD should have been properly punished.

    Night Owl
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Me too, but at least things still ended up good for the employee

    Load More Replies...
    Carol Emory
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is why I always advocate for people to work with small firms over large corporations. The bigger a company gets, the more out of touch their management is about how real life works. They are all about the numbers, not about the people. My husband and I worked for one of the biggest companies in the country, but we left after just a year because the corporate politics and back stabbing that went on was just too much to handle. Now my husband works for a company that has less than 15 employees. He may not have the huge wages or benefits, but he's a lot happier with not having to deal with corporate stress.

    Robert Pacl
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ask the boss if it's alright to come in with a suspected case of SARS.

    Janet Julien
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Another good reason to learn Sign Language and more than just everyone's favorite for the highway road ragers. It will build a HUGE client base with a less than well represented component for the disabled community as well as showing the company as willing to help do whatever it takes to help the clients. Now, I'm NOT saying that the "South End of a Northbound Mule" of a MB was right in doing what he did BUT just advising that there is more than one way to deal with a situation and one that could be extremely profitable to the company on the whole.

    Mila Ericson
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    interesting this dedicated employee can't recall how much of of the company he owns... " cant recall the exact share division"

    S Bagci
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is normal where I work too. When the employees screw up its the end of the world and heads roll. When management does it every one looks the other way. Also if the director likes you, you can do almost anything and still have a job, including fooling around behind closed office doors during business hours. That just happened here last week and both employees still have their jobs.

    Max L.
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Will they ever learn ? Ranks aren't given from above, they are given from bottom.

    Bill
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He has equity in the company so "Suck it up"

    Kjorn
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    s****y boss. so much bosses are in a power trip. no Wonder people these days as no respect and loyalty to their enterprise, since their enterprise has no loyalty and common sense.

    Hans
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yet another "incapable manager treats employees wrong" story. It is getting a bit dull, alas.

    Person2638
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I personally like reading these. They make me feel happy and quench my daily thirst for revenge.

    Load More Replies...
    Han
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Anyone else want to join a stance against these tiresome articles? Down vote and ignore.

    Aunt Messy
    Community Member
    Premium
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or you could just go whine somewhere else.

    Load More Replies...
    TJler
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    What a pussy if you want to make it in America you have to work when you're slightly sick

    John Louis
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Well....Before we get too excited let's hear both sides of the story. Remember when have you ever heard someone describe a conflict they had with some else and ended the story by saying, "And the whole thing was entirely my fault."

    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Popular on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda
    Go to:
    Back to Top
    Homepage
    Trending
    ADVERTISEMENT