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Teenager Maliciously Complies With Manager’s Request To Come Into Work While Sick, Throws Up
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Teenager Maliciously Complies With Manager’s Request To Come Into Work While Sick, Throws Up

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Bad managers worldwide, move over, make way! There’s competition incoming – a boss whose sheer awfulness simply eclipses everything you’ve heard so far.

So, get this – a boss demanded that a 14 y.o. teenager come in to work, while vomiting intermittently, because they have “plenty of trash cans” for the kid to vomit in.

The teenager got their revenge, though, in a totally unexpected way, hopefully preventing future sick calls.

More info: Reddit

Sometimes the only way you can get to a manager is by… hurling on their shoes

Image credits: ready made (not the actual photo)

The poster is a 14-year-old boy, sharing the story of his malicious compliance to his boss calling him into work when sick

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Image credits: whateverbro167

Image credits: Titanas (not the actual photo)

He was vomiting often and severely, but the boss told him to come in nonetheless, which the poster decided to get revenge for

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Image credits: whateverbro167

When he felt sick again, he ran over to the boss to be sick on his shoes, after which he was let home for the day

The original poster (OP) told his story to the Malicious Compliance community, although it would have been a perfect fit for the petty revenge and especially the antiwork subreddits.

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This employee is a 14-year-old teenager and it’s already pretty scummy that he has to work at such an age. Of course, he does it by choice, but legislation decides when people can start working and 14 seems a little early to me, especially in such a fast-paced and strenuous industry as fast food.

From the poster’s own comments we find out that he doesn’t need a work permit or parents’ permission, as teenagers can just apply and soon they’re hired. They can work as many hours as they get and however late, even if it is a school night. That is beyond scummy.

Maybe that’s just me, though.

What’s worse is that the OP was feeling sick at the time, vomiting for several days beforehand, which wasn’t contagious, but rather a diagnosed stomach issue related to digesting food.

And the manager does what? Of course they tell him to come in no matter what. He does come in and gets assigned to making food (the mother of all red flags). Not 30 minutes later, the OP felt sick again, but here comes the malicious part of the compliance – he ran over to that same manager and hurled all over his shoes.

Added bonus because a bunch of the customers saw it happen, almost being audibly sick themselves.

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Image credits: vincent desjardins (not the actual photo)

Between managers ordering employees to come in and them being strapped for cash, working while sick is quite a common occurrence. Whether it’s the snuffles or a stomach bug, the corporate wheels have to keep spinning, always at the cost of the workers.

According to various comments, it is actually illegal to come to or be requested to come to work if you are still experiencing symptoms, but what does it matter to a truly bad manager?

There’s even a name for it – presenteeism. It refers to the practice of working while sick or the same culture, requiring workers to do it as a performative measure, despite that the quality and speed of their work plummet and they feel worse and worse.

Coming into work doesn’t only affect the person themselves, but also everyone else – you’re liable to infect your coworkers, risking their health as well.

And if managers want their workers to work while “slightly” sick, they’re just risking more people getting sick and productivity taking a huge nosedive, but managers are gonna manager, I guess.

There are things employees can do to improve the situation, though.

A big thing is letting your employees know that they don’t have to come into work and that they really shouldn’t, both for their safety and yours. The more work culture shifts toward the positive, the better things will get in the long run.

And when you’re sick – don’t come into work, don’t check your work chats, just completely disconnect, rest, and your colleagues will follow suit in due time.

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The story collected 7.3k upvotes in 10 days, with a total of 362 comments. One commenter said they would have simply blown chunks in the food prep area and “closed” the place for an adequate amount of time. Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Commenters called out how awful the whole situation was, from a 14-year-old working, to the manager calling in sick workers

Image credits: Ellie Burgin (not the actual photo)

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Larsas Jaseliūnas

Larsas Jaseliūnas

Author, BoredPanda staff

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I started as a writer, but time came when I wanted more, so I learned how to do the visuals for my articles too, with the help of my wonderful colleagues. When I had the chance to become an editor, I jumped at the opportunity, because I know that it will be the best way for me to learn more and help out my wonderful colleagues in return.

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Larsas Jaseliūnas

Larsas Jaseliūnas

Author, BoredPanda staff

I started as a writer, but time came when I wanted more, so I learned how to do the visuals for my articles too, with the help of my wonderful colleagues. When I had the chance to become an editor, I jumped at the opportunity, because I know that it will be the best way for me to learn more and help out my wonderful colleagues in return.

Saulė Tolstych

Saulė Tolstych

Author, Community member

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Saulė is a photo editor at Bored Panda with bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design. The thing that relaxes her the best is going into YouTube rabbit hole. In her free time she loves painting, embroidering and taking walks in nature.

Read less »

Saulė Tolstych

Saulė Tolstych

Author, Community member

Saulė is a photo editor at Bored Panda with bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design. The thing that relaxes her the best is going into YouTube rabbit hole. In her free time she loves painting, embroidering and taking walks in nature.

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rainbowkittenexpress avatar
Shehzadi Amal
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked in a restaurant and had pneumonia. Was forced to come in to work.....told a cough wasn't something to get out of work for. Ok. So in I go, and in short order my lungs begin to well, not function. So I made it a point to hack all of that tasty green 🫁 🧈 into the trash can in direct view of the dining room. None of my co-workers would come within a foot of me. Manager then had the audacity to tell me I had no business coming in to work like that. Said that's funny since I've got a text of you demanding I come in. Moral of the story: Fvck hustle culture and fvck capitalism

janethowe_1 avatar
Janet Howe
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the BEST!! Best "Told you I was sick" story ever. I probably would have gone in the back room to swallow down a couple of raw eggs first. Would have made it even more spectacular. Unless boss brought extra shoes with him, those puppies would have started to really smell after about 30 minutes. Serves him right. If OP had a virus or something, he could have infected a lot of people. Nothing to mess with. Stupid boss could have been responsible for wiping out the whole place. Probably learned his lesson--the hard way.

cyndiebirkner avatar
Cyndielouwhoo
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sister's boss forced her to go to work sick and she worked at a bakery. I told her I was seriously considering calling the health department and report it. Turns out I didn't have to since they showed up for a surprise inspection! Her boss started freaking out and frantically sent her and another I'll employee home immediately. Sometimes karma is quick and sweet. My sister texted me, telling me what happened and asked if I actually did report them (she was thrilled and glad to go home and rest).

Load More Comments
rainbowkittenexpress avatar
Shehzadi Amal
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked in a restaurant and had pneumonia. Was forced to come in to work.....told a cough wasn't something to get out of work for. Ok. So in I go, and in short order my lungs begin to well, not function. So I made it a point to hack all of that tasty green 🫁 🧈 into the trash can in direct view of the dining room. None of my co-workers would come within a foot of me. Manager then had the audacity to tell me I had no business coming in to work like that. Said that's funny since I've got a text of you demanding I come in. Moral of the story: Fvck hustle culture and fvck capitalism

janethowe_1 avatar
Janet Howe
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the BEST!! Best "Told you I was sick" story ever. I probably would have gone in the back room to swallow down a couple of raw eggs first. Would have made it even more spectacular. Unless boss brought extra shoes with him, those puppies would have started to really smell after about 30 minutes. Serves him right. If OP had a virus or something, he could have infected a lot of people. Nothing to mess with. Stupid boss could have been responsible for wiping out the whole place. Probably learned his lesson--the hard way.

cyndiebirkner avatar
Cyndielouwhoo
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sister's boss forced her to go to work sick and she worked at a bakery. I told her I was seriously considering calling the health department and report it. Turns out I didn't have to since they showed up for a surprise inspection! Her boss started freaking out and frantically sent her and another I'll employee home immediately. Sometimes karma is quick and sweet. My sister texted me, telling me what happened and asked if I actually did report them (she was thrilled and glad to go home and rest).

Load More Comments
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