Client Accuses Engineer Of Keeping Confidential File, Panics When He Suggests Involving SecOps

A few days ago, we told you about Ethel Caterham, a British supercentenarian who is officially recognized as the oldest living person on the planet. Mrs. Caterham, in particular, said that one of the secrets of her longevity is never arguing with anyone, just listening and doing what she likes.

Excellent advice, by the way! We don’t know how long the user u/barthem, the author of today’s story, is destined to live, but they obviously have similar life principles. At least, when faced with a passive-aggressive scheduling manager from the client’s side, they simply complied maliciously – and it worked! As almost always…

More info: Reddit

The author of the post works as an engineer in a company, and they were recently added to a project that had to start soon

Stressed engineer in glasses sitting at desk with laptop, covering face, suspecting file deletion issue in office setting.

Image credits: Drazen Zigic / Freepik (not the actual photo)

A few days later, the author received a ZIP archive with the papers regarding the project, and skimmed through it briefly

Text excerpt showing an engineer explaining work assignments as a manager thinks engineer lies about deleting file incident.

Text excerpt about project lead sending ZIP file with technical documentation before project start for engineering work.

Image credits: barthem

Close-up of a mobile screen showing six new email notifications related to manager and engineer file deletion issues.

Image credits: chuttersnap / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Then the scheduling manager from the client’s side emailed asking to delete the archive due to some confidential information in it

Email text about a scheduling manager requesting deletion of a document containing confidential company information.

Engineer receives vague delete file request, deletes ZIP file, and later discusses involving security with manager.

Text excerpt from an email or message describing a condescending, passive-aggressive scheduling manager from the client side.

Image credits: barthem

Woman in office appearing frustrated on phone call near laptop, map, and airplane model, suggesting involving security in file issue.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The engineer did so, but then the manager called them and demanded ‘guarantees’ that the archive had been deleted

Excerpt showing a manager doubting an engineer about deleting a file and mentioning security involvement.

Text saying I can’t just take your word for it, I’m not just going to trust you because you say so, showing manager doubts engineer's claim.

Text excerpt about manager doubting engineer deleting file, considering involving security due to trust issues in workplace conflict.

Manager doubts engineer about deleting file but believes him after suggesting to involve security operations team.

Image credits: barthem

Person in a beige suit holding and flipping through a folder of documents related to manager thinks engineer lies about deleting file.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The manager spoke in a passive-aggressive voice, so the author told her they don’t mind reporting it to the SecOps teams in both companies

Text excerpt showing a manager suddenly changing tone and saying she believes the engineer about deleting the file.

Text excerpt about a manager thinking an engineer lies about deleting a file, mentioning involving security teams to avoid bureaucracy.

Text excerpt on screen showing a polite escalation offer ending a call, reflecting manager and engineer interaction about file deletion.

Text image showing phrase about acting like a national security incident to involve security for file deletion dispute.

Image credits: barthem

The woman’s tone changed immediately and she then told she actually believes the author and considers the issue solved

So, the Original Poster (OP) works as an engineer in a big company, and they were recently transferred to a new project that is supposed to start soon. In anticipation of the start of work on the project, the team lead sent them a large ZIP archive with materials and working documents, and the author, of course, skimmed through it. And then they got back to their work routine.

A couple of days later, the external company’s scheduling manager wrote to them and demanded that they delete the archive because it apparently contained some confidential information of that company. Well, the original poster did so, but it turns out that was only the beginning of the whole story.

That same manager now called the author and, in a typical passive-aggressive manner, demanded guarantees that the files with confidential information were really deleted. According to this persistent lady, she cannot trust only the author’s word. Well, they could start arguing and get dramatic, but the OP chose a different path.

They completely agreed with the interlocutor and offered to immediately bring everything to the attention of the Security Operations team in both companies. Of course, this would have launched a complex bureaucratic machine with a lot of paperwork, and someone in the other company could’ve been thrown under the bus.

Is it any wonder that upon hearing this idea, the lady immediately changed her anger to mercy, and said that she actually fully believed and trusted the OP, so she considered the issue completely solved?

Person using a calculator and laptop with spreadsheets and notes, suggesting manager thinks engineer lies about deleting file.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

“From a psychological point of view, this person did everything right,” says Irina Matveeva, a psychologist and certified NLP specialist, whom Bored Panda asked for a comment here. “Obviously, they were not guilty of anything in this case, and completely followed the manager’s request when the letter arrived demanding that the archive be deleted.”

“And, by and large, this engineer is absolutely not obliged to delve into what situation arose in another company, as a result of which this scheduling manager began to worry about the consequences of her own mistake. So, in fact, they didn’t risk anything in the event of bringing the report to SecOps. Except, of course, possible red tape.”

“As we can see, this woman’s reaction speaks for itself – she initially tried to scare the interlocutor, and when that didn’t work and there was a risk that she herself would be checked, she immediately changed the tone of the conversation. An excellent and very clear example of verbal communication in a conflict situation,” Irina concludes.

People in the comments also praised the OP for her witty way of dealing with such a flow of insults, and noted that this can be done in any situation when the offender threatens to call the police or look at security camera footage (if, of course, you’re 100% sure that you are right). “This is my favorite kind of [malicious compliance] and the kind I practice myself,” someone added.

So what do you, our dear readers, think about this story? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below this post.

People in the comments mostly praised the author for finding such a witty and reasonable way to cope with the situation

Manager doubts engineer about deleting file but believes after engineer suggests involving security team discussion.

Screenshot of an online conversation where a manager doubts an engineer about deleting a file but trusts after involving security.

Comment text showing a user replying to an insult, reflecting a manager questioning an engineer and trust issues involving security.

Comment from avid-learner-bot about a manager suspecting file deletion and the security concerns over unprotected ZIP files.

Chat conversation showing manager doubting engineer about deleting file, then trusting him after security involvement is suggested.

Screenshot of a user comment discussing involving security and reporting, related to manager thinking engineer lies about file deletion.

Comment discussing social engineering hack, security escalation, and a manager doubting an engineer about file deletion.

Comment about manager thinking engineer lies on deleting file, then believing him after mentioning involving security.

Comment from user Lylac_Krazy discussing standing firm against repeated challenges and enforcing strict SOP policy in a work environment.

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