Manager Tries To Bully A New Employee, Balks After Realizing They Documented It

While it’s important for managers and bosses to make sure tasks are getting done on time and correctly, the truth is that many are just downright cruel and prefer to abuse their power over actually leading people. But every now and then, an enterprising employee can find a way to get back at them.

A netizen shared how they got back at a horrible boss who had it out for them by simply keeping track of what he did. We reached out to the person who shared the story online via private message and will update the article when they get back to us.

Your boss hating you can make for a pretty hostile working environment

Angry manager displaying hostile workplace behavior during a tense office meeting in a modern workspace.

Image credits: sedrik2007 (not the actual photo)

So one netizen decided to plan ahead for how to deal with it

Text excerpt describing a supervisor’s experience under a manager who created a hostile workplace through poor leadership.

Text excerpt showing a hostile workplace scenario where a manager yells and makes snide remarks to employees.

Text on a white background describing a manager demanding a detailed communication log for every assigned task.

Text excerpt describing a manager creating a hostile workplace by demanding excessive questions during probation.

Text on a white background reads a message about sending three questions and a reply to look up answers oneself.

Man in office carrying box of belongings after manager created a hostile workplace environment and faced consequences.

Image credits: mstandret (not the actual photo)

Image showing text about a manager creating a hostile workplace by assigning tasks unfairly and sabotaging supervisors.

Log of workplace policy violations and inappropriate comments revealing a manager who created a hostile workplace environment.

Text excerpt showing an employee describing filing formal HR complaints about a hostile workplace manager.

HR investigated complaints, manager violated policies, created hostile workplace, and resigned after being placed on leave.

Text about a manager creating a hostile workplace and losing his job opportunities due to his behavior.

Alt text: Summary of a manager creating a hostile workplace and facing consequences from his own behavior with salary drop described.

Image credits: Ill-Championship-524

Some folks end up promoted upwards without any thought to their actual skills

Some managers and bosses end up incompetent and rude because they’ve been promoted into leadership roles without the right skills to manage people or projects. High performers in technical or sales positions are often rewarded for individual success, not teamwork or empathy. When that star salesperson or top engineer is suddenly tasked with leading a team, they may lack training in communication, conflict resolution, and motivation, skills that aren’t measured on quarterly reports. Without those foundational management competencies, they struggle to guide their teams effectively, defaulting to brusque directives rather than thoughtful coaching.

Insecurity and ego also play a big part. A manager who feels unprepared or threatened by the talent around them may resort to aggression or dismissiveness to assert authority. By belittling suggestions or cutting off questions, they hope to keep control and mask their own uncertainties. Unfortunately, this approach erodes trust and stifles creativity, as team members learn it’s safer to keep their heads down than to speak up with new ideas or concerns.

Workplace culture and poor example-setting can reinforce incompetence and rudeness. If senior leaders tolerate or reward abrasive behavior, viewing it as “tough love” or “just business”, then rudeness becomes normalized at every level. Managers mirror what they see at the top, believing that barking orders or publicly criticizing mistakes demonstrates strength. In reality, it perpetuates a cycle of disrespect that chokes morale and productivity.

Image credits: charlesdeluvio (not the actual photo)

Certain organizations even foster a certain kind of toxic environment

Chronic stress and unreasonable expectations exacerbate the problem. When bosses are overloaded with targets, budget cuts, or back-to-back crises, their patience wears thin. Exhaustion can turn even well-intentioned leaders into curt, short-tempered versions of themselves. Without proper support, realistic goals, administrative help, or mental health resources, they lose sight of the human element in management and treat people like interchangeable cogs in the machine. The result can be, like this story shows, workers who just take matters into their own hands.

Finally, some individuals simply lack self-awareness. They’re disconnected from the impact of their words and actions, viewing abruptness as efficiency rather than rudeness. They may have never received honest feedback about their behavior, perhaps because their own managers avoid conflict, or because their teams have learned to “game” the system by staying silent. Without reflection or constructive criticism, these bosses remain blind to the damage they inflict.

Addressing incompetent, rude management requires change on multiple fronts: selecting leaders for people skills as well as technical ability; training and mentoring new managers; fostering a culture of respect from the top down; and building feedback loops that hold everyone accountable for how they treat colleagues. With those elements in place, organizations can replace fear and frustration with genuine collaboration, and turn lousy bosses into authentic leaders.

Image credits: Arlington Research (not the actual photo)

The employee gave some more info in the comments

Online conversation showing comments about a manager who created a hostile workplace and faced consequences.

Reddit conversation showing user discussing experience with a manager who created a hostile workplace environment.

Screenshot of a forum discussion revealing details about a manager who created a hostile workplace environment.

Most thought the boss got what he deserved

Screenshot of a comment highlighting self-destructive behavior related to a manager who created a hostile workplace.

Comment on hostile workplace manager situation praising how evidence was orchestrated to get him fired.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing revenge related to a manager who created a hostile workplace.

Comment on a forum post highlighting how a manager created a hostile workplace and faced consequences due to his own behavior.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing a manager who created a hostile workplace and faced consequences.

User comment about a manager who created a hostile workplace facing consequences in an online discussion forum.

User comment saying As you sow, so shall you reap in an online discussion about manager created a hostile workplace behavior consequences

Comment praising accountability for bad managers, highlighting hostile workplace created by manager behavior consequences.

Comment saying Good for you, saved yourself and others, in a discussion about manager created a hostile workplace.

User comment praising someone for liberating themselves and others, related to manager creating a hostile workplace behavior.

Screenshot of a forum comment emphasizing the importance of documenting in a discussion about workplace behavior.

Comment with username AppleJoost praising with 5 points about a hostile workplace created by a manager.

Screenshot of an online comment praising someone for helping after a manager created a hostile workplace environment.

Text comment on a white background expressing willingness to be the nicest person if earning 95k a year, reflecting workplace attitude and behavior.

Screenshot of a positive comment praising those who stood against a manager who created a hostile workplace.

Text post discussing power and corruption, reflecting on political science lessons about authority and behavior.

Comment praising OP for addressing a hostile workplace created by a manager and promoting a positive team environment.

Comment highlighting rare cases where HR opposes a manager who created a hostile workplace and faces consequences.

Comment highlighting a rare case where a hostile workplace manager is removed due to their own behavior.

Some shared similar stories

Comment highlighting a toxic manager creating a hostile workplace and the courage to stand up and break the bullying cycle.

Comment about a manager creating a hostile workplace and coworkers expecting his behavior to cause his downfall.

Comment highlighting consequences of a manager who created a hostile workplace and faced backlash for their behavior.

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