
Employee Gets Told They’re “Replaceable”, So They Play Along And It Ruins The Company
The boss-employee relationship is dictated by influence — the unevenness of power in the organization shapes how bosses and subordinates relate to each other. Sadly, as Reddit user anon-cant-quit has experienced, it can get pretty ugly.
The classic “you are replaceable” play has to be one of the oldest tricks in the book but a lot of companies still use it. Even if we’re talking about best performers, it’s not uncommon for managers to try everything they can think of just to avoid having to pay their employees more money.
However, as anon-cant-quit explained on r/ProRevenge, it doesn’t always work. Using their spouse’s business knowledge and outside help, they were able to successfully escape their toxic office and prove that, in fact, it was the organization that was replaceable. Continue scrolling to learn how they did it!
One person who had the “pleasure” of hearing their boss say they were replaceable decided to teach their company a lesson
Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio (not the actual photo)
But everything went even better than they had expected
Image credits: anon-cant-quit
As Fernando Bartolomé and André Laurent pointed out in Harvard Business Review, bosses are not only often unaware of how they misuse their power in relation to subordinates, but they are also frequently unaware of the contradictory messages they send and their motives for doing so.
For example, they may tell subordinates that they expect them to be candid and to feel free to offer criticism but at the same time, they communicate disapproval of candid feedback through subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle cues.
In the superior role, many managers say that they are more concerned about their team’s performance than with obedience for its own sake or with workers doing things the boss’s way. Despite the overt message they send, however—”good performance is what really counts in my department”—many managers communicate subtly to subordinates that obedience and deference are just as important, if not more so.
This story is a perfect example of the moment when managers fail to understand how deeply the unequal distribution of power can hurt interpersonal relations and productivity. During these times, serious problems can arise for the organization. According to Bartolomé and Laurent, the most important and pervasive negative effect of the hierarchical structure can be summarized in the saying, “Trust flees authority.”
Good ideas often remain unexpressed because subordinates believe they will be punished for disagreeing with their superiors or showing too much competence. Honest feedback about the superior’s managerial style is withheld because subordinates are afraid they’ll be blackballed when decisions on promotions are made. Maybe that’s also the reason why OP’s former colleagues bailed on the company and joined their new venture?
A very high number of people express dissatisfaction with the places they work at. A recent study sought to more accurately define the term “good job” and determine how many Americans had them.
The researchers found the top three components of a “good job” were enjoyable day-to-day work, a sense of purpose, and what anon-cant-quit lacked, a stable and predictable pay. But they also discovered only 40% of employees felt they had these things. I hope the rest will also find a way to stand up for themselves.
This seems a little fake....
A little???
Very! Very!
Right? They created a new business in 3 months that completely destroyed and closed a business that had 75% market share after a 10 year run? The true story ended at "my boss told me I was replaceable" the rest was created in his head while on vacation for how he wishes it would go.
This sounds like something my friend could/would do. He designs solar systems, his customers love him, his former boss wouldn't pay him enuf. There are businesses that have unique services with a niche customer base.
Yup totally! She was so perfect and amazing and proud to tell her triumphant victory I'd be willing to bet 20$ there's one tiny kernel of truth and the rest is a lie lol. I'm putting my theory in the comments
It could be although way stranger things happen every day so who is to say? My friend who only had a GED used to use me to Photoshop his fake drivers license and other documents saying he was 5 yrs older than he was and that he graduated from whatever university to get him jobs in big firms, one being AIG b4 the 2008 crash and he worked there making them millions b4 someone found out & guess what? They didnt rat on him when they realized he was actually a 19 yr old highschool drop out cuz he was phenomenal at his job. He also unfortunately has mental illnesses up the ying yang just like myself, as many highly intelligent people do, so hes on disability 4 that as will I be pretty soon. People like us are smart but whats asked of employees these days and how little slack is given to people who have deppressive episodes and ADD that messes with our sense of time and crippling anxiety that can affect anything at any time..employers just don't wanna deal with it
Same thing I thought. Sounds platitudinal. Wondered about the responses though 🤔
They lose me as soon as they say "I was exceptional in every way". Ok Mary Poppins.
They are confident
They are narcissistic
No it is called being arrogant. Everybody has faults which makes us human, so nobody is exceptional in every way. Only in someone who has a over blown ego, which most employees have these days.
This comment has been deleted.
And then everyone clapped
Even his old office building clapped.
Even his parents clapped. Then 9 months later, his newborn baby brother clapped.
😂😂
Dead 😂😂😂😂😂
Josh!!! IS THAT what makes babies?
And then everyone used the most cliched response they could come up with in three seconds. There might even be onion-cutting ninjas somewhere.
This seems a little fake....
A little???
Very! Very!
Right? They created a new business in 3 months that completely destroyed and closed a business that had 75% market share after a 10 year run? The true story ended at "my boss told me I was replaceable" the rest was created in his head while on vacation for how he wishes it would go.
This sounds like something my friend could/would do. He designs solar systems, his customers love him, his former boss wouldn't pay him enuf. There are businesses that have unique services with a niche customer base.
Yup totally! She was so perfect and amazing and proud to tell her triumphant victory I'd be willing to bet 20$ there's one tiny kernel of truth and the rest is a lie lol. I'm putting my theory in the comments
It could be although way stranger things happen every day so who is to say? My friend who only had a GED used to use me to Photoshop his fake drivers license and other documents saying he was 5 yrs older than he was and that he graduated from whatever university to get him jobs in big firms, one being AIG b4 the 2008 crash and he worked there making them millions b4 someone found out & guess what? They didnt rat on him when they realized he was actually a 19 yr old highschool drop out cuz he was phenomenal at his job. He also unfortunately has mental illnesses up the ying yang just like myself, as many highly intelligent people do, so hes on disability 4 that as will I be pretty soon. People like us are smart but whats asked of employees these days and how little slack is given to people who have deppressive episodes and ADD that messes with our sense of time and crippling anxiety that can affect anything at any time..employers just don't wanna deal with it
Same thing I thought. Sounds platitudinal. Wondered about the responses though 🤔
They lose me as soon as they say "I was exceptional in every way". Ok Mary Poppins.
They are confident
They are narcissistic
No it is called being arrogant. Everybody has faults which makes us human, so nobody is exceptional in every way. Only in someone who has a over blown ego, which most employees have these days.
This comment has been deleted.
And then everyone clapped
Even his old office building clapped.
Even his parents clapped. Then 9 months later, his newborn baby brother clapped.
😂😂
Dead 😂😂😂😂😂
Josh!!! IS THAT what makes babies?
And then everyone used the most cliched response they could come up with in three seconds. There might even be onion-cutting ninjas somewhere.