If you have ever been a part-time employee who didn’t have enough hours or ever had a boss who was completely unreasonable, you will probably really enjoy today’s story.

This is the story of a part-time grocery store employee who has a completely unreasonable boss, but by using malicious compliance, the employee comes out ahead!

Let’s see how the story unfolds…

If you don’t like it the leave! Okay I will

Cast

Karen Manager

Store Manager

Meat Manager

Grocery Manager

This story takes place about two months before I quit my job at the grocery store and started my first year of college.

This story has a bit of exposition so please bear with me 🙂

There was a manager OP liked and a manager OP didn’t like.

I was glad when I got to put my Karen Manager in her place. Things had slowly started to cool down and for the next few months it was business as usual.

The old store manager had to open another store so they brought in a new one. This one was very professional and quite kind. This store manager always recognized various employees in different departments for their hard work.

This recognition of us “lower employees” made our Karen Manager less then happy.

I had started to notice a lot more people being hired and everyone’s hours suffered because of it. I found out later they did this because part-time employees could be paid less and they wanted to cut costs (tis the life of a retail worker).

OP asked for more hours.

I wanted to keep making money in preparation for college so I went into Karen Manager’s office and said

Me: Hey, Karen Manager. I noticed my hours were being cut and I wanted to see if I could pick up some extra shifts.

She scoffed at me and said

Karen Manager: It’s a department wide decision. If you want hours go to another department. I wouldn’t waste your time though.

OP was shocked at what the Karen Manager said.

I looked at her confused and asked

Me: Why not?

Karen Manager: They only have hard working employees in their departments. You wouldn’t fit in.

I was dumbfounded.

I thought Karen’s BS bully routine was over but boy was I wrong. I stood there unsure what to say, meanwhile Karen Manager had another Umbridge smile plastered on her face. I just turned around and walked out of her office.

The Meat Manager offered OP a job.

I didn’t know if Karen Manager had already lied to the other managers or not but I might as well ask.

I first went to the meat department and explained my situation. I told the manager that our departments hours were being cut and asked if I could do anything to help them out.

The meat manager smiled warmly and said

Meat Manager: I understand how frustrating low hours can be. We have a guy on vacation for a few weeks and we have had to stay late to wash all the pans and plates for our meat. It’s simple washing and drying. You get to wear headphones within reason and you would make what a starting meat associate would. Want the job?

The job was temporary, but OP did a good job.

I was beaming and immediately took the offer.

The job was simple as he promised and I took it seriously. I wanted to show other managers that I was a hard worker and reliable.

Three weeks passed by with no issue. Inevitably their missing associate came back and I had to be let go from that position.

The Grocery Manager offered OP a job.

Luckily I had spoken to the Grocery Manager the day before and our conversation was somewhat similar. I explained my situation and she understood. She said

Grocery Manager: You just need to tidy up the shelves, put out product on aisle labeled carts, and help unload trucks when they come in. Your pay will be a starting grocery associate pay.

For context both types of associate pay were an increase from my normal department.

I took the offer and immediately helped the grocery department. Everything was fine until grocery hired a full time employee and I had to go back to my normal department. I expected business as usual but I got one helluva surprise.

Karen Manager was mad at OP.

The first day back Karen Manager yanked me in her office. The conversation went like this.

Karen Manager: What the hell do you think you are doing, OP? I told you our departments hours were cut.

Me: I know, you said I could try working with other departments. You also said some other nasty things but I don’t care to repeat those.

She glared at me and said

Karen Manager: OP, you are making our department look bad. We are trying to cut costs and you are burning through hours we don’t have.

OP stayed calm and tried to explain the situation.

I decided to correct this smug Karen and said

Me: I understand you want to cut costs and you only have so many hours. I didn’t take up any extra hours from our department. I took your rude suggestion and worked for other departments that were short staffed and had an abundance of hours. I did nothing wrong.

She growled at me and said

Karen Manager: Listen OP, It’s not fair to others in our department if you get full time and other employees don’t.

OP didn’t back down.

I held my ground and said

Me: This system of hiring tons of part timers is stupid and it’s hurting quality full time employees who need the hours. If you insist on hiring all these people there is nothing stopping them from doing exactly what I did. There are plenty of departments that could use help.

I was fed up with Karen’s attitude and spoke my mind

Karen Manager: If you think my management practice is so ridiculous you can just leave!

OP again took the Karen Manager up of her suggestion.

I was tired of her BS and just smiled

Me: Okay I will.

I turned in my effects and clocked out. I said bye to my friends and drove home.

The next day I was enjoying sleeping in for once when I got a phone call. It was the new store manager.

The Store Manager asked OP to come back to work.

I answered

Me: Hello Store Manager, how are you this morning.

Store Manager: Sorry to bother you OP but could you come back to the store. I looked over the firing of you yesterday and Karen Manager was totally out of line. I talked to other managers you have worked for and they all had glowing reviews of your work. We are pretty short staffed and we need you back.

Me: I smiled (it was always nice to be needed after all). If you transfer me to grocery effective immediately with the pay bump to boot. I will help your department when needed but I want Grocery Manager as my new boss.

Store Manager: Done. I just pulled up your file and transferred you over. You have my word Grocery Manager is your new boss and Karen Manager has no authority over you anymore. I will be having a long talk with her over her managerial practices believe me.

Karen Manager was shocked to see OP back at the store.

I smirked and said

Me: I will see you in ten minutes

I drove to the store and walked in. I picked up my effects from the Store Manager and shook his hand.

I saw the shocked form of Karen Manager and snickered.

I turned to a nearby customer with a smile. These last few weeks were going to be the best.

The Karen Manager WAS completely out of line for firing OP. It’s great that all of the other managers seemed nice and reasonable.

Let’s see how Reddit responded to this story…

This reader thinks the manager was “stupid.”

Another reader pointed out that kindness is great revenge.

This person doesn’t think the Karen Manager will ever be a leader.

This person pointed out why people really choose to quit their jobs.

This reader applauded OP’s actions.

Malicious compliance that ends in a raise with a manager you actually like is the best!

If you liked that story, check out this post about an oblivious CEO who tells a web developer to “act his wage”… and it results in 30% of the workforce being laid off.