Banks are supposed to be precise in handling cash, but even automated systems can miss the mark.

One astute head teller wanted to follow their expertise, but when told to just follow the
rules blindly, the chaotic consequences were both inevitable and strangely comical.

Read on for the full story!

Ok, I’ll do it your way

Back in the 2000s, I worked in a bank, and for two of those years, I was the head teller.

As the head teller, I also had to keep up with the cash in the vault.

Now, it is never a good look for a bank to run low on money, but it happens.

This teller prided themselves in always staying ahead of the game.

With that being said, I would try to order so that I didn’t have too much, but enough on hand to keep us from panicking.

There was a system that would tell me at the end of the week how much money I should order and/or ship out.

I will be honest with you, I went with my gut on this because

1. I knew my “house”
2. I paid attention to what kind of week it was going to be, i.e., holiday weekend, heavy payday, etc.

But soon their initiative was discouraged by their bosses.

So, my bosses came to me to tell me that I was ordering too much and ignoring what the system said.

My response: You can also see that I’m using whatever I’m ordering. I’m not just hoarding.

So I was told: just do what the system says.

Ok, bet.

The teller knew that what was coming next wasn’t good.

I gave my team the heads-up.

The next few weeks are going to suck.

They’re telling me that I’m ordering too much, so I’m going to do EXACTLY what they told me to do.

You can direct all of the bull to me.

If people get mad, don’t worry about it.

I’ll take the heat.

But regardless, they followed their bosses’ rules to the letter.

So for 3 weeks, I did exactly as I was told.

And what I thought was going to happen did.

It got to the point where we’re cashing large checks in $20s, and barely able to do that.

Of course, the bosses weren’t happy.

Apparently, the complaints started going uphill because the following conversation happened:

Bosses: We’re getting complaints about the branch not having enough big bills.

Me: I figured that would happen.

Bosses: We want to know why.

So the teller lets them know they told them so.

Me: I’m doing exactly what I was told. Whatever the system is telling me to do, I’m doing. But y’all already knew that.

Bosses: This can’t keep happening.

Me: It wasn’t happening when I was ordering the way I needed to. So now you have a choice to make.

Finally, the bosses listen.

Bosses: Do what you need to do, for now. Until we figure this out.

Me: Ok.

From that point on, the teller was able to use their best judgment to solve problems.

I was pretty much left alone after that.

As a side note: I actually reached out to that specific department to ask about a workaround so that I wouldn’t have to keep having this conversation.

The solution they gave was SO simple!

And I never had that issue again.

Their bosses wanted them to follow the rules, but they really should have just followed their instincts.

What did Reddit have to say?

Always leave a paper trail.

The micromanaging boss’ internal monologue must have sounded something like this.

Self-starters should be praised, not discouraged in the workplace.

It makes a world of difference when an employee’s boss has also done the same job before them.

It turns out the best solution was one thought of by the person who knew the job best, not some automated system.

Who would have thought?

Bosses of the world: Never underestimate your employees!

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.