Sometimes the biggest obstacle to productivity isn’t the workload — it’s the person leading the team.

That fact became impossible to ignore when one workplace thrived during their boss’s absence, only to unravel the moment he walked back in.

Keep reading for the full story.

My boss went on vacation for two weeks and everything ran better without him

It’s honestly wild, because my boss took a two-week vacation and the office instantly became calmer and more productive.

The change was remarkable.

No random “urgent” emails, no meetings that could’ve been a Slack message, no micromanaging.

Everyone just did their work, helped each other out, and went home on time.

The energy was relaxed but efficient.

But when he returned, everything quickly reverted back.

Then he came back and immediately started changing things that didn’t need fixing, stressing people out, and creating more work for no reason.

I genuinely think a lot of workplaces would run smoother if managers stopped trying so hard to manage.

It’s amazing how much a workplace can change when one person steps away.

Redditors chime in with their thoughts.

There’s an important lesson here that all managers could walk away with.

Many bosses thrive on sowing chaos.

Good bosses make a habit of staying out of their employees’ way.

An ineffective boss is usually not missed when they’re away.

Two weeks of peace from their boss’ iron fist was all the evidence they needed.

Many workplaces don’t need more management — they need less of it.

If you liked this post, check out this story about an employee who got revenge on a co-worker who kept grading their work suspiciously low.