Many people with horrible bosses will likely choose to suffer that burden in silence for the sake of keeping their jobs. But some will fight back and deliver the coldest dish of revenge, which are always satisfying stories to learn about.
Here are some examples we grabbed from an old Quora thread. A user asked, “What is the best revenge you have gotten on a superior in your workplace?” Some commenters shared how their resignation became their employers’ biggest source of regret, while others had their bosses investigated for “pulling some shenanigans.”
If you have similar experiences, feel free to share them in the comments below!
#1
I was an assistant in Orthopedic and Physical Therapy. We had a great boss. There were two other therapists. One was a young guy. The other was a perv. Would not look at me anywhere but in the b**bs. I was in a lab coat and you could not see them but I swear he must have thought he had X-ray vision. He did this to all the women there. I asked him several times to quit staring at my chest but he didn’t stop.
Our old boss retired. This tool became the boss. Second day in, he fired me for insubordination for telling him to stop staring at my chest. Made me sign a paper about it too. Next thing I know, I get a call from corporate that I have my job back with back pay and a raise. I come into work, he was fired for being a perv! Idiot had told HR what I had said and when they called him in, he did the same thing to the HR manager! Made my decade!!!
Our old boss retired. This tool became the boss. Second day in, he fired me for insubordination for telling him to stop staring at my chest. Made me sign a paper about it too. Next thing I know, I get a call from corporate that I have my job back with back pay and a raise. I come into work, he was fired for being a perv! Idiot had told HR what I had said and when they called him in, he did the same thing to the HR manager! Made my decade!!!
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167points
#2
This happened to my husband when we were first married. He was working (salary) 60–70 hrs a week. He worked for a company that was a family business, except my husband and the skilled field employees. The familly office staff didn’t do as much as my husband, so he asked a raise, since he was doing a higher level position than he was working. He also asked for an assistant, because he was doing that much work.
My husband knew they would probably not honor his requests, so he went prepared. He had gotten a license to form his own company, and and went in with a resignation letter. When he asked for the raise and an assistant, his boss literally laughed in his face. My husband gave his notice and walked out. He had a couple of jobs lined up from other contractors whom he know from his connections other than his job, so he didn’t skip a beat in getting work. A week went by, and his boss called him begging him to come back. My husband rightfully declined. They had to hire 3 people to fill his position there, and within 2 years, they went out of business. I’m proud that my husband did all of this with class, dignity and integrity!
My husband knew they would probably not honor his requests, so he went prepared. He had gotten a license to form his own company, and and went in with a resignation letter. When he asked for the raise and an assistant, his boss literally laughed in his face. My husband gave his notice and walked out. He had a couple of jobs lined up from other contractors whom he know from his connections other than his job, so he didn’t skip a beat in getting work. A week went by, and his boss called him begging him to come back. My husband rightfully declined. They had to hire 3 people to fill his position there, and within 2 years, they went out of business. I’m proud that my husband did all of this with class, dignity and integrity!
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123points
#3
In the 1970s, I worked as Director of Special Events for a large company. Our sales meetings included industrial theater, where singers/dancers performed on stage, interacting with the corporate execs. After a number of years, my boss told me I would never make it any further because I was too soft … that I didn’t have the “corporate k**ler instinct.”
A few days later, a headhunter called me and said another company had read about me in an industry publication and wanted to talk to me about heading their Special Events group. I interviewed with them and they offered me a job. I took the job and brought my ten singers/dancers with me. They were loyal to me, not the company. I called my old boss and said, “Is that k**ler enough for you?”
A few days later, a headhunter called me and said another company had read about me in an industry publication and wanted to talk to me about heading their Special Events group. I interviewed with them and they offered me a job. I took the job and brought my ten singers/dancers with me. They were loyal to me, not the company. I called my old boss and said, “Is that k**ler enough for you?”
102points
#4
I was working at a daily newspaper and going to law school at night. My immediate boss resented this and kept changing my work schedule to try to mess up my schooling. No matter what he did, I was able to stay in school. When he changed my schedule so that I had to work the hours that I was in school, the school allowed me to stay registered in the evening class but to go to class during the day with the full time students.
The best revenge was that I graduated from law school, passed the bar exam and quit my job, holding my head high.
The best revenge was that I graduated from law school, passed the bar exam and quit my job, holding my head high.
83points
#5
I’ll keep this short. I got hired at a furniture store as a salesman. But I also had to fill in moving furniture and delivering same. I never got to be a salesman and after 6 months I was laid off. 5 years later I’m a court security deputy. My former boss did something that pissed off the judge and I had the pleasure of taking him to jail and slamming the cell door on him. I still smile and giggle when I think of that.
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79points
#6
We had a situation. I gave my boss my best advice, he disagreed and wanted me to take basically the opposite tactic. I put my objections and reasons in an email and he replied, do it my way. I did it his way, no malicious compliance, I gave his way an honest try but as I predicted it blew up.
Big bosses came down on me hard, why did I do it this way, not the way I initially recommended. I printed out the email exchange as well as forwarded them the electronic version. Immediate boss was gone by the end of the day. I later found out that he took my recommendations, slightly reworded it and had claimed that that was his instruction to me. (However he used my Canadian spellings, he was American and it was an American company. Lol) I also found out that he had tried to fake the email chain but it took our IT department about 5 minutes to check the mirror copy of every email sent and received on company server and was automatically archived.
Big bosses came down on me hard, why did I do it this way, not the way I initially recommended. I printed out the email exchange as well as forwarded them the electronic version. Immediate boss was gone by the end of the day. I later found out that he took my recommendations, slightly reworded it and had claimed that that was his instruction to me. (However he used my Canadian spellings, he was American and it was an American company. Lol) I also found out that he had tried to fake the email chain but it took our IT department about 5 minutes to check the mirror copy of every email sent and received on company server and was automatically archived.
76points
#7
When I had a new job I happened to see a previous supervisor’s resume on my boss’s desk for the open department supervisor position I gasped audibly. When asked about my reaction I explained I did not have a good working relationship with her. The resume, to my astonishment, was promptly tossed into the trash can.
73points
#8
It was my manager and she did not like me, no idea why? Anyway she tried to get me sacked but another manager said I could move to her department, so I did. A couple of years later she got demoted and moved to another store. Meanwhile I got promoted and made a manager. Oh, how I loved shopping in that other store and timing it so she served me. Just loved handing her my management card and getting my management discount.
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70points
#9
I scheduled months in advance Friday, Monday, and Tuesday off. (Normally had weekends off.) I made plans to go on vacation (out of town) Friday through Tuesday. My boss mentioned he might need to call me in on Saturday. He was good at ruining people’s time off if he could. Well, Friday night rolled around and he called telling me I had to be at work at 7am, to cover an overtime shift. I told him that since I was 10 hours and 2 states away it would be impossible to cover that shift. He said there was no one else to do it but him, so I said have fun, see you Wednesday!
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66points
#10
I was a government employee for 28 years and worked overtime whenever she asked me. I also took no sick leave and cut my vacation time when there was an overload of work. An opening for a promotion came up and I passed the tests with flying colors. However, my supervisor wanted a woman in the position and called in favors to have a female employee from another department transferred to her section. I then went to HR and asked when I could take early retirement with the best employee pension possible given my number of years as an employee. I bided my time and when the time came, I gave exactly 2 weeks notice.
How did it hurt her? I had accumulated 2 years and six weeks of vacation, sick leave, and overtime, so for that time, I was paid full salary on early retirement. The best part, she could not have another employee fill my position because I was officially still occupying that position.
How did it hurt her? I had accumulated 2 years and six weeks of vacation, sick leave, and overtime, so for that time, I was paid full salary on early retirement. The best part, she could not have another employee fill my position because I was officially still occupying that position.
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62points
#11
I was a highly trained metal worker and was asked by the shop supervisor if I would work the night shift. As my wife worked and we had two small children, I told my boss I could work the night shift but only a short while as my wife needed help with the babies. 3 months later the shop has not provided a person for me to train,as promised.
I approach the shop supervisor with the observation that “a short while” has passed and I need to get back on the day shift. His response was “you've done such a good job, we've decided to keep you on nights. After a whole 30 seconds of thought, I gave my two weeks notice. About 5 years later, after becoming a welding inspector, I was in the same shop because poor welding was observed on the job site. The messes they had to fix were tremendous. Be careful who you mess with!
I approach the shop supervisor with the observation that “a short while” has passed and I need to get back on the day shift. His response was “you've done such a good job, we've decided to keep you on nights. After a whole 30 seconds of thought, I gave my two weeks notice. About 5 years later, after becoming a welding inspector, I was in the same shop because poor welding was observed on the job site. The messes they had to fix were tremendous. Be careful who you mess with!
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60points
#12
I was working for a mom and pop copy center and I was THE employee. I was always there early and willing to learn anything for the job I didn’t already know. After about 6 months, I showed up too early one day and the owners weren’t there to open up yet. I went across the street to grab a soda. By the time I managed to get back across the street, I was 5 whole minutes late. I didn’t think anything of it and filled out my time card as normal.
The wife, who ran the books, took my time card and ripped it up while I was on lunch. she then filled out a new one with those 5 minutes marked off. When I did for the rest of the week was keep a separate time card and tracked exactly when I started work, when I went to lunch, when I got back, and when I left for the day. At the end of the week, I gave the husband both time cards and explained why the one with his wife’s writing on it was short 5 minutes and the one with only my writing on it had 45 minutes overtime for the week. He told me I would get my regular pay and not to worry about his wife, he would deal with her. Never had a problem there again and I moved to a better job within about 4 months.
The wife, who ran the books, took my time card and ripped it up while I was on lunch. she then filled out a new one with those 5 minutes marked off. When I did for the rest of the week was keep a separate time card and tracked exactly when I started work, when I went to lunch, when I got back, and when I left for the day. At the end of the week, I gave the husband both time cards and explained why the one with his wife’s writing on it was short 5 minutes and the one with only my writing on it had 45 minutes overtime for the week. He told me I would get my regular pay and not to worry about his wife, he would deal with her. Never had a problem there again and I moved to a better job within about 4 months.
56points
#13
Many years ago I worked as a reporter for a weekly newspaper. I considered myself to have strong work ethic so when one of the two other reporters left the paper I thought nothing of putting in extra hours to pick up the slack. But then the other reporter left and I was left to pick up even more of the workload. I was expecting the positions to be replaced but when weeks turned into months with no sign of replacement, I realized the publisher and managing editor had no intention of replacing the vacant positions.
I presented them with the option of either replacing at least one of the vacant positions or providing me with a substantial raise. They countered by offering me a negligible increase, so I gave my two weeks’ notice and resigned. A good reporter builds a network of contacts and sources and of course that went with me.
For months afterward the paper had very little news content and what it did have was extremely poorly written as the managing editor was not only lazy but incompetent. Advertisers and readers soon noticed the paper had declined in quality so moved to a competitor publication. The managing editor was fired soon after, and the paper never really recovered and eventually went out of business. The lesson: don’t take your team members for granted.
I presented them with the option of either replacing at least one of the vacant positions or providing me with a substantial raise. They countered by offering me a negligible increase, so I gave my two weeks’ notice and resigned. A good reporter builds a network of contacts and sources and of course that went with me.
For months afterward the paper had very little news content and what it did have was extremely poorly written as the managing editor was not only lazy but incompetent. Advertisers and readers soon noticed the paper had declined in quality so moved to a competitor publication. The managing editor was fired soon after, and the paper never really recovered and eventually went out of business. The lesson: don’t take your team members for granted.
55points
#14
I worked in a horrible call center with draconian micromanagers who would go around and openly dump women’s purses out to look through them. When a round of stomach virus hit the area, they wouldn’t allow the agents to go to the washrooms so people were out at their stations vomiting into wastebasket.
One of these managers was a nasty little bigot who oozed out of his mother’s basement into civilized society and said the ugliest things about Jews to the one white person on his team, who he thought would share his hate. Now I knew there was one thing this manager hated more than Jews, Muslims and immigrants and that was garlic. He had the full vampire effect from it. If you were lucky you might have seen that pristine white complexion turn a remarkable shade of green. He wasn’t allergic, he just couldn’t take the smell and the overwhelming flavor from any given dish.
I slivered up a few cloves of garlic and on his next off day I decorated his station in the guise of getting files or office supplies. I put some in his file drawer, his keyboard, even in his chair. His cubicle had fabric along its walls; I dropped some garlic into a hole at one corner.
For my last three weeks there I took great pleasure in his gagging. Shut his hateful mouth good and proper.
One of these managers was a nasty little bigot who oozed out of his mother’s basement into civilized society and said the ugliest things about Jews to the one white person on his team, who he thought would share his hate. Now I knew there was one thing this manager hated more than Jews, Muslims and immigrants and that was garlic. He had the full vampire effect from it. If you were lucky you might have seen that pristine white complexion turn a remarkable shade of green. He wasn’t allergic, he just couldn’t take the smell and the overwhelming flavor from any given dish.
I slivered up a few cloves of garlic and on his next off day I decorated his station in the guise of getting files or office supplies. I put some in his file drawer, his keyboard, even in his chair. His cubicle had fabric along its walls; I dropped some garlic into a hole at one corner.
For my last three weeks there I took great pleasure in his gagging. Shut his hateful mouth good and proper.
53points
#15
I was supervisor of a grooming crew at a ski area, sitting in a $350,000 machine while directing three other machine operators during an ice storm. The lifts were going to open in less than an hour, and I'd told my people to get a trail down from each lift as soon as possible. My boss, an Australian, stopped me on the trail and was telling me to go slowly and groom the trail I was on properly, and wouldn't hear me talking about hurrying to make a safe path down for the skiers. I finally said, “I quit, I'm heading for the parking lot and going home.”
He said, “No! That's my machine and you're not taking it anywhere.” My microphone was open to my other operators for this whole exchange. I said, “Fair enough. Here's your F'ing machine.” Jumped out, walked the half mile downhill to my car, and left. He was left with an idling machine that he knew nothing about operating and a snowmobile. The boss was fired that morning, and while the ski area rang my phone, I never answered it. Who hires these a******s, anyway? PS all of my operators did the same thing. Just shut down their machines and walked down.
He said, “No! That's my machine and you're not taking it anywhere.” My microphone was open to my other operators for this whole exchange. I said, “Fair enough. Here's your F'ing machine.” Jumped out, walked the half mile downhill to my car, and left. He was left with an idling machine that he knew nothing about operating and a snowmobile. The boss was fired that morning, and while the ski area rang my phone, I never answered it. Who hires these a******s, anyway? PS all of my operators did the same thing. Just shut down their machines and walked down.
50points
#16
After 14 years the College decided to alter my contract. I refused to sign and had no pay increases for 2 years. Eventually they decided that all those who would not sign would be made redundant. Even the staff representative signed! Eventually I was made redundant with a lump sum, 3 months salary and an early pension. My colleagues watched from the deck of the Titanic as I climbed on the iceberg and they sailed on…
Shortly before I finished the Principals Secretary rang and invited me to the year end gathering, where a presentation would be made. I politely refused as I had no wish to emphasise my redundancy. After repeated requests by the secretary I eventually ageed. She then asked ‘ Could you let me have 3.50 ($4.00) for the College Catering’…… Answer ‘ P*** Off.
Later I became a self employed advisor to our local ‘ Job Centre ‘ helping those out of work to start their own business. Who should come through the door but the very Manager who signed my redundancy. ‘ I was made redundant after 17 years with just the standard redundancy and no pension’ was his first sentence. ‘ You signed ‘ was my answer. I helped him set up his business idea. ‘ There were so many made redundant that the Principal used a rubber stamp to sign the farewell letters.’ ‘ What did you expect when you signed away your rights?’ was my parting words.
Later the College decided they would like to become involved with the Job Centre, and invited me to a meeting to discuss how the scheme operated. In two hours I helped them through the details. My invoice for consultancy followed for a sizeable amount. The Principal rang. ‘ You’ve sent an invoice for that meeting ‘ he exclaimed. ‘ Yes that right. I am self employed and my time is chargeable’ ‘ But… but… but it was just a meeting’ I suggested it might be worth considering cutting the time down or if it really is important having an agenda.
He had compeletly forgotten that I no longer worked for him. Nil Illigitimus Carborundem Don’ t let the B*****ds grind you down.
Shortly before I finished the Principals Secretary rang and invited me to the year end gathering, where a presentation would be made. I politely refused as I had no wish to emphasise my redundancy. After repeated requests by the secretary I eventually ageed. She then asked ‘ Could you let me have 3.50 ($4.00) for the College Catering’…… Answer ‘ P*** Off.
Later I became a self employed advisor to our local ‘ Job Centre ‘ helping those out of work to start their own business. Who should come through the door but the very Manager who signed my redundancy. ‘ I was made redundant after 17 years with just the standard redundancy and no pension’ was his first sentence. ‘ You signed ‘ was my answer. I helped him set up his business idea. ‘ There were so many made redundant that the Principal used a rubber stamp to sign the farewell letters.’ ‘ What did you expect when you signed away your rights?’ was my parting words.
Later the College decided they would like to become involved with the Job Centre, and invited me to a meeting to discuss how the scheme operated. In two hours I helped them through the details. My invoice for consultancy followed for a sizeable amount. The Principal rang. ‘ You’ve sent an invoice for that meeting ‘ he exclaimed. ‘ Yes that right. I am self employed and my time is chargeable’ ‘ But… but… but it was just a meeting’ I suggested it might be worth considering cutting the time down or if it really is important having an agenda.
He had compeletly forgotten that I no longer worked for him. Nil Illigitimus Carborundem Don’ t let the B*****ds grind you down.
45points
#17
He wasn't a superior, but rather a customer of my web design and IT support business.
This gentleman owned a publishing company with a slew of magazines and websites. With a smallish office of around 10 staff, ever changing, part of the service I provided was regular backups of all machines and the server.
One day, he decided he didn't want to pay for my services any longer and started looking for another company to take over from me. Fine, it's just business. It's happened before and it will happen again.
I had just completed a full, major system backup when I was told my services were no longer required and I had to leave the premises immediately. After I left the site, someone decided to delete the antivirus and network protection software from the server. Less than an hour later they suffered a huge ransomware attack which crippled them. All their data, on all their machines was gone. And worse, the dumbass in chief had left their backup drives connected to the server, so all their internal backups were gone too.
The MD of this company (which, if his attitude towards literally everyone is anything to go by, stands for Mega Dickhead) was famous for not paying the final invoice of any contractor.
I had barely got home before the phonecalls began…
“Our data is gone, you need to fix it!”
“You need to pay my last invoice”
“It's in your contract! We paid for this service so restore everything immediately!”
“The contract you refused to sign and return to me? I suggest you read it. You pay monthly, for a month to month service. You refused to pay this month and had me escorted off-site. I am under no legal obligation to fulfil any of the contract terms if you don't pay for them.”
“Restore my data IMMEDIATELY! I'm going to sue you!”
“Please do.” *click*
He didn't pay the invoice but instead sent me several threatening letters which ultimately went nowhere.
Oh, and as for all his data backups - customer details, accounts, emails, finances, personnel records, contracts, artwork and advertising materials etc? I took the greatest of pleasure in deleting them.
This gentleman owned a publishing company with a slew of magazines and websites. With a smallish office of around 10 staff, ever changing, part of the service I provided was regular backups of all machines and the server.
One day, he decided he didn't want to pay for my services any longer and started looking for another company to take over from me. Fine, it's just business. It's happened before and it will happen again.
I had just completed a full, major system backup when I was told my services were no longer required and I had to leave the premises immediately. After I left the site, someone decided to delete the antivirus and network protection software from the server. Less than an hour later they suffered a huge ransomware attack which crippled them. All their data, on all their machines was gone. And worse, the dumbass in chief had left their backup drives connected to the server, so all their internal backups were gone too.
The MD of this company (which, if his attitude towards literally everyone is anything to go by, stands for Mega Dickhead) was famous for not paying the final invoice of any contractor.
I had barely got home before the phonecalls began…
“Our data is gone, you need to fix it!”
“You need to pay my last invoice”
“It's in your contract! We paid for this service so restore everything immediately!”
“The contract you refused to sign and return to me? I suggest you read it. You pay monthly, for a month to month service. You refused to pay this month and had me escorted off-site. I am under no legal obligation to fulfil any of the contract terms if you don't pay for them.”
“Restore my data IMMEDIATELY! I'm going to sue you!”
“Please do.” *click*
He didn't pay the invoice but instead sent me several threatening letters which ultimately went nowhere.
Oh, and as for all his data backups - customer details, accounts, emails, finances, personnel records, contracts, artwork and advertising materials etc? I took the greatest of pleasure in deleting them.
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42points
#18
I was a line pilot at a small (3 airplanes) Part 135 company. I was an instructor pilot and was on very good terms with the FAA. The owner promoted me to Chief Pilot and put me on salary, but this resulted in a pay cut. I was not happy with the loss of income and tried to discuss it with him but he just wouldn’t listen. For those that don’t know, in aviation there is a cardinal rule: don’t f**k with my pay!
Soon after this, he pulled some shenanigans that the FAA hadn’t seen yet. I asked for a meeting with the FAA in an effort to protect my pilots, and our principal inspector asked me to meet him after hours. The FAA was very interested and started an investigation. Meanwhile, I found a much better job.
Six months later, I was called to testify in court. He was soon out of business and his shenanigans got him banned from ever owning an airline again.
Soon after this, he pulled some shenanigans that the FAA hadn’t seen yet. I asked for a meeting with the FAA in an effort to protect my pilots, and our principal inspector asked me to meet him after hours. The FAA was very interested and started an investigation. Meanwhile, I found a much better job.
Six months later, I was called to testify in court. He was soon out of business and his shenanigans got him banned from ever owning an airline again.
41points
#19
I had a divisional manager in a very large company constantly leave at lunchtime saying that he was going to a meeting. At the time I was also a middle grade manager but constantly ended up doing work that was really his domain - including going to head office board meetings over 100 miles away as my boss didn't want to get up early.
After about a year I began to wonder how he could afford his lifestyle on his salary, going to Rome for a weekend with a mate and their 2 wives to watch rugby and letting on that his wife's shopping trip instead of watching the match cost him £1500 etc. One day one of the engineers called me about a problem on a job which the divisional manager had assigned him to, but i knew the entire job had been subcontracted out.
The penny then dropped and I realised that the boss was running his own company on the side. I slowly did some careful discreet digging and sure enough found that he was a director of another engineering company. Once I had enough evidence the next time I had to go to a board meeting in his place I took the evidence and after the meeting asked the managing director for a brief word. Next morning my boss got called to the London office for an urgent meeting - we never saw him again. Alas the damage had already been done and the company discovered that he had effectively syphoned off over £3m over 6 years- the company soon after went into liquidation.
After about a year I began to wonder how he could afford his lifestyle on his salary, going to Rome for a weekend with a mate and their 2 wives to watch rugby and letting on that his wife's shopping trip instead of watching the match cost him £1500 etc. One day one of the engineers called me about a problem on a job which the divisional manager had assigned him to, but i knew the entire job had been subcontracted out.
The penny then dropped and I realised that the boss was running his own company on the side. I slowly did some careful discreet digging and sure enough found that he was a director of another engineering company. Once I had enough evidence the next time I had to go to a board meeting in his place I took the evidence and after the meeting asked the managing director for a brief word. Next morning my boss got called to the London office for an urgent meeting - we never saw him again. Alas the damage had already been done and the company discovered that he had effectively syphoned off over £3m over 6 years- the company soon after went into liquidation.
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40points
#20
She told me to falsify reports. She went on to say that if I told the sales manager that she would deny it. Well, guess what? I did tell the sales manager, and I also told him that I would be willing to pay for a lie detector test. 30 years later, and I’m still laughing, and I congratulate myself for no longer bowing to this horrible person. Three years of threats were enough!
31points