For the longest time, it seemed that employers could get away with almost anything if they really wanted to. All they had to do was hold an employee’s job at ransom. But the tide seems to be turning.
We’re seeing numerous stories of employees standing up for themselves and telling managers and bosses alike to shove it where the sun doesn't shine.
And while it is always cathartic to read such stories, it’s even more satisfying when it’s all done through some very malicious compliance.
More Info: Reddit
It's cathartic to read stories of employees setting their bosses straight, and it’s even more satisfying when it’s with malicious compliance
Image source: athriftymrs.com (not the actual photo)
Meet Reddit user u/Anubis3210, a young lady who recalled a story from back when she was 19 and in college. Back then, she used to work at a big chain restaurant. It was her first job and, at that point, she had been doing it for 4 years.
All was fine and dandy for most of her career there, until she had to move for college. Luckily, she got work at a different branch. But about a year later, there was a change in management.
Now, it is important to note that OP said she’s a plus-sized girl, but one who’s very confident in her looks. But the new manager had some sort of problem with it. Immediately the new boss singled her out, demanding she stop dressing the way she did because it would “lead to men harassing her”.
A Redditor shared a story of how she was provoked to sue her manager and the company, all because the boss was harassing her
Image source: Anubis3210
He was relentless with his remarks. So much, in fact, that he would sometimes tell her rather graphic stories of sexual assault he witnessed because of leggings. Now, this is an immediate red flag as the boss seemed to be implying it’s somehow her fault assault happens in the first place.
Bored Panda had a chat with her on the whole issue and how it played out. “My initial reaction was feeling uncomfortable and wanting to leave the company because I felt unwanted and singled out,” recalled OP.
Well, she ended up standing up for herself, explaining how such talk is (at the very least) inappropriate. A bit later that week, though, he went ballistic on her over something that she claimed was minor, saying OP ought to just quit because he’d otherwise find a way to get rid of her.
You see, the boss had trouble with how she dressed at work, which was baggy clothing and leggings, and was just horrible at communicating it
Image source: Anubis3210
And she took him up on that offer. Not for long, though, as the manager was suddenly transferred to another location. So, OP took this as an opportunity to come back and to work in peace. For a month. After that, guess who came back?
“I’m not sure why he transferred. I told him off when I quit and he didn’t show up the day after because he was afraid of his manager getting mad. So I assume they transferred him because he was causing issues,” elaborated Anubis.
For the month that he was gone, OP had no problems and no incidents at work. But once he was back, again, she became singled out, and was forced into discomfort. But she was not having any of it any more.
If he didn't stop his harassment, she said she’d sue him, and the company, which until now was doing nothing about it, despite reports. He just laughed, telling her to go ahead.
Cue malicious compliance.
One day she had enough and said she'd sue, to which the boss responded with a "do it" and then ended up regretting it
Image source: Anubis3210
She quit. Contacted a lawyer. Filed a complaint against the company with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for sexual harassment and retaliation.
It’s been a long year, but the company agreed to a neutral party mediation, and OP ended up winning the negotiations and getting $15,000 in damages. “He messed with the wrong pre-law student,” concluded OP.
Given the period, you can guess that it wasn’t easy. “The most challenging part was not knowing what would come out of the settlement meeting. They offered me $1,000 at the beginning and denied my claims, which I found really disrespectful.”
She ended up settling for a $15,000 compensation for damages, so that's definitely a win
Image source: Guilhem Vellut (not the actual photo)
The sad part is, though, OP checked in with an old coworker of hers and found out the boss is still working there, so the harassment might still continue, just that it’s a different victim now.
But this is a time of celebration for OP. She originally went to r/MaliciousCompliance to share the story because she was excited after the settlement meeting and wanted to tell someone about it. And Reddit seemed like the perfect place, as she frequents the site.
The post ended up gaining 14,000 upvotes and gaining a handful of Reddit awards. And folks were overall supportive of OP, saying it was good that she stood up to a bully. If he was doing this to her, it’s quite likely he might have been doing this to other ladies, so hopefully it taught the boss a lesson.
Folks cheered OP on, giving her post 14,000 upvotes along the way
Some have pointed out that the $15,000 she was awarded was more of a “please go away” fee as for big chains, it's cheaper to just pay folks off than to fight a lawsuit. Which is fine with OP, she couldn’t afford a full-blown lawsuit anyway, and she considers this a win.
Given all of this, we asked Anubis to share advice with anyone who might be going through the same, and she said this:
“Even if you don’t think anything is going to come out of it, you should always speak up for what’s right. If you see something, say something. Don’t fall into the ‘bystander effect’. Fighting for yourself will always pay off. I’m glad I did this because it showed me that I’m so much stronger than I know!”