Boss Orders Endless Task, Ends Up Stuck With It

Author image for Eric Lund
Eric Lund
May 1, 2021 12:00 PM EDT

Sometimes managers don't fully think through the things they ask their employees to do, resulting in modern-day Sisyphean labors. And anyone who has had a "make-work" kind of boss can attest to the diminishing returns of their demands. Anyone ever spend a day pulling staples out of rotten wood that all ended up going in the same garbage anyway? Fickle managers and customers can end up asking us to serve up contradictions, like this customer who asked for garlic-free garlic bread

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  • 01
    Font - Posted by u/umhanna 1 day ago O 2 4 e14 3 11 E 11 3 Sweep the Side Alley Until it's Spotless? You Got it, Boss. oc L A couple of summers ago, I took a part-time job as a server at a local pub/restaurant. I had a full-time job, so this was just for experience and to pick up some tip money on the side. The pub had been closed for a few years after the old owner couldn't afford it anymore, so when the new owners picked it up and got it ready for opening again, the town was pretty excited. It
    via umhanna
  • 02
    Font - I applied as soon as I found out, and ended up getting hired! I was one of the younger servers, alongside a few older ones. Most of us were women, and the older servers really looked out for us inexperienced ones. Overall, the others on the team were really nice, save for a couple of nasty ones. My new boss Gary (not his actual name) was... well... not as great.
    via umhanna
  • 03
    Font - Gary's favourite saying was "if you have time to lean, you have time to clean." He thought if we took even a second to catch our breaths, he was losing money from us "slacking off." On slow days, he would find menial, pointless tasks for us to complete - wipe the bar counter (even though it's been wiped 3x in the past half hour already), re- organize the menus (even though they're already perfectly organized), fill up more condiment cups (even though there's already fifty salsa cups ready
    via umhanna
  • 04
    Font - One afternoon in early June, there were only a handful of us working. It gets slow, and I get assigned the sweeping task. I sweep up the back alleyway as much as I can, but the wind is blowing and the trees just keep dumping more and more seeds onto the path. I do my best, until a coworker calls me back inside to help serve tables - she didn't want me missing out on tips, bless her. I seat the table, get their orders, and start entering them in. Just then, Gary storms up to me. Gary: "Wha
    via umhanna
  • 05
    Font - Me: "I swept up as much as I could before this table walked in. It's a really windy day - that's why it keeps getting full of leaves and seeds. You're more than welcome to check the compost bin for how much I actually did sweep up." Gary: "No. We don't finish things halfway here. You're going back out there and finishing your job. I want it to be spotless. Linda (not her real name) can take table 15." Gary then switched table 15 from my account to Linda (an older server)'s account. Linda
    via umhanna
  • 06
    Font - Linda: "I'll hang onto your share of the tips. Best not to make Gary angry." Me: "He really wants me to make it spotless - does he know how impossible that is? I'd have to be out there all shift." That's when Linda gave me a smile, and the lightbulb turned on in my head. I still had two hours left in my shift, and it was going to be right into dinner rush. I grabbed the broom and dustpan, and got to work.
    via umhanna
  • 07
    Font - I would sweep as much as I could, but every so often, another strong breeze would come by and hundreds more helicopter seeds would flutter to the ground. I kept going. At this point, it started to get busier. A line-up soon began to form out the door. Linda was taking care of tables, but very soon it became clear that the other servers needed someone else to deal with everyone. Linda let them know what was up, and most of them, who tolerated Gary at best and hated him at worst, understood
    via umhanna
  • 08
    Font - After 45 minutes or so, the side door opened suddenly, to reveal a red-faced Gary. Gary: "Why aren't you in there serving customers?" Me: *gestures at the alleyway* As if the gods themselves had heard the malicious compliance brewing, another strong breeze shook more seeds onto the partially-cleared alley, right in front of Gary's face. The look on his face was priceless. He told me, in a quieter voice, to get back inside and start taking orders. I handed the broom off to him, and he bega
    via umhanna
  • 09
    Font - The other servers and I had a good laugh about it inside, and I managed to make decent tips that night. Gary realized he couldn't exactly fire me for following his orders perfectly, and ended up being more relaxed about the side alley - no one really cares about some leaves and seeds on the ground, so long as they're not obstructing anyone. I ended up working there for the rest of the summer before quitting. I hear the pub had to be passed on to new owners after Gary's disorganization got
    via umhanna

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