Top Toxic Workplace Stories of the Week (March 19, 2023)

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Mar 19, 2023 8:00 AM EDT

The number of toxic workplaces these days might exceed infinity, but these are some of the more shocking ones we've seen this week. Keep scrolling below for a closer look at some truly horrible bosses, terrible coworkers, and horrendous HR policies. When you're finished, feel free to check out these travel memes and fails.

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  • 01

    #1: This manager shamed their employee for taking home some unused bread

    Font - Just trying to get enough to eat and my manager sends me this - did you pull out several loafs of Friday's bread from the back of house garbage can?? I did at the end of my shift, they weren't stale and instead of just throwing them away I was just going to eat/freeze some of them this is completely unacceptable. If a customer saw you picking thru the garbage for food could you imagine what they would think? This behavior is not allowed. Okay I won't do it again but I'm just saying there'
    via u/heartsofdownfall
  • 02

    #2: This insanely invasive policy in a job ad for a teacher

    Font - A friend of mine was looking for a job yesterday. This must be hella illegal, right? 14: GoGuardian Teacher Pro must be installed on all of your and your spouse's devices so we can live monitor what you do on and off work/business hours, read your browsing history, and keylog to access your digital journal.
    via u/xGREENDALE
  • 03

    #3: No to bizarre hierarchies at work!

    Font - saw this on Facebook, anyone else got into trouble for weird things? What's the weirdest thing you ever got in trouble at work for? I was accused of being disrespectful because the six people I CCd on an email weren't listed in order of seniority.
    via u/spookysadghoul
  • 04

    #4: This boss who's trying to force her employee to write a letter of resignation

    Font - My coworker's boss is trying to make her write a letter of resignation saying it'll "help" her get unemployment... is she being duped?? My coworker has been working at this company for about 20 years. One day the boss asks her to take on a completely different role that she does not feel comfortable doing. She tells the boss that she would like to continue doing the work that she has been doing for the past 20 years instead of having them train a new person to fill her role. The boss refu
    via u/starberrico
  • 05

    A small update from OP!

    Font - UPDATE: My coworker and myself are sooo grateful for all of your comments, all extremely helpful. I wish that I had a more hopeful update to relay back to all.... However, as imagined, communicating some sense with a boss that would try to dupe her in the first place is not going as well as we all had wished....but so far she has not written or signed anything (despite their CONSTANT pushing) and she is speaking to a lawyer. But I will give you a full update once there's some "progress"
    via u/starberrico
  • 06

    #5: This ridiculous mandate about PTO requests!

    Font - This is why people don't want to work Requesting Time Off When you request time off in HotSchedules a detailed reason is required per. our policies. Simply inputting "personal" or "nothing" does not give us enough description to make a decision and your request will more than likely be denied.
    via u/porcicorn
  • 07

    #6: Speaking of Time Off requests...

    Font - Boss denied my request for leave so I quit. I requested 6 months of unpaid personal leave from my job so I can complete a graduate school program. Submitted my request Monday and I asked my boss today if he had approved it. He told me "it's not operationally feasible" to let me take leave because I'm "too valuable." So I gave him my 2 weeks notice. He was NOT ready for it and it was delightful. He also doesn't know I already have another job offer for a place that is willing to work aroun
    via u/ChupaCapybara
  • 08
    Font - He also doesn't know I already have another job offer for a place that is willing to work around my school schedule. After I left today he texted me asking if I wanted to discuss this via phone. I left him on read. He's acting like he got dumped and is begging to be taken back. I can't wait to leave that toxic waste dump! EDIT: for all the undercover bosses in this sub, my work does offer unpaid leave as a benefit. Subject to approval, of course, and denial of my request is subject to los
    via u/ChupaCapybara
  • 09

    #7: This coworker kept dumping extra work on OP, OP gives notice

    Font - Gave notice yesterday, now they're back pedaling and I'm not sure what to do. Reached the limit with a coworker who asks me to help, then gives me the tasks they need help with when it's already overdue and the customer is pissed. Has happened multiple times. Have talked to coworker directly. Doesn't stop. Told boss that I will not be helping coworker anymore because I am done being put in that position. Unfortunately, coworker minimized the situation, boss believed it. Told me to continu
    via u/Boopadoopeedo
  • 10
    Font - Now boss is saying, oh wait, coworker can do their own work and do I want to stay now? Told boss I'd think about it overnight and give my answer today. Need outside perspectives. Feel like I'm screwed either way. Spouse makes 10x what I do so immediate financials not a big concern. Took this job to help fill in what retirement funds lost over the last few years. It's nice extra cash but no pressure.
    via u/Boopadoopeedo
  • 11
    Font - UPDATE: (not sure if this is how to update- MODS, please let me know if this is the wrong way) First of all- How did this post get all this attention? I'm shocked. You all do not mess around!! I cannot begin to express my appreciation for the support- no matter what the advice was, I felt like you all had my back. To say you gave me a boost in confidence is like saying Lake Superior is a pond. I am beyond grateful. It was the reassurance and strength I needed for that meeting. Thank you X
    via u/Boopadoopeedo
  • 12
    Font - Had the meeting. They actually talked about a process they will enforce that changes the way work is brought in. How this process will make everyone accountable, how it will document work every step of the workflow. (If it's enforced, it will work- that's the big IF.) It will serve to hold even our customers accountable and the entire workplace will be on the same page. I said it sounds like you're wanting me to continue to support coworker and I will not do that. Then I heard "no, they w
    via u/Boopadoopeedo
  • 13
    Font - So, I said, if I can have that in writing, I will stay. While I know this will disappoint the large majority of you, I have to do what works best for me and mine. Don't want my my spouse to have to carry us without pulling my weight. P.S. I wish we had "f you" money as this entire situation would have been a moot point. Just got done putting kids through college and took a massive hit to our retirement, so I need to help stop the bleeding. Even if my contribution is a fraction of my spous
    via u/Boopadoopeedo
  • 14

    #8: Since when do we treat sickness as a non-issue?

    Font - 11:40 68 OK when are you supposed to work next? I don't have a schedule in front of me. unfortunately i have covid Delivered Hi Charlie, if you're feeling well enough to work by all means come in. I am no longer treating Covid. Where are you have to be isolated. So if you're feeling well, please come in to work. But if you're not feeling well enough to work, then please tell me and I will get coverage O Charlie I see you're not working till tomorrow. So as long as you're feeling well enou
    via u/Hot-Beginning6674
  • 15

    #9: This wild message from a horrible boss shutting down an intern program

    Font - My friend received this message after confronting the owners for not showing up or being hours late to their meetings and presentations for a project that they would spend hours a day on for an unpaid internship.
    via u/lumpytorta
  • 16
    Font - Hello All, We would like to thank you for your time and participation in this program. You seem to not be aware of what the management team of this company is doing on a daily basis. The management of this company works more then 16 hours a day between two time zones, one is pacific standard time and the other is overseas with a 13 hours difference. So if the management team was delayed they were delayed because they had other job obligations that they had to complete before the meeting.
    via u/lumpytorta
  • 17

    #10: This former employer who keeps reaching out for help!

    Font - At what point is it not ok to reach out asking for support? I'd say somewhere around the time YOU ARE NO LONGER AN EMPLOYEE
    via u/yeahbuddy-fake
  • 18
    Rectangle - ← 21:55 + last seen today at 18:42 Block Today Is there a copy of that archive you left? Add • Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted. No one outside of this chat, not even WhatsApp, can read or listen to them. Tap to learn more. Hi hope all went well with the move and you are settling in to your new home 17:47 Ⓒ Message document in the 40% 17:47 Hi, I don't work for anymore. Please stop reaching out to me about work. Figure it out. Thanks 17:52 ✓/ Hi
    via u/yeahbuddy-fake
  • 19
    Font - I left my job at the end of February and left the USA together with my whole family. My replacement reached out to me about 1,5 weeks after I ended my employment asking questions relayed to work. All this despite the fact that I gave a 2 week notice and everyone had all the opportunities to ask any and all questions for a smooth handover. Not my f'in problem that you don't ask everything you need to. You don't owe anything to anyone, especially when you're no longer an employee. Do what y
    via u/yeahbuddy-fake

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