'I was excited for the challenge': Professor receives schedule change, but two coworkers claim the professor 'shouldn't be teaching...those classes'

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Apr 25, 2023 5:00 PM EDT

Who knew college professors could be so petty? One professor ended up in a malicious compliance situation after their coworkers tattled on them! 

Every professor has a different style of teaching. Some have been around for decades, and teach the same lesson plan every semester without fail. Others are newer to the job, and with many years of teaching ahead of them. At this college, in a story told by r/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed, a tenured teacher and a new teacher teamed up to blast the OP. 

It seems quite petty from the outside: the OP claims that while they were finishing up their Master's degree, a schedule change allowed them to double the amount of classes they were teaching. Thankful for the extra cash, the professor carried on with their plans. But the other two professors, as mentioned above, were seriously annoyed that the OP would be allowed to teach these "credit classes." 

Next, this remote-working couple is seeking advice about how to share their computers!

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  • 01
    Font - 'Newer Coworker states that I don't have any experience teaching. I shouldn't be teaching any of those credit classes. I'm not qualified.'
    via Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
  • 02
    Font - r/r/MaliciousCompliance Posted by u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7 Big Boss tells Former Boss to change the schedule. So she did. L Before I give you the characters in this story, I want to mention that this was 6 years ago and while it did involve me, I can't claim this as my own. All of it came from my boss at the time. Also, I like to make sure all the details are in there so this could be lengthly. TLDR will be at the bottom.
    via u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7
  • 03
    Font - Introduction to characters: Former Boss--This one is a given Big Boss--My boss's boss Tenured Coworker --Been there since the dawn of time. I honestly don't know when she started at the job, but she had some major seniority. She has her Master's degree Newer Coworker---Only had been there for maybe 2 years before I started working there. She has her Master's degree. Both NC and TC are in their 50's at least.
    via u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7
  • 04
    Font - On to the story. Six years ago, I was working part time at a junior college while I was finishing my Masters. I got hired part-time while I was working full time at another job outside of the college job. It worked out in my schedule. I taught two, lower level non-credit classes. I loved the job and I was glad to have a little bit more pocket money doing what I loved. The second semester working there (Fall 2012) was the same thing. Two lower level, non-credit classes and still working fu
    via u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7
  • 05
    Font - Former Boss starts working on the next semester schedule (Spring 2013) about halfway into the current one. This is typical. This is so every department head can see it and anyone higher up can make changes if need be. When Former Boss finishes and has it in draft form, she emails it to all the people in her department. I had told Former Boss before she made the schedule that I had quit my outside full time job to accept another job on the college campus. This meant I didn't strictly have
    via u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7
  • 06
    Font - I expected my classes to be roughly the same. When I looked at the draft, I was surprised to be teaching four credit level classes, which is still considered part time. I was pleased to not only be teaching more classes, but also teaching those that are credit level. I was excited for the challenge. After looking at my schedule, I literally forgot about it and went about my day.
    via u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7
  • 07
    Font - The rest of this story is relayed from Former Boss in a meeting she had with me two weeks later. The events happened in a two week time frame. A day or two later: Newer Coworker: Hey, FB, is the schedule you sent out correct for next semester? Former Boss:Yes it is.
    via u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7
  • 08
    Font - Newer Coworker: Okay. So there is no chance for it to change? Former Boss: If it changes, it would only be minor. Newer Coworker: Okay. Did you mean to give hewhomustnotbenamed7 four credit level classes when she doesn't have a masters yet? Former Boss: Yes. Newer Coworker: Okay
    via u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7
  • 09
    Font - Another day or two goes by and Newer Coworker sends an email to Tenured Coworker. In this email Newer Coworker rants about the schedule. Newer Coworker states that I don't have any experience teaching. I shouldn't be teaching any of those credit classes. I'm not qualified. I'm just stupid and how would I be more deserving than Newer Coworker or Tenured Coworker who has many many years of experience and Master's degrees.
    via u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7
  • 10
    Font - Together, Tenured Coworker and Newer Coworker go to the Big Boss to complain and say nearly what was said in the email exchange. Big Boss tells Former Boss to change the schedule and have a meeting with me.
    via u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7
  • 11
    Font - dumbfounded So, here I am in the meeting with Former Boss about all that was said about me. Former Boss tells me she did have to change my schedule. I was a little upset but understanding of the reason why. Former Boss took one of my classes away and switched one credit level classes to a lower level class. So, my schedule was two credit level classes and one lower level non credit class.
    via u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7
  • 12
    Font - The sweet satisfaction I got out of the meeting was that she only changed my schedule and Tenured Coworker's schedule. Newer Coworker's schedule stayed exactly the same. Newer Coworker was still teaching all lower level non credit classes. I really wanted to be a fly on the wall when Newer Coworker found this information out.
    via u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7
  • 13
    Font - To this day, six years later, this woman hates me. *Bonus story* My best friend was eating at Baco Tell and Newer Coworker was there as well. My best friend was talking about my former workplace and Newer Coworker chimes in talking about me. My best friend defended me and basically told her to shut her mouth.
    via u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7
  • 14
    Font - TLDR: Entitled coworker took it upon herself to complain to the big boss about my schedule. Big boss tells my boss to change my schedule. Boss changes mine and another coworker's schedule leaving the entitled coworker with the same schedule she started out with before she made a fuss.
    via u/HeWhoMustNotBeNamed7
  • 15
    Font - andres57 As someone with a relatively very good master and now a PhD student, I absolutely hate people that are convinced that having a degree more or not will automatically mean that you are better on the job or that you are entitled for a privilege. Experience and capacity doesn't come with a degree and are very important to do a correct job. While working (either on academic level or in private companies) I have met brilliant people without degree and idiots incapable of nothing good w
    via u/andres57
  • 16
    Human body - Kereminde Hey, when Big Boss tells you to change the schedule, you do it. Or he gets the cardboard box.
    via u/Kereminde
  • 17
    Font - That entitled t was coming to 'em. got exactly what
    via r/MaliciousCompliance

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