'She blocked me from getting the job': Boss blocks employee's promotion, employee repays the favor and costs her $500k

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Jun 14, 2023 9:00 AM EDT

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you… The "golden rule," which has appeared in many forms across human history—is also sometimes called the "ethic of reciprocity."

Whichever religion or cultural norm you associate this with, that religion or culture probably intended the "ethic of reciprocity" to work in a positive way and encourage people to do good things to other people in exchange for receiving goodwill from others in return—you know, the kind of behavior that encourages foundations of community that helped mankind survive in the first place.

Still, when someone does something of ill will toward you, the same principle applies—we often think of this as "karma," but—call it what you will—you're getting what you give.

This employee repaid their boss after their boss blocked their promotion when they got the chance years later to block their old boss's request to join their team, costing her $300k-$500k in unvested stock. Next, check out this employee who flipped the script when their coworker tried to get them fired.