'I pulled up the screenshot': Boss tries to blame poor executive choices on his software engineer; gets ousted when their CEO discovers who actually lost their biggest client

Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor

Aug 12, 2023 8:00 PM EDT

Screenshots are king. These are the only irrefutable evidence that can shut down any argument in the blink of an eye– there's no need for anymore he-said/she-said, we've got all the proof we need right here. Usually in people's love life, screenshots can demolish a toxic relationship in an instant, but in the workplace, a well-timed screenshot can save your hide… and your career.

In this case, a software engineer found himself in the line of fire after a series of ill advised quality control measures took effect. OP's boss, an overinflated ladder-climber, was hellbent on making a name for himself in the company, climbing on the backs of his inferiors in order to get a better view of the CEO's office. Unfortunately, in an attempt to bolster his reputation with the big CEO, OP's boss created an executive order to have all code go through him for quality checks– and I mean ALL the code. Against OP's dissuasion, this order went through and brought about some devastating consequences.

Scroll for the full story on how a silly boss tried to puff up his chest, but actually brought the entire company to a stand-still, losing the company's biggest client and eventually his own job. For more stories of overinflated egos, check out this tale of a mom-fluencer who got banished from a public park after commandeering the playground for her own personal photoshoot.