'If they figure it out, you're going to get fired': Employee with three managers does nothing at work for a decade, claiming his plate is always full

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Sep 26, 2023 2:00 PM EDT

The fact that this employee has managed to pull off this arrangement for over a decade is a remarkable achievement for slackers everywhere. Seriously, if he continues to make this situation work out, this dude might retire nicely one day after collecting a paycheck for doing nothing for the majority of his professional life. That might not be everyone's dream. Heck, it might not even be my own. However, you have to hand it to this guy for coming this far.

At this point, you may be wondering what kind of work dynamic is in place at this guy's company that has allowed his level of slacking on the job. Well, as it turns out, the Redditor has three managers, none of whom really communicate to one another or monitor his actual progress. So when OP is asked if he has the bandwidth to take on a new project at work, he always tells whichever manager requested his help that he has his hands full with projects from the other two managers. You would think they would have caught on with his scheme at this point, but we are ten years and counting now.

For more stories like this, check out this collection of stories from bosses about some of the nonsense they have seen from their employees over the years.

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01
    Textile - "Now I deny work from all of my managers"
    via Dane Deaner
  • 02
    Facial expression - 3 different bosses and none of them give me work to do. So I do nothing and collect.
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 03
    Font - I have three bosses None of them talk to each other about my work flow. I'm a technician that does work for R&D, production, and industrialization.
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 04
    Font - In Monday meetings when I'm supposed to tell my immediate manager what work I have planned for the week, I simply tell them that I have jobs for the other two managers.
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 05
    Font - So every day I sit at my work computer and watch YT, and shop. Been here for 10 years, and during a normal 40 hour work week I maybe do about 3 hours of actual work.
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 06
    Font - I think that I got into this position because when I was new I took on a lot of work, and other managers exploited that. Then over time I slowly started denying to do jobs for those other managers by saying that the other two managers have me super busy. Now I deny work from all of my managers unless the job is super high priority.
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 07
    Font - softrockstarr. 19 hr. ago. edited 13 hr. ago I was in a very similar situation. Spent two whole years doing barely 5 hours of work a week. No one was paying any attention to me or giving me any work to do. If I took any initiative to make work for myself, someone higher up wouldnt approve it. I eventually got laid off but since I had 8 years the company, i got like 6 months of severance pay. I don't regret a single thing. Edited: a word. 298 Reply Share
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 08
    Font - Historical_Ear7398. 21 hr. ago Holy Good luck with that. Obviously if they figure it out you're going to get fired, but it doesn't sound like they're going to figure it out. I'd be curious to see if they can come after you for all the work you didn't do, but it seems unlikely. 170 Reply Share
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 09
    Font - AlwaysSaysRepost 18 hr. ago But what about your TPS reports? Are you using the new cover sheets? 99 ↓ Reply Share
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 10
    Font - Syonoq 17 hr. ago Had a guy like this at my old work. Every staff meeting they'd ask Bob, what are you working on? And very calmly he'd repeat; nothing. I have no work, just like last week. This went on for almost 3 years. He hated it with a passion but couldn't afford not to work. He ended up starting an Amazon drop shipping business at work! Eventually, he was promoted as my acting supervisor and then left to start his own company.
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 11
    Font - DikkeNek_GoldenTich. 21 hr. ago Watching YouTube on the job is nice, taking afternoon naps is better. Enjoy it as long as it last mate.
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 12
    Font - Ulloriaq86 21 hr. ago I think there was a technician like you at my old job. He would always tell me how busy he was but he would be either in the break room or randomly wandering around the hotel.
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 13
    Smile - SaidwhatIsaid240. 21 hr. ago Once in awhile do something one asks? That way you have proof?
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 14
    Font - RRobCoxxy. 18 hr. ago Able to pick up any freelance work in your sector? Get paid to work at work on work that isn't your "work", but still look busy while getting paid twice? ;)
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 15
    Font - C64128 16 hr. ago · edited 2 hr. ago In past years, I would've said that you need to speak up. Now I don't have the same opinion. If they can't figure out that you're not working, that's on them. It's like in Office Space when Peter talking to the Bobs - "I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work."
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 16
    Font - Pojol 16 hr. ago You should rather learn something IT related, like Excel macros, or programming. It will be less blatant than shopping or Youtube, and that will give you skill for the moment when they'll find out and you...
    via u/LaserLips29
  • 17
    Font - Scrooge McThrowaway 12 hr. ago Ten years, impressive. I had a similar job back in the day. Funny thing is, all the time I kept thinking I was gonna get fired or found out. Never happened. Eventually I just went to another job for more pay and even less work. Feels okay man.
    via u/LaserLips29

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work reddit thread Reddit company job interview interview toxic-work-environment
Scroll Down For The Next Article