'He had to know every detail': Boss gets fired for wasting time and money after demanding he be included in all communication

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Sep 28, 2023 9:00 AM EDT

Sometimes, it's just easier that things happen without your involvement, even if—no—especially if you're in charge. See, the more areas of the business you're in charge of, the more people there will be working within those areas, and while you want some insights and updates into their operation, if you need to be involved in every little detail, the entire operation will come to a standstill while everyone waits for you frantically comprehend every facet of the business to approve every decision in real-time. This is where micromanagers struggle and often cause the area of the business they're responsible for to suffer from inefficiency along with reduced morale.

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  • 01
    Facial expression - AT "You want a phone call EVERY time? Will do!"
    via David Hahn

  • See, it's important to delegate tasks to responsible people and trust those people to get those tasks taken care of. It's a given that those people will have more experience and skills than you in certain areas. In fact, you would certainly hope so. Meanwhile, you're just there to move them around like a piece on a chessboard and keep them focused in the right direction while giving them their space.

    This worker shared how they maliciously complied with their micromanaging boss's directive that they update them on every single bit of communication they had with other areas of the company. See, the boss had a fragile ego and needed to see to it that they took credit for every piece of their team's knowledge, and how were they going to do that if they weren't included in every piece of technical communication?

  • 02
    Font - You want a phone call EVERY time? Will do! MOC I worked for a petty, fragile man years ago. He loved to micromanage, and was always wanted to know if I talked to anyone higher in management than he was. This by itself wasn't a problem, as I understand chains of command and follow them. The crux of the issue was he had to know every detail of every conversation, and he wanted to dictate what they were told when they reached out to us.
    via u/pathofuncertainty
  • 03
    Font - I was in a unique situation, because I have specialized education, which was very useful to top management. Because of this, they called me directly, frequently, every day of the week and at all hours. The "Babyboss” had a huge problem with this because he wanted to control the technical information that I provided the "Bigboss" when he called with questions. I tried my best to loop Babyboss
    via u/pathofuncertainty
  • 04
    Font - in when these calls occurred, but Bigboss wanted me to speak freely, and didn't want to wait for someone else to get on the call. Often, Babyboss would call Bigboss after we spoke to try and take credit for what I told them, even though it was well known that he didn't have the same education/understanding that I did. Babyboss then demanded I call him EVERY time Bigboss called me, and wanted a FULL recounting of our conversations.
    via u/pathofuncertainty
  • 05
    Font - Cue malicious compliance: I followed his direction to the T. If Bigboss called me at 2 a.m. with a question, Babyboss got a call at 2:15, but with a rambling retelling of our conversation, which often exceeded the length of the first call. After a few weeks, Babyboss got tired (literally) of being woken up at all hours. He then demanded that I send him an email after every call with every detail. So I did that. I created these emails that would rival a high schooler who had an assignment
    via u/pathofuncertainty
  • 06
    Font - This ultimately resulted in Babyboss relenting, and just asking for a brief recap in person during the next business day. Soon after, the budget people were very concerned about why I had huge amounts of overtime at odd hours, and I explained the direction I was given. Babyboss was eventually disciplined and was forced out, due in large part because of everything that happened with me.
    via u/pathofuncertainty
  • 07
    Font - binneapolitan The fact that there were actual consequences for a jerky boss like this is oh so satisfying. Usually these petty tyrants just keep plodding along making their minions (no doubt that's how they see the people that report to them) miserable. Thanks for a tale of justice! 1.4k Reply Share Funandgeeky It's when they cost the company money that there's usually consequences. 270 Reply Share
    via u/pathofuncertainty
  • 08
    Font - Celestial Scythe Good on you for billing those hours! Too many people would just call and count that as petty revenge. 274 Reply Share 201 ●●● pathofuncertainty OP If it ended at the original phone call I probably would've just let it go, but once he demanded to know everything, I wasn't about to do hours of work for free. Reply Share
    via u/pathofuncertainty
  • 09
    Font - CreepyOldGuy63 Insecure people lose their jobs. Smart people train then trust the people they supervise. Alway train your replacement. If you can't be replaced you can't be promoted. Reply Share 520 Arrasor If you can't be replaced you don't need to be promoted. You can be where you are demanding more pay without being bothered with more responsibility/work. 152 Reply Share
    via u/pathofuncertainty
  • 10
    Font - Forsaken-Yak-7581. Why are you taking calls at 2am in the morning. If my boss called me at 2am, the office better be on fire or she is phoning to let me know that the zombie apocalypse has started and I can have the day off! Reply Share 75 pathofuncertainty OP I worked in a time sensitive, 24/7 field unfortunately. That sort of stuff is common. Reply Share 107
    via u/pathofuncertainty
  • 11
    Font - random321abc. I have to say I love your little names of babyboss and Big Boss! Reply Share 28 Iliketospellrite And the usage of capital letters is the chef's kiss. 14 ↓ Reply Share pathofuncertainty OP He was big around the waistline, but when it came to his integrity, personality, and behavior, he was small. I thought it fit :) Reply Share 13
    via u/pathofuncertainty
  • 12
    Font - S2Charlie I rolled my eyes when I read about the emails, until you mentioned that you were on the clock when writing them Reply Share 46
    via u/pathofuncertainty

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workplace discussion boss workplace-stories jobs job malicious compliance work workplace Horrible Bosses coworker employment in the workplace
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