'I don't need excuses, just get it done today': Worker told by their boss to do nothing else but sit on hold, happily obliges

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Oct 3, 2023 6:00 PM EDT

Having a solid relationship with your boss doesn't always mean that the both of you are always going to be completely rational or always get along. Like with any of the best sorts of relationships, there's going to be some give and take and a little irrationality involved—although you won't find this in sterilized American corporate environments that specifically discourage you from showing any personality in the workplace

This worker shared their story with Reddit's popular r/MaliciousCompoliance community, clarifying to start with that they generally enjoy working with their usually cool boss, but occasionally, their boss becomes demanding and insists on immediate attention to tasks, ending requests with "don't argue with me, just do it." Today, despite having some answers their boss needs, he arrived late and instructed the worker to prioritize a government document issue. Despite explaining the limitations, the worker gave up and complied with the letter of their boss's demand, enduring a lengthy wait on hold and getting nothing else accomplished for the rest of the day. See their story below, along with some of the reactions it generated.