'My boss FREAKED OUT!': Employee gives boss doctor's note requiring that they sit during work, boss loses it, threatens to fire employee

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Nov 29, 2023 2:00 PM EST

There are some things that even your strict boss should not be able to argue with at work. We've seen several instances of bosses overstepping and overreacting when they have no business doing so. We often see this manifest itself when people request well-deserved paid time off or take a mental health day. Bosses who can't step outside their own stress and experiences tend to react this way out of a place of selfishness, whereas you know you have a good boss when they are able to take a step back, remain measured, and essentially get their heads out from, you know, where the sun doesn't shine.

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01
    My boss yelled at me for needing a chair M As you can see from my post in r/maliciouscompliance, I used to work for a certain times themed
    via u/SpotlightDesire

  • This thread was posted to Reddit's r/EntitledPeople subreddit by u/SpotlightDesire, who was in the process of recovering from a bad accident and was required to be seated at work. This started a whole lot of drama with OP's boss because he felt that if OP was able to sit on the job, other employees would complain. That may be true but this was literally the doctor's orders, and OP should not have to be in pain because of the potential jealousy of a couple of coworkers. Keep scrolling below for the full story. When you're finished, feel free to take a look at this post about an employee who was asked to work during an exclusive Holiday party.

  • 02
    My boss yelled at me for needing a chair M As you can see from my post in r/maliciouscompliance, I used to work for a certain times themed business. The one with the jousty horsey men... (I know I could probably say the name of the business, but I'm not going to to CMA)
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 03
    That job was cursed. During my time there I had a car wreck, major surgery, and an infection that put me in the ER... but this story focuses on the car wreck and the aftermath.
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 04
    In October of 2020 the business had just reopened from and it was early days into coming back. I'm driving to work, as normal, and driving in the left lane, trying to pass some slower moving traffic, when I suddenly have to stop for a disabled vehicle. I stop, car behind me stops, truck behind them did not, and ends up in my passenger seat. I left the scene in an ambulance. The doctor at the hospital wanted to write a note for 2 weeks, but I begged him to make it one.
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 05
    See, the thing about this company is that if you're not clocking in for 2 weeks, you're terminated and marked negative for rehire. So he put me on a week leave, and back to work with restrictions on standing for a couple weeks after returning back, saying I couldn't stand for more than a certain amount of time, and to sit and rest frequently. I didn't think this would be a problem, as working spotlight I had plenty of sitting breaks.
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 06
    However, the spotlight department was also in charge of making those stupid paper crowns. This required standing for an hour and a half to two hours, based on the company's time table. I approached my boss and this is the conversation that followed.
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 07
    Me: hey boss, I'm cleared to come back to work (I really shouldn't have been) but I need you to read my note. Is got restrictions on it. My boss: ok, I'll look at it later. Are you ready to go to work?
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 08
    Me: yeah, but I will need a chair for the crowning station, as I'm on a standing restriction due to back injuries. My boss FREAKED OUT! He went from calmly talking to me to yelling at me.
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 09
    Him: it's not fair for you to get a chair while everyone else has to stand! Me: I was in a wreck, it's doctor's orders? Him: it's not professional for you to be sitting either. Me: I don't know what else I can do?
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 10
    Him: if you're not ready to work, and act like a professional, you need to clock out and go home! Me: but I really need to work. I've got bills to pay. I don't see why this is an issue. Him: you've already missed a week of work on this, I would have thought you'd be better by now.
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 11
    Me: I'm a lot better, I just- Him: quit wasting my time and leave. I drove home in tears. I sent him a text telling him I wanted to quit. He came back with "I'm not telling you to quit, but if you miss anymore work because of this, the system WILL terminate you."
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 12
    Long story short, I ended up working and violating doctor's orders for those 2 weeks, all while my back was screaming in pain because otherwise I "wouldn't look professional."
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 13
    Briazepam 8 hr. ago Isn't that 100% illegal not that I'm a lawyer but it just seems like it's 100% illegal 160 Reply Share
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 14
    SpotlightDesire OP. 8 hr. ago If you're wondering why I DIDN'T quit just then... I was applying for every job I could think of, but getting no response or a denied application. I had bills to pay and contribute to the economic crisis my family was going through at the time. Sometimes, you don't have the luxury to quit at that exact moment.
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 15
    Intelligent-Racoon 2 hr. ago Do not quit!!! You have legal claim in the US when they take adverse action. Let them fire you over the chair.
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 16
    Trinnykins1416 . 7 hr. ago Man, the universe was really throwing you tons of signs to leave that job, and you ignored them
    via u/SpotlightDesire
  • 17
    Inventiveunicorn - 8 hr. ago Your employment laws are primitive over there. I'm sorry that you have employment protection, and that your employer takes advantage of them. I hope that you recovered completely.
    via u/SpotlightDesire

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

Tags

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