'My work gets everyone a birthday cake but me': Top Mildly Infuriating Work Stories

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jan 1, 2024 8:00 AM EST

This past year, we've seen some classic mildly infuriating moments in the workplace that serve as a necessary reminder that workplace culture is in desperate need of a makeover. This collection of stories, compiled from the top work-related stories from Reddit's r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit, showcases a variety of ways your boss, manager, or supervisor can intentionally or unintentionally offend you. 

Some of these stories include scheduling mixups, managers not honoring previously requested days off, getting a ridiculous excuse for a Christmas bonus, and the unfortunate moments when everyone at work completely forgets about you. In one of the latter cases, we have someone who was basically paid to sit around and do nothing (which, to some, is not necessarily a bad thing). 

Keep scrolling below for the full stories and for some of the funny reactions in the comments section. When you're done, check out this collection of stories where managers found silly reasons to fire their employees.

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  • 01

    #1: Scheduling Drama

    r/mildlyinfuriating. Posted by u/Curious_Bar348 9 months ago We make our own schedules and send in availability every month. It's been the same policy for the 7 years I have worked there. New supervisor seems to be on a power trip and trying to make it my fault she doesn't know I am scheduled off for the week.
    via u/Curious_Bar348
  • 02
    Today 1:35 PM Called to schedule a home visit at K.M's house, and mom said you weren't there today. I wasn't aware of this and it made me look bad. In the future you need to follow policy and notify the office when you are going g to be out. Consider this to be your first warning. Today 3:06 PM I notified Kelly on 2/13 when she made the schedule, and she approved it on the same day. I wasn't aware I was supposed to notify anyone else. I also double checked the schedule before it was sent out and
    via u/Curious_Bar348
  • 03
    Read 3:10 PM I will let it slide this time, but in the future you will be required to notify me of any and all absences. Also, I feel your tone is a bit aggressive, be mindful of that in the future.
    via u/Curious_Bar348
  • 04
    material_mailbox - 9 mo. ago Your tone was aggressive?! Their tone was aggressive. You were sticking up for yourself when you clearly did nothing wrong. 7.3k Share
    via u/Curious_Bar348
  • 05
    Curious_Bar348 OP 9 mo. ago. edited 9 mo. ago UPDATE: I called Kelly, she said after the schedules are approved, she emails them to the respective supervisors and also posts them on the Workday app. I told her about the texts, her response was "it's Kristi's responsibility to look at the schedule, keep doing what you have always done". ETA: FYI we are all nurses, (Pediatric Home health) Kelly is the staffing nurse and supervisors don't really have a reason to know when we take days off. On the r
    via u/Curious_Bar348
  • 06

    #2: When your days off are not honored!

    r/mildlyinfuriating Posted by u/jeffyjeffs 7 months ago Woke up on my day off to a voicemail asking why I wasn't at work. Apparently someone changed my schedule without my knowledge and that's my fault??
    via u/jeffyjeffs
  • 07
    K 12:30 PM I have absolutely no idea why I'm scheduled today. I was never informed of a schedule change or even had it discussed with me and I'm not able to come in on Tuesdays regardless. 1:42 PM 12:30 PM • Ⓒ It's your response to check the schedule every week, and It's a no call, no-show. Cuz you never call the store.
    via u/jeffyjeffs
  • 08
    This is out of my availability. I cannot come in on Tuesdays. I've discussed this before when I was hired. It shouldnt be my responsibility to make sure they follow that, and further more this was an abrupt change done without my knowledge or input. ld be more then willing to come in on my agreed upon available work hours or have a discussion while on the clock about other shifts that I may be a better fit for, but you have to understand that when I say I'm not available, i mean it 1:49 PM . CO
    via u/jeffyjeffs
  • 09
    Okayish_Elderberry. 7 mo. ago ...so you're supposed to randomly call the store to make sure your days of are still off? Cool stuff. 5.9k Share
    via u/jeffyjeffs
  • 10

    #3: Being forgotten at work

    r/mildlyinfuriating. Posted by u/The Prophet Dave 5 months ago My job forgot about me... so I'm gettin paid to sit Recently changed jobs to work as an emergency medical courier working overnights. I was hired on with great urgency, set a higher that normal pay rate because I was so desperately needed.
    via u/TheProphetDave
  • 11
    Tonight, as I'm writing this, I've been sitting here in the building that is staffed 24/7 with at least 1 person aside from myself for my 12 hour shift, and I've been alone for 9 hours. When I got here, the person handling the materials said they were here till around 7 but that no one would be here between then and 10. Ok, NBD. I did one delivery, came back to an empty building.
    via u/TheProphetDave
  • 12
    Then at midnight, someone showed up, did 20 minutes of work and left while I was taking a leak. So now, I'm sitting here getting paid my base rate, plus weekend and overnight shift diff. And because I've been bored, I did some math. I've been on the clock roughly 67 hours in 2 weeks, and I've performed my job duties for 7 of those hours and have sat on my phone for the other 60 hours.
    via u/TheProphetDave
  • 13
    Quick update: 1, thanks to everyone for the advice/cover for my mental health. Thankfully this isn't my first rodeo doing stuff like this and I'll be ok for the most part 2, to clarify something: My frustration comes not from not having anything to do and getting paid, but the fact that my company didn't have someone to work that enables me to do my job. Communication at this company is shockingly bad.
    via u/TheProphetDave
  • 14
    My job is to deliver what I'm given by another, certified person. Without that person in the building to receive and process the order, I can not do anything. Same if there are no orders, my job is to sit until there is or my shift ends. Apparently there was no one for my shift tonight so I did my part.... lol
    via u/TheProphetDave
  • 15

    #4: Ah, another lame Christmas bonus!

    Our work Christmas bonus Santa Pills Santa has checked his list. He even checked it twice. It seems that he has found. You haven't been so nice! So to help you relieve the stress, And brighten up your mood. He sent these "Santa Pills" To give you a FESTIVE attitude! 4051 QUO A 26 qUO,S\I Can't wait to pay my bills with this
    via u/Virtual-Nobody-6630
  • 16
    Puzzled_Muzzled 22 days ago Were you really bad employee as the bag says? 9.1k Reply Share
    via u/Virtual-Nobody-6630
  • 17
    Virtual-Nobody-6630 OP 22 days ago I'm not an ... kisser so I guess I am :/ 7.0k Reply Share
    via u/Virtual-Nobody-6630
  • 18
    Justme100001 • edited 22 days ago 22 days ago You didn't notice the other red flags about this company, now they are trying with red pills.... 4.5k Reply Share
    via u/Virtual-Nobody-6630
  • 19
    zeez1011 22 days ago An insult in multiple ways. Impressive. 2.9k Reply Share
    via u/Virtual-Nobody-6630
  • 20

    #5: When your bosses forget about your birthday

    My work gets everyone a birthday cake but me I've been working at my current job for over 4 years. About 9 months ago they implemented a new "employee appreciation" thing where they get everyone a cake & card for their birthday. It's not a huge deal, just a little thing to tell people we appreciate them and happy birthday.
    via u/Tricky_Trixy
  • 21
    Today is my birthday. No cake. No card. One happy birthday from a coworker (who I'm related to). It's not even like they could've forgotten as my boss was teasing me yesterday about being 'old' saying I'm like 45 and i replied that i won't even be 37 until tomorrow. Am I wrong to be feeling some type of way about this? Idk, it's weird cuz I don't even like cake but, I just feel overlooked & forgotten & sad.
    via u/Tricky_Trixy
  • 22
    Edit - thank you everyone for the birthday love, virtual cakes & cake awards I very much appreciate it, made my day a little bit better
    via u/Tricky_Trixy
  • 23
    wtfsafrush 4 mo. ago Yeah, we're gonna need you to go ahead and move your desk back into the supply closet, okay? Great. 17.2k Reply Share
    via u/Tricky_Trixy
  • 24
    kentro2002- 4 mo. ago Have you slighted the party planning committee? That could be the culprit. 11.0k Reply Share
    via u/Tricky_Trixy

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workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work mildly infuriating Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit company job interview interview toxic-work-environment
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