Update: 'That's the end of my narcissistic boss': Boss gets fired after dishwashing malicious compliance

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Feb 14, 2024 2:00 PM EST

Working in a kitchen is the kind of high-octane environment where people can get testy and emotions can run high. Those of us who have worked in restaurants before know exactly what this is like, and those of us who have not can pretend they understand because they watch The Bear.

This thread was initially posted to Reddit's r/MaliciousCompliance subreddit a few months ago, but the original poster is back with a new update. For the sake of clarity, we have included both posts below. In the first post, the kitchen worker decided to enact some dishwashing-related malicious compliance to spite their toxic boss, who did not care that workers had to regularly work later than they were supposed to. The update shows how the worker brought this new mentality to the grab-and-go department and follows the toxic boss getting his comeuppance after the high turnover rate finally caught up with him.

Keep scrolling below for the full story. When you're done, check out this post about a bad startup interview.

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  • 01
    I did just as I was asked, and only what was asked."
    via Pylyp Sukhenko
  • 02
    Dishwashing malicious compliance S OC This is my first malicious compliance. So bear with me as I'm typing on mobile. L try to make it short and sweet. This all started in the spring of 2022. I was a dishwasher (now a prep cook) and I was covering a prep cook's position in the AM and washing dishes in the PM and doing all my necessary duties for the day such as taking or the trash, getting the mail, etc. I'd leave by 4pm, but I noticed very quickly that after I did my duties, and hit the dishes,
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 03
    I was polite and tried to offer to my boss the idea of one of the cooks or somebody to go into the dish area for a few minutes to run some dishes through. Boss declined the idea saying,"we don't have enough staff to do that. Just get the dishes done." Cue malicious compliance time! I did just as I was asked, and only what was asked. I rarely did my other duties and focused mainly on dishes. Need me to go to the mailroom? Sorry, I'm doing dishes. Need me to collect trays? Sorry the dish area call
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 04
    My Friday deep clean list was neglected too. I'd get a few things done here and there when I had the time, but mostly stick to dishes. This went on for two months. At the one month mark, my boss called me into my office to ask what was happening and why I was getting out later than normal. I explain my situation (I forgot what I actually said). And about a week later I got told out co-workers will help me out with my dishes as well as my daily duties.
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 05
    The amount of overtime (and not to mention a mild case of burnout) was crazy! I got promoted over the summer and now work as a prep cook only. We have a new dish person and if they're struggling, I don't hesitate to help them when I deem it appropriate.
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 06
    r/r/MaliciousCompliance Posted by u/Setthegodofchaos 15 hours ago Dishwashing / kitchen malicious compliance 2: the sequel! MOC Previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCom pliance/comments/17b35qy/dishwashin g_malicious compliance/? utm_source=share&utm_medium=mwe b3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term =1&utm_content=share button
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 07
    So, ever since I got promoted to prep cook / grab and go position after my dishwashing misadventures a lot has gone on since my last post.
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 08
    After my malicious compliance in the dish pit, it continued on in the grab and go department, where I was situated in. It went something like this...I'd walk in to work, fresh as a daisy, completely unsuspecting of anything wrong, and suddenly I'd get blamed for the mundaindest of things! (Side note, I worked with a partner who, for privacy reasons, we'll call her Abby. Abby is someone who helps me with the grab and go, and likewise, if I'm in a pickle, she'll help me. We help each other. Ok. Nu
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 09
    My boss would blame me for putting (insert food item) in the fridge, and not using it, and letting it go to waste. And I'd tell her it wasn't me it was Abby. And she then said, "well, it's your area." Alrighty, that can be arranged!
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 10
    Cue sometime in December, Abby left the grab and go department, (this detail will be important later!) Leaving me to do grab and go by myself! (She did chip in when I needed it. But there's only so much she could do when we're slammed.
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 11
    Meanwhile, I made sure to keep my area tidy, and put everything in its spot, so nobody could blame me for unnecessary I kept this up every day (except the days I was off and weekends, duh!)
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 12
    Nobody complained. Not even a single soul. If you follow my posts, you know my boss is narcissistic. This is important because she was no longer abusing me mentally anymore. Which was strange, but I ignored it. As long as I actually got to enjoy my job, I could give less of of a
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 13
    Which leads me to today. I woke up, got a text six hours ago explaining that boss won't be in till 6. Long story shorter-er, apparently she isn't coming in because she got in trouble due to the high turnover rate (which has been going on for ** years**) and other details. (I didn't ask or pry, as I feel it wasn't my business to ask. So many people were hired, and barely lasted a month before leaving. I lost count after 5 people.
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 14
    A new boss arrived and she seems so much better than the previous one. Fingers crossed anyway. So, that's the end of my narcissistic boss. Finally! After years of dealing with her, I can breathe easy. And unlearn some bad habits that I was taught. (And let's pray we actually keep people!) The end! Thanks for reading!
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 15
    jnelsoninjax 14 hr. ago Wow, your first story reminded me of my former job. I was hired as a cook, I had the experience and training. Well, about a week into working, suddenly I was approached by my supervisor and asked if I could go and help the dish area out (there were two in the pit, but they were too busy flirting and playing grab to 'work') the goal of me going there was to get them to focus on the job.
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 16
    We were a catering and conference center on a Navy Base, not a regular restaurant, but our volume could be upwards of 200+ depending on what was booked. Well, after a few months, dishwasher 1 decided he was going to Califonia and sell his scripts to Hollywood. That left me and the female whose husband was enlisted, so she felt 'entitled'. She became pregnant and started using that to her advantage (the chemical smell bothers me.
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 17
    My feet hurt, etc.) So the facility manager 'asked' the kitchen supervisor to put her as a prep cool (which is what I was hired for) so suddenly I was the only one left, and I loved it, when the waitstaff would ask for something, my default response was "Lack of planning on your part, does not constitute an emergency on mine" they learned very quick to not ask me for anything.
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 18
    I went above and beyond my job in that area, I started putting stock away and organizing the walk-ins and freezers, I knew where everything was, and could tell someone exactly where to look for it. I was a dishwasher getting prep-cook pay, so I couldn't complain. Fast forward a few years, and the supervisor arranges for her boyfriend to be hired (she couldn't outright hire him without it looking bad, so she had the assistant manager hire him as his assistant and loan him to the kitchen permanent
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 19
    frogsodapop 13 hr. ago . It's great to hear it worked out for you! I worked in food service for a long time, and bad bosses are the worst part of it.
    via u/Setthegodofchaos
  • 20
    Setthegodofchaos OP 13 hr. ago Yup. I'm hoping the new one is nicer at least. Only time will tell. I'm cautious but optimistic
    via u/Setthegodofchaos

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workplace-stories fired work stories toxic-workplace job malicious compliance work toxic-boss kitchen Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit company toxic-work-environment
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