'I called him out in front of everyone': Employee humiliates boss in group meeting, boss gets punished for poor behavior

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Mar 6, 2024 3:00 PM EST

No one can agree on the way this person should've talked to their boss. 

In any job, communication is key, but it's a skill that one develops over time. You don't enter the workplace at 20 years old already knowing the decorum of an office setting. People might give you weird looks if you speak up loudly during meetings or say something off-putting, and that's just how you learn those things over time. 

This person isn't sure if they talked to their boss appropriately or not, so they asked the internet. But citizens of the internet were also divided! 

U/danondorf_campbell writes that they are seriously annoyed by their boss's habit of answering questions. Whenever this employee goes to their boss with a simple question, they get a question in response. No matter what the question is, the employee can never get a straight answer, because their boss has to reframe it into a question. The worker reports that they talked about this "multiple times (privately)" with their boss. They also suspect their boss is replying that way to avoid sounding oblivious. No doubt that their boss's habit got old really quickly. 

However, the way this employee finally snapped was quite… memorable. While in a meeting with several other people, the OP decided to go on an accusatory tangent about the boss's bad habit. They apparently smoothed things over later on, but people are telling this employee that their days may be numbered at this company. 

Next, check out some of the worst concerts people have ever been to, like one singer who just completely ignored the crowd for the entire show. 

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  • 01
    USSIO
    via Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
  • 02
    AITA For calling my boss out in a meeting?
    via u/danondorf_campbell
  • 03
    My boss tends to INFURIATE me when he ALWAYS answers questions with another question. Even if it's something simple. I've long suspected he does this to avoid saying, "I don't know" and I've talked to him multiple times (privately) about how this frustrates me.
    via u/danondorf_campbell
  • 04
    In a meeting today he had done this about four times in the span on 20 minutes and I called him out in front of everyone. I said, "You know it's really frustrating when you won't give an answer to simple questions. If you gave us an answer and THEN asked questions that would be fine. But you
    via u/danondorf_campbell
  • 05
    ALWAYS just ask questions instead of actually helping us, and THAT is your job!" He then got visibly upset, threw his binder down on the table and left the building. He hasn't come back and this was nearly three hours ago. Am I the for saying something? My coworkers
    via u/danondorf_campbell
  • 06
    have shown me support after the fact, but I'm a tad worried about my job at this point. Edit: Not fired or anything. Had a talk with my boss and we both apologized to each other and he said he will try and not do that as much. Apparently he got in trouble for his behavior during the meeting and the leaving.
    via u/danondorf_campbell
  • 07

    Commenters were split...

    perublanket39. NTA since you attempted to speak to him about it numerous times in private. He was avoiding embarrassment by doing what he did but that caused him to
    via u/perublanket39

    Some thought the OP was too caustic towards their boss, since the way he was called out clearly upset him. Plus, the OP called him out in front of a bunch of other coworkers, adding to the humiliation. Other people sided with the employee, saying that their complaints were valid and that they'd already tried to address it before. 

  • 08
    finally deal with the embarrassment. Can't say your job is safe (depending on the state you're in it can be illegal to fire you anyways), but it seems that your coworkers are happy someone finally stood up to him.
    via u/perublanket39
  • 09
    dmcdd YTA. It wasn't your place to call him out. You said your peace in private and should have just shut up about it after. It's not up to you to correct anyone else's conversation style. Who exactly
    via u/dmcdd
  • 10
    died and left you with the power to define proper answers?
    via u/dmcdd
  • 11
    FRANPW1 ESH. He obviously tries to deflect because he doesn't understand his job. You actually created a hostile work environment with the way you addressed him in
    via u/FRANPW1
  • 12
    front of everyone and the wording you used. Your job may be in jeopardy. Those coworkers that you think are on your side will not be when they are interrogated about what happened. Maybe
    via u/FRANPW1
  • 13
    your boss won't elevate this or take action against you but he will be different towards you from now forward. He will consider you a loose cannon. Suggest that you never do this again. Good luck to you.
    via u/FRANPW1
  • 14
    [deleted] I'm on the fence on this one. It all depends on what his response was when you spoke to him privately about it. And then of course, the tone and manner you called him out with in the meeting. Even
    via u/[deleted]
  • 15
    though it's something that has been driving you mad. At the end of the day, he is your boss and you still need to treat him with some form of respect. Especially with your peers present.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 16
    missguided8811. YTA ... this is your boss and you didn't do yourself any favors by blasting him like that.
    via u/missguided8811
  • 17
    [deleted] . 4 yr. ago YTA, he is your boss and it was a move to call him out in public like that. If any of my subordinates spoke to me in that manner in a meeting they would be fired before end of business.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 18
    Mary_MM So.... You might have misread this situation. A lot of modern management training focuses on coaching employees to help get them to work problems out themselves.
    via u/Mary_MM
  • 19
    (Often explicitly by asking questions instead of answering them.) If as the manager, he always makes all the decisions, then he's building a team that won't be able to function without him at the helm.
    via u/Mary_MM
  • 20
    That's not a very empowered or nimble team. I think it depends on the type of question: "I have XYZ conflict what should I do?" "What options have you thought of?" --> this is coaching "Which department is
    via u/Mary_MM
  • 21
    responsible for XYZ?" "What do you think?" --> this is weird and evasive So, INFO I guess. Although, it is kinda always a move to call someone out in front of others SO...
    via u/Mary_MM
  • 22
    Likewhatthefrack. NAH but not the best career move...
    via u/Likewhatthefrack
  • 23
    Monstiemama · Ummmm, ....That's a convo I think would've been better to have alone with him... you just humiliated him and that may not sit well.
    via u/Monstiemama

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boss meetings workplace-stories jobs job meeting bosses work coworkers workplace questions called out
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