'Oh, it must be nice to just sit at the register': Karen manager taunts employee and tells him not to do any work, so he doesn't

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Apr 8, 2024 8:00 AM EDT

Let this serve as a friendly reminder that sarcasm doesn't function well in the workplace. 

Every so often, maybe twice a year, this Karen manager decides to lose her mind and accuse everyone of doing everything wrong. She runs a small but always moderately busy convenience store. Well, the other day, she decided it was time for her tantrum. Her employee had just finished restocking and cleaning the store and had returned to the register when his Karen boss came storming and sardonically told him to stay at the register while she did all the work. Well, after having witnessed her tantrums several times before, he decided he wasn't going to put up with it this time and instead opted for some well-deserved malicious compliance. So, he decided to follow her orders and do nothing, which forced her to actually do something on her own for once.

Keep scrolling below for the full story. When you're done, check out this post about a company that lied about their job posting.

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  • 01
    LOCAL GRIND EE AUREAD "I'll do everything, you just sit there." P evian
    via Morgan Vander Hart
  • 02
    I'll do everything, you just sit there. S OC I work part-time in a small convenience store, just me and the boss lady. I'm usually there so she can do paperwork in the back and order supplies, so while I'm on the cash register I have to keep everything in front stocked, keep the returned drink bottles and cans neatly organized, etc., it's pretty steadily busy.
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 03
    Every now and then she just likes to freak out and start complaining about something, yesterday she came out to find me sitting at the cash register. I had just made sure everything was completely restocked, had been regularly running into the back and grabbing things and refilling, etc.
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 04
    But she chose to freak out and accuse me of not doing any work, and since I apparently didn't want to work I should just sit there at the register and she would do everything.
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 05
    At first I thought she was joking, and I laughed as I got up to do something. But she got really mean and got in my face and said to just sit down and she would do everything. So I did. I started telling her everything that I was about to do and she actually started doing it. I was just sitting at the register and smiling so she looked at me and said "oh it must be nice to just sit at the register not have to do anything", and I said "you bet it is, thank you so much". She just glared at me as s
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 06
    StellarPhenom420 1 hr. ago Hope you get a better gig soon
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 07
    Kyra Heiker OP. 1 hr. ago It's only a part-time thing and I'll be taking the next three months off from there anyway, lol.
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 08
    Dranask 38 min. ago Good so she needed the practise then.
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 09
    glenmarshall 1 hr. ago Now you know why the last person who had your job left.
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 10
    Geminii27 just now The last fifteen...
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 11
    MistraloysiusMithrax. 54 min. ago Why are some bosses so fricking dumb? I never understand this behavior
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 12
    Kyra Heiker OP 52 min. ago Control issues? She does this a couple times a year, just completely freaks out over something absolutely ridiculous and false.
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 13
    K1yco 35 min. ago My manager was freaking out because whenever windows updated on our work systems, it will take a whole hour to complete. We had a handset that connects to our computer over USB, so whenever a call comes in, the handset will ring.
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 14
    It does function as a normal phone as well, but the bulk of our call for our support line will only route to it if the computer is on and logged into the service. Because of this, I can't take any calls at all until it's finished, so I had to sit there. Also every available computer /desk is being used so it's not as simple as just going on a different computer.
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 15
    He didn't like that and threw a tantrum and demanded the other leads to get me on the phone now. So for 10 minute's he's standing over the leads and trying to connect the handset to take calls, but no matter what, the phone can't use the program if it's not running. Even the leads, (or anyone in the office that does actual work) knew this.
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 16
    He finally gave up and hid inside his office to sulk as he usually does when he doesn't want to deal with things, and I relaxed while windows finished the next 45 minutes.
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 17
    Kyra Heiker OP. 33 min. ago God forbid that you should sit for a few minutes and do "nothing". Managers who try to get their money's worth out of your time are the worst.
    via u/Kyra_Heiker
  • 18
    da9621 41 min. ago What a dumb thing she did. "Sit there and stay there just so I can say MUST BE NICE"
    via u/Kyra_Heiker

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karens workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job malicious compliance work entitled people karma reddit thread Reddit karen workplace malicious compliance entitled people toxic-work-environment
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