'I played along': New employee accidentally bosses around his supervisor

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Apr 11, 2024 11:00 AM EDT

This employee thought he had bragging rights because he was "training right now to be a supervisor." He was all too happy to inform another employee about his status… because he was already trying to boss other people around. 

Respect has to be earned, it can't be demanded. You can't truly respect someone until they've earned it, whether that's by demonstrating strong leadership skills or helping out when they're needed. Many leaders go about this all wrong. They try to flex their credentials or show off their expensive clothes or cars. In reality, people would respect them a lot more if they just did simple things to be nice and to set a good example. Instead of talking down to other employees, they could get to know an intern, or ask the receptionist how they can make their job easier. Doing a lot of little helpful things is just one way to earn respect organically, instead of just puffing out their chest and bragging about how great they are. 

As a wanna-be supervisor, this dude failed to make a good impression on his boss at first. However, if you read until the end, the original poster shared what happened in the aftermath. After that, check out the story of the airline passenger who faked a dog allergy. 

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  • 01
    Me: Oh you're going to be my supervisor? Nice to meet you! Kenny: yeah whatever. Next time we meet, you better be in uniform. And wear it correctly. Got it bud? Me: Yes sir...
    via Job Moses on Unsplash
  • 02
    saying you're the boss, to your boss Posted this in r/IDOWORKHERELADY and was told this fits here as well. So this happend 2 years ago.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 03
    Little bit of background: I work for a security company at a european airport (not allowed to say which) for about 10 years now. 2 years ago I became a high ranking supervisor. I am responsible for about 400+ agents. Because of that, the law states that I have to follow an additional course of 132 hours + 2 exams to get my degree as "security manager". Basically, everyone from supervisor to manager need to have this degree.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 04
    The location of this course is at the training facility of the company. Where all security guards of that company follow their basic training, refresh, specialised trainings etc. And this is where my story begins. First of, one of the rules state that you should wear your uniform at all times when you do work related things, like a training
    via u/[deleted]
  • 05
    or course. One exemption is for the newly hired guards (they get the uniform after the first 2 months of basic) guards from smaller companies (who work for a bigger comp.) and people who do one of the "manager" courses. The uniform is a black pair of pants with a red/white shirt for agents (red/black for supervisors) a tie for the men that needs to be worn every time and completely black shoes. No other color allowed. Important for later.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 06
    I was there with one of my fellow supervisors, in our civilian clothes, and we were in a class. with mostly people from other units within the company. It's been 4 years since we last were at the facility and things changed over the years, so we kinda felt lost there at first. After a few hours I spotted a friend of mine, Chris, who recently started the course for aviation security (I helped him apply for the job etc.) and I was
    via u/[deleted]
  • 07
    talking to him, asking how the course was and some small talk about the airport. He explained me where the new facility restaurant is, as we were on lunch break, and then went back to his group. This is where the of the story, let's call him Kenny, walks up to me from that same group. Conversation went like this: Kenny: Hey man.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 08
    Me: Hey, how are you? Kenny: You seem a bit lost here? Me: Yeah, it's all a bit new to me and- Kenny: where's your uniform? *points to his own" Never mind, you're scheduled for the airport right? Did you do your basic allready?
    via u/[deleted]
  • 09
    I knew where this was going and I couldn't let this oppertunity go... so I played along. Me: yes... I haven't received the new uniform yet (which is true, as a supervisor wears a different uniform) I hope it suits me. awkward laugh yes I'm going to the airport after this course. I passed basic a while ago. (Which is all basically true) Kenny: well, I'm in training right now to be a supervisor there.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 10
    Me: Oh you're going to be my supervisor? Nice to meet you! Kenny: yeah whatever. Next time we meet, you better be in uniform. And wear it correctly. Got it bud? Me: Yes sir... I walk off to the restaurant and told everything to my colleague. We started laughing our and went with our day. off
    via u/[deleted]
  • 11
    I texted my friend Chris, and asked for Kenny's full name and what he was like in class. Chris told me everything. How Kenny was walking around like he knew it all. Constantly talked back to his instructors, and how he didn't give a F*** about the uniform or the company's dresscode. Really? Kenny also told the group about our conversation and how "scared" I looked. He and some others laughed about it but Chris knew this would backfire. And
    via u/[deleted]
  • 12
    how right he was... Chris never told Kenny he knew me and who I was, 'cause he knew I'd handle it. Fast forward a few weeks later. I passed my course the week before and just got my new red/black uniform. I was sitting at my desk going through the names of all the guards on duty today, when I saw Kenny's name on there! I located his possition and went to visit him. He was standing there at the X-ray
    via u/[deleted]
  • 13
    machine, no tie, black and white shoes and his shirt wasn't ironed. He didn't see me, as he was to busy talking with another new guy, instead of working. I talked to his teamleader, who told me he allready gave Kenny a warning today about his uniform, but he wouldn't listen. I said I wanted to see Kenny right now in my office. A few minutes later Kenny walks in, and doesn't recognize me at first until...
    via u/[deleted]
  • 14
    Me: Kenny! You said I needed to be in uniform next time we met so, here I am! Kenny's eyes widened and realised who I was Kenny: oh yeah, I was only kidding sir... Me: nevermind dude, however, let's talk about you. You're not wearing your tie, your shirt looks like, wel, sh*t and your shoes aren't the right color. Not only that, but you ignored your teamleader, who I trained, when
    via u/[deleted]
  • 15
    he warned you about the uniform and you were a real pain during your training. You're also slacking off at work. How come? Kenny just stood there, looking at the ground, and mumbled something of an excuse. Me: I should write you up for ignoring your teamleader, misbehaviour, neglect and slacking off. That's a 3 day suspension right there. But I'm in a good mood and, you're
    via u/[deleted]
  • 16
    obviously new here so, I'll let this one go for now. Okay? Kenny: thank you sir, I didn't realise it would be a problem... I'll behave accordingly sir, promise. Me: Great! And oh one more thing Kenny. Kenny: yes sir? Me: Make sure next time we meet, you wear the uniform correctly. Got it bud?
    via u/[deleted]
  • 17
    Edit: In the comments I see a lot of you saying Kenny won't last and if he changed or not. He did change. Not drastically or quick but he did change. He still made some errors and I did wrote him down for some things he did wrong. I caught him slacking off a few times but after some talks in the somingroom (yes we both smoke, no it's not healthy) he changed his ways! Some of my
    via u/[deleted]
  • 18
    fellow SPV also had some issue's with him but he managed to learn from his mistakes. So far this year I had no problems with him, he even asked me how to become a teamleader! I said as long as his uniform his in mint- condition he should take his chance!
    via u/[deleted]
  • 19
    ppili_ Kenny really was like "oh sorry sir, i didnt realise that something i specifically told you would be a problem if done wrong, would be a problem if I did it wrong"
    via u/ppili_
  • 20
    Major_Zucchini5315 My question is when Kenny went home after himself after seeing you, did he change into the proper uniform?
    via u/Major_Zucchini5315
  • 21
    Alps-Dense I knew his own words would be thrown right back at him. But it felt really really good. anyway while reading it.
    via u/Alps-Dense
  • 22
    Houndstooth Reader Kenny: an example of the type of person who goes into security because they like to wield every tiny bit of power over others.
    via u/HoundstoothReader
  • 23
    Neriek Look at me look at me. I am the boss now.
    via u/Neriek

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