Custodian walks out of job after micromanaging new boss makes impolite comments: 'You deal with it, I'm going home'

There's nothing worse than having the serenity of a good (or at least tolerable) job disrupted by a terrible new boss, whether it's an external hire who doesn't seek to understand the organization and it's processes before changing them or an internal promotion who has a chip on their shoulder and a grudge against their former colleagues. There's not much you can do when faced with them except grin and bear it—or you can do what this worker did and walk off the job rather than tolerating your boss's offensive and disparaging comments.

This custodian shared their experience to this popular online workplace forum, sharing how they were dealing with a frustrating new head custodian who had a tendancy to micromanage and is disrespectful to their subordinates. After being confronted by their boss they walked off the job, leaving uncertainty to their employment. They posted their story to this community to share their feelings and seek advice as to how they should approach things with their employer.

In an update that they shared later to their original post they share how a school Admin had gotten involved and was handling the situation in a calm and measured way, seemingly understanding of their situation and reasons for their actions in light of the new boss's tendencies. 

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Author image for Brad Dickson Brad Dickson
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  • 01
    "I leave and she calls me while I'm driving and I just ignore her..."
    Via Philip Myrtorp
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  • 02

    "Walked out of my job today, we’ll see how this goes."

    So I'm a custodian, in my 20s We have this new head custodian that's been there just over a year, she is truly one of the dumbest people I've ever met. Not going into detail but let's just say me and others wonder everyday how she has this job.
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean
  • 03
    She is also a micromanaging nightmare, constantly calling us on the phone asking where we are what we are doing ect. Never polite always and demanding, but I deal with all of this because it's work and it is what it is, nothing too awful just obnoxious everyday.
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean
  • 04
    Well today after working outside in the sun for around 45 min while it was 97°F out and I'm just dripping sweat, she calls me and says I missed a trash can, no big deal I tell her sorry I'll be out there to get it changed. I go outside with a new bag, she's standing there. (First of all she tells me to watch how this other coworker sweeps, like in a way where she thinks it's funny and is basically just bullying like always) and talking
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean
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  • 05
    I just ignore it and go to change the trash, now obviously there is garbage in it because it hasn't been changed, she then proceeds to tell me this is unacceptable I need to be changing this everyday Again no big deal I let her know I do change it everyday and this is the only time I've forgotten, as this is the only incident with this happening
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean
  • 06
    She then asks if I "wipe my bQt everyday" so I turn to her and tell her I don't like how she's speaking to me She then asks me if I'm going to cry about it, so I just drop everything and say you deal with it I'm going home
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean
  • 07
    She then is yelling for me to come back here and that we are going to the office and I just say nope I'm going home I leave and she calls me while I'm driving and I just ignore her We'll see how this plays out tomorrow when I go in
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean
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  • “UPDATE: immediately went in to talk to our admin when I got to work, 

    Explained the situation (he was aware I left but didn’t know why) he said that’s all he needs from me for now and he’ll call me back down to his office later, just do what I need to today 

    He then calls the head custodian into the office I presume because after little later she asks to see me in her office when I get a chance so I say okay 

    Go in her office and she tries explaining that she’s so sorry and it’s just an expression blah blah and I told her I find her disrespectful a lot of time and that I’m not dealing with it, I also explained why I felt I needed to leave (long story short I deal with trauma from an abu**ve step father from back in the day that would get really upset over cleaning so I got a little triggered but this situation) 

    Then she felt oh so bad and she’s so sorry (I’m sure she’s sorry because she got talked to in the office lol) 

    Then later Admin wants to speak to me again so I meet in his office, he says he talked to the head custodian, seemed like she listened to everything he said and then she didn’t because I guess he specifically told her not to talk to me today until after this meeting but she went out of her way to have that whole discussion in her office 

    He asked what was said in the discussion and I explained everything and he was smirking half the time because he knows she’s ridiculous, also mentioned some side things like the constant calling and he gets this stuff too, said he feels like she’s got a tracker on his phone cuz she always seems to call as soon as he gets off property. 

    He said he will speak to me again in a few days to see how I feel about the situation and he might want me to write some of this down the on paper 

    Seemed super respectful to me and seems like he understands and I’m not in trouble in any way, in fact at the end I asked if there was any way I can hand my sister her diploma when she graduates this year and he said he can make sure that happens 

    Will update in a few days if anything else happens.”

  • 08
    • KoalaWorking · 21 hr. ago Go in and ask straight away to speak to the HR person. Being asked how you wipe your , even if it's a joke, should be grounds for reprimand for the head custodian. You walking off the job wasn't the wisest thing (job abandonment) but state to the HR rep you left to remove yourself from further hostility.
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean
  • 09
    madlyhattering . 18 hr. ago Yep, OP, what's going on at your job is the very definition of hostile work environment. Employers have been sued over this. If you quit the job due to the hostile work environment, you would probably be able to claim unemployment benefits because it would be considered a constructive dismissal.
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean
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  • 10
    Ceartas1992 - 23 hr. ago Probably gonna get written up or fired, but ehhh... that ! Just wondering, did you jot down evidence or anything to have in case you need to apply for unemployment, or in case they try to retaliate against you?
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean
  • 11
    HendrixsLaserbean OP 17 hr. ago I don't really have much evidence aside from prob 1000 calls from her / she speaks okay English but not perfect so every time she wants stuff she calls me instead of texting Seems like everyone else knows she's a nut job though
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean
  • 12
    International-Call76 17 hr. ago • Person gets a little bit of power as head custodian then they turn around and abuse the shout of it Nah that ain't cool. This needs to be made a big deal out of cause no one can work in that kind of environment or should have to
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean
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  • 13
    V1per73 16 hr. ago Hostile work environment. Let HR know, but just to be clear, HR job isn't to protect you, it's to protect the company. Having a complaint logged on paper benefits you in case of any retaliation.
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean
  • 14
    ejrhonda79 16 hr. ago • Sounds like you're dealing with a new manager that let the tiny amount of imaginary power get to her head. Either that or she's a nepotism hire. Based on how you described her intelligence I'd believe both are true. It truly to deal with people like this. I've always bailed after encountering someone like this because generally speaking the company will always cover the manager over the employee. Good luck and keep your head up.
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean
  • 15
    andrewse 13 hr. ago Write down everything that was said and who was present. It's not proof but pretty good evidence for when you make the call to HR. Get ahead of this and don't let her tell her story first.
    Via u/HendrixsLaserbean

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