'Just do the important things and let the small stuff slide': Contract worker fired after supervisor insists they work faster

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jun 7, 2024 11:00 AM EDT

At some workplaces, you're encouraged to ask questions, while at others, the bosses take it as a sign of incompetence. Maybe you've had that type of boss before: they'll say, "Sure, come to me with any questions you have." But when you do ask them a question, they give you a stern look, or question why you don't know this thing to begin with. That makes an employee not want to ask questions again, because they don't want to look incompetent. But communication is key in the workplace; bosses who don't want to deal with questions are just making everyone's lives harder. 

This person, u/chaotic_david, was confused about why they were fired from their government contract role. Although they tried to clarify with their boss what was the priority and what wasn't, they still got the boot. That's probably why they were fired in the first place, though. If a really smart employee starts questioning aspects of the job that can't be fixed (like constant unpaid overtime), many bosses will just decide they're not fit for the job, and will move on to the next person who will agree to work that constant OT. 

After that, these people revealed the funniest things they've ever gotten in trouble for, like one baffled person who shared that "At the age of 11 I received a speeding ticket… on my bike." 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10357504512
    via Arlington Research on Unsplash
  • 02
    I think my malicious compliance got me fired. About 2 years ago I was working a government contract. The duties I was asked to perform were extremely specific and explicit. I knew exactly what I needed to do. It was basically source code maintenance, but
    via u/chaotic_david
  • 03
    every job had a list of tests and other requirements that needed to be checked before you handed in your work. I would do all the things I needed to for one job and turn it in. My supervisor would say, "hey this is great work, but... this took longer than I would have expected. See if you can get the next one done faster."
    via u/chaotic_david
  • 04
    So I would get into work a little sooner, take a shorter lunch, and stay a little later (it's flexible hours. You work as long as you want under 40 hrs a week and get paid for whatever you did). I would try to work faster too. So when my next job gets done sooner than before, my supervisor is happy, but wants to
    via u/chaotic_david
  • 05
    know what's up with the increase in hours. Well, I had to do the same amount of work in a shorter time. So I put in more hours. Unhappy that he's paying me. more for doing more work faster, (¯\(")/¯) he says, "You know, you could work a lot quicker if you don't spend so much time on all the little stuff. Just do the important things and let the small stuff slide." So I asked him to
    via u/chaotic_david
  • 06
    name which of the things on the list he gave me I should skip. He couldn't give me an answer. I asked "Would I be responsible if work that I completed failed because I didn't check the 'small stuff' ?" He said yes. "And I would lose my security clearance and ability to work for [this department of the government]?" Oh yes, I would.
    via u/chaotic_david
  • 07
    So I said, "Then I have no choice but to keep giving you my best, do I?" A week after another round of this, I was fired with no explanation and no information about if I could work there again. I still want to work there again because it was fun and important work. I enjoyed what I was doing.
    via u/chaotic_david
  • 08
    I shared a little office with three nice people my age. I had a cactus on my desk. It was a little home. At least I have the satisfaction of seeing them recruit on my college campus and keep posting the same hiring ad for the last two years, seemingly without success. I think they should have kept me. It was an odd skill set they needed, one I happen to have. I miss that job.
    via u/chaotic_david
  • 09
    Anyway, I guess I could have kept the job if I was willing to gamble my reputation and eligibility for government work but... It didn't seem worth it. I'll let them cut corners and I'll find another job. Maybe something safety-critical. I bet they won't let me cut corners.
    via u/chaotic_david
  • 10
    gingersassy okay but that's when you note down what day the person told you to skip required steps, and possible go back and confirm it that time recording, then take it to whoever their boss is and prove that they were purposefully trying to cause a failure, and get THEM fired.
    via u/gingersassy
  • 11
    equinox234 how does doing a job faster = more hours?
    via u/equinox234
  • 12
    unibrowfrau I hate that mentality with a passion - basically a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. No wonder some people hate government work so much.
    via u/unibrowfrau

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getting fired code boss firing story firing fired malicious compliance fired story bosses malicious-compliance-reddit laid off contract supervisor malicious compliance reddit got fired
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