'They told me its too dangerous out there': Worker maliciously complies and plays games in the breakroom after company cheaps out on safety equipment

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jul 8, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

Companies have the uncanny ability to approach an issue with solemn interest and earnest, particularly when safety is concerned, carefully documenting that concern and intention to avoid that issue—giving themselves plenty of paperwork to cover themselves with should the need ever arise. Yet, as soon as the proper solution is presented and the proper safety equipment identified you can bet your bottom dollar that they'll balk and silently go for whatever cheaper model the supplier they're already using has instead, whether or not that model is fit for the intended purpose—or actually physically fits the workers. Then waving their hand and considering the issue resolved for good.

That's essentially what happened at this organization when this company mandated a new standard for safety glasses but refused to implement the proper and more expensive solution. As these things often go they ironically ended up spending more money in the long run and gave this worker plenty of free time to play games and study in the breakroom. See their story below along with reactions from readers from the thread where this story was originally posted.

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    Cheezburger Image 10371275008
    via Jimmy Nilsson Masth
  • 02

    Won't let me work? OK.

    A few years ago, at my place of employment, they decided to bring in a new safety glasses policy. As I was a member of the safety committee, I was tasked with finding a company who could supply safety glasses that could fit our employees, and with a new criteria: it had to pass a pencil fit test. By this I mean, a regular pencil should not be able to pass around any part of the glass to enter the eye area. A tight fit, as it were.
    via u/Safe-Sorbet8327
  • 03
    I called around and found a company that was able to come out and provide us with a choice of 120 different models and styles to choose from. This would allow us to fit everyone, from fat to thin faces, tall, slim faces, hawk shaped, big nosed, you name it, we would be able to get them fit.
    via u/Safe-Sorbet8327
  • 04
    I thought that it was in the bag, piece of cake, or any other platitude you can think of. I almost dislocated my arm patting my self on the back. Well, of course, management has to step in and say, "this doesn't work for us." Their solution? Find a company that has only 6 different styles of glasses and make it work.
    via u/Safe-Sorbet8327
  • 05
    As I wear prescription lenses, theses new style glasses, were not designed for this. They only have inserts, which are clipped on inside. Well, to make the glasses pencil fit, the glasses fit, the frames are curved to fit your face, hence, the insert is bent to fit the frame. Now just imagine, taking your glasses, and bending them to sit tight to your face. See how this distorts your vision!
    via u/Safe-Sorbet8327
  • 06
    Now queue malicious compliance. I reported to my boss that I could not wear the new glasses as they distorted. my vision and gave me headaches. Their solution was to have me try each model of glasses one at a time, and get lenses made for them to see if I could find one that would work. Knowing that no matter what they did, wearing curved frames would not work, every time I got new lenses made, I made sure that they were high index, UV resistant, tinted, scratch resistant and the best money coul
    via u/Safe-Sorbet8327
  • 07
    At the end of this, I went to see my eye specialist, and he wrote me a letter stating that I am not able to wear the new style glasses as they would damage my eyes. I took this letter into work and showed it to my boss. They didn't know what to do with me. I showed up for work every day, dressed and ready to work, but they never assigned me any work, as it would be too dangerous, even though I had worn my old safety glasses for the last 25 years, suddenly it's to dangerous.
    via u/Safe-Sorbet8327
  • 08
    So, they had me just sitting in the lunch room. I would play games on the computer, I was going to night school, so I completed a semester of school, and basically just screwed around. One day, I was playing video games, and our number 2 big boss walked in and saw me, I said good morning, with a big smile and a wave, he didn't. A couple of days later, our number 1 boss. walked in while I was reading the newspaper, and he asked me what I was doing, and I said "reading the paper." He said, "why?"
    via u/Safe-Sorbet8327
  • 09
    WordWizardx · 3 hr. ago I fully anticipate the next update is you getting fired for some BS reason so they don't have to admit their policy :-/
    via u/Safe-Sorbet8327
  • 10
    baka-tari 4 hr. ago I see what you did there. camelslikesand 3 hr. ago Sorry about the headache.
    via u/Safe-Sorbet8327

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workplace discussion workplace-stories jobs job malicious compliance work safety first workplace safety workplace malicious compliance employment in the workplace
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