Boss begins demanding the tasks and videos employee had been contributing to go above and beyond their role, they stop doing it: 'A please and thank you would go a long way for my motivation'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Oct 8, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

Going above and beyond should earn you praise and commendation. Unfortunately, it's more likely that all it will do is increase the expectations for your work... Showing your superiors what is "possible" and setting a new baseline of work for yourself. You'd think employers would learn not to look a gift horse in the mouth and just be happy that someone cares enough to contribute to the business's success outside of the duties they're employed to perform.

This worker, who appears to have been hired in some kind of sales role, thought they had found the perfect way to use their talents in their workplace. They were really a photographer by trade, and so they began going above and beyond their current role, creating and sharing video content to bring in business. These videos were even encountered by other staff out in the wild, who congratulated them on their work.

Trouble started to brew when the business was nominated for an award, and the company needed a photographer; guess who they thought would be perfect for the task? The general manager asked them to take the pictures—keeping in mind this wasn't something they were being paid to do, despite the fact that they would have likely charged for the freelance work normally. They didn't decline, although they would wish they had later, and that request soon turned to demands. The worker knew this was the end of their extra contributions.

Sure enough, their boss started demanding the videos be completed, too. They decided to instead mess with their boss and look for other work… Read on below to see their account of events and the discussion it stirred in this online community.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10413814784
    via Ave Calvar

    Image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Image is for illustration only and subjects are models.

  • 02
    Now you see it, now you don't. S When I first got hired I started doing videos for my company because I thought it would help bring in business, for me specifically, but also to the store overall.
    via firecracker723x
  • 03
    For the first few weeks, it was going fine. The staff were telling me how good I was at it, people were commenting that they'd come across the videos in public and on their FYP. Then we got nominated for an award. Wonderful! They needed updated photos, and I, being a photographer by trade was asked by the general manager to take the pictures. I should've asked for payment, but foolishly did not.
    via firecracker723x
  • 04
    Fast forward a few days and the general manager is demanding the pictures be sent to him ASAP. No thank you, no please, nothing but attitude. So I decided that I wasn't going to volunteer to do anything out of my job description anymore.
    via firecracker723x
  • 05
    A few weeks have passed and the owner asked me why I haven't been doing videos lately. I said "I haven't been feeling amazing." which my boss heard me say and commented "Well you better start feeling amazing soon." The entitlement.
    via firecracker723x
  • 06
    Today my boss walks up to me and tells me he NEEDS 3 videos this week and one of them HAD to be done today. "A please and thank you would go a long way for my motivation" Boss- "Will you please (said sarcastically) do it so he (GM) gets off my ?" "He, too, can utilize manners" Boss -"it won't go over that way." So I smiled and said "k"
    via firecracker723x
  • 07
    A few minutes later I'm on my way to do one of the videos and he walks by and in the most smart tone says "thanks again!" Now, I did what he asked. I made the video. I uploaded it to our shared folder and texted him a screen shot of it in the folder. Then I deleted it.
    via firecracker723x
  • 08
    When he says it's not there I plan to act dumbfounded- "well where the heck did it go! " Then I'll show him as I upload it again, and as he walks out I'll delete it again. I'll play this game all day every day until I die. out. around and find And before anyone asks, I'm already looking for another job.
    via firecracker723x
  • 09
    f_you_thats... 10h ago Nice, tell him you'll look into the glitch and give yourself the day off.
    via firecracker723x
  • 10
    WinAccomplis... e 10h ago I recommend you start asking for payment for photos and videos. it's no longer volunteer work if they're demanding it
    via firecracker723x
  • 11
    RealUltimatePapo • 10h ago Video yourself reading your employment contract, and act surprised when "media creator" isn't in it Shrug shoulders, end scene
    via firecracker723x
  • 12
    CoderJoe1 • 10h ago Eventually you should upload a vid of your resignation. They don't deserve you.
    via firecracker723x
  • 13
    RJack151 10h ago Change the video to a picture with a link, then rickroll him.
    via firecracker723x
  • 14
    deathriteTM 10h ago . Or corrupt the file just enough.
    via firecracker723x
  • 15
    rodneedermeyer • 9h ago What hurts most about this is that you're "a photographer by trade" but not working as a photographer. From one photographer to another, you deserve better.
    via firecracker723x
  • 16
    firecracker7... OP 9h ago • • It's rough out here For every person seeking a photographer there's literally 60-80 people throwing their talent away for pennies in my market. It's sad. I encourage the local photographers to do their CODB and charge their worth but they won't and have lowered the standards so much it's hardly worth doing aside for my own enjoyment now and doing a gig here and there.
    via firecracker723x

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workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employee employment-discussion job malicious compliance work employees overworked-employees workplace Horrible Bosses workplace malicious compliance employment in the workplace
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