Employee told to drop everything to serve their boss coffee, drops 300 files on the ground and spills the coffee on him before quitting: 'I was working for the new company 22 minutes later'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Dec 3, 2024 12:00 PM EST

The myth of the hard-nosed boss: a harsh take-no-prisoners leadership style with the "greater good" of the organization and the growth of the team in mind. The issue is that far too many leaders think they're living up to this mythology when, in reality, they're treading over the fine line of fair into toxic behavior and outright disrespect.

We've surely all dreamt of quitting a job in dramatic fashion when faced with one of these leadership types. Playing that moment over and over in our heads where we're going to let them know in no uncertain terms what we really think and let them know exactly where they can shove it. Of course, this never ends up happening in real life; reputation and references are too important and can follow you for a long time, and it's not very likely that you're just going to have another job waiting in the wings to catch you during the fallout.

This worker made a splash, quite literally, when they quit their job after suffering one insult and one impolite demand too many from their toxic boss. They dropped all 300 files that they were carrying when their boss demanded that they get him a coffee immediately, spilling the coffee all over him and his desk before quitting on the spot.

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    Cheezburger Image 10436483584
    via Shingi Rice
  • 02
    When coffee is soooooooo important... S Many moons ago, I worked for a building management company in downtown Minneapolis. Part of the position included handling all the parking spot rentals prior to when these would have been on a simple computer screen. They were folders...thousands of them...updated manually with who paid what, whose check
    via TorrieDenali
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    didn't clear, blah blah blah. I worked for an eastern New Jersey dude named Frank who was a narcissistic j on his nice days and an absolutely heinous individual on his bad days.
    via TorrieDenali
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    He's thirsty for coffee one day shortly after I returned from lunch, so he picks up his cup and taps it on his desk (annoying, I know), "Torrie, Coffee!" I am on my way to the back room with about 2 feet of files, so I call out, "I'll be right with you, Frank!" | take two steps, and he retaps, "Torrie, COFFEE!!" I walk back
    via TorrieDenali
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    the seven steps to his office to show him my heavy load, thinking he might not have heard me. "I'll be right with you, Frank!" I turn and take one step out of his office: "TORRIE!!" Three loud bangs on the desk, "COFFEE!!! NOWWW!!!!!"
    via TorrieDenali
  • 06
    I turn back into his office, pull my arms out from under the files, and drop about 300 folders of data. Contents fly everywhere. I step over the pile, grab his cup, "Coming right up!" I said as sweetly as possible. After filling his cup and dumping about a half cup of sugar in it, I brought the syrupy goop back to him and slam it on his desk, sickly sweet black coffee spilling on his appointment calendar, his white shirt and blue tie, and across his leather chair.
    via TorrieDenali
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    While he was sputtering, I walked back to my desk, made a quick phone call to my lunch. appointment and accepted the job they had offered me that I was deliberating. I was working for the new company 22 minutes later.
    via TorrieDenali
  • 08
    I ran into one of my former coworkers a few months later, and she told me he had already been through four others in the position. Apparently, nobody wants to get coffee for jerks anymore.
    via TorrieDenali
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    Coolbeanschilly 10h ago I hope he had to reorganize the files. Toddlers need to learn the importance of picking up your toys after playing all day.
    via TorrieDenali
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    Apprehensive _... • 10h ago That is absolutely sweet malicious compliance.
    via TorrieDenali
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    thaaag 9h ago I had a version of that once. My manager had an attack of too-big-for-his-boots-itis, and in front of a group of us workers he ordered me to get him a coffee. He looked so smug about it as I went to do what I was told.
    via TorrieDenali
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    I half filled the cup with instant coffee powder, the top half was filled with sugar, then I put a splash of milk before pouring hot water into the gunk. The spoon almost stood up on it's own. I gave it to him and to his credit, while he didn't look like he enjoyed it one bit, he did drink it that guy. F___
    via TorrieDenali
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    • prankerjoker 9h ago. In the event you are ordered/demanded to get coffee, Brew the strongest pot possible. Brew the weakest pot possible.
    via TorrieDenali
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    Add so much sugar, the guy/gal sitting next to him has to take an insulin injection. Use coffee grounds from three days ago. In fact brew a pot on Monday and put it in a large container. When he demands coffee keep using from that particular container, even if it's a week old. Only brew fresh when you run out.
    via TorrieDenali
  • 15
    Serve him iced coffee. He didn't specify hot. Serve him regular coffee for a week, then switch to decaffeinated for 2 weeks. Then switch to espresso. If your office has paper or Styrofoam cups, use a sewing needle to put a hole in the bottom of the cup. After a while he will have a puddle on his desk.
    via TorrieDenali
  • 16
    StitchFan626 • 6h ago Personally, I'd have used salt.
    via TorrieDenali
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    SAintrovertwit... 10h ago. . Malicious compliance served messy and sweetly AA
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    CoderJoel 10h ago . Top 1% Commenter You star-bucked him!
    via TorrieDenali
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    RayEd29 9h ago • What Frank is can also be used as a verb in front of Frank's name for some alliteration.
    via TorrieDenali
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    Onlce22 9h ago Have a mental picture of this, makes me SMILE. Good for you.
    via TorrieDenali

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