‘My Shawshank Redemption’: Employee uses narcissistic coworker's tactics against her and then swiftly resigns, leaving her to deal with the bed she made for herself

Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."

Dec 20, 2024 7:00 AM EST

Everybody's dealt with a narcissistic boss whether they were aware of it or not. Some folks turn a blind eye to negative behavior for their peace of mind, but others can't ignore the glaring red flags that many bosses wear on their sleeves. Some bosses show their true colors through microaggressions and passivity, but others will unapologetically berate employees and gossip about them without a care in the world—and that's all because they think they're untouchable. The employee in this story debunks that rumor.

The original poster (OP) tells the story of how they got back at their narcissistic coworker, calling it their "Shawshank Redemption". If you haven't seen the movie, one of the major themes in the film includes finding hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. The OP explains that one of their coworkers, who is enabled by their boss, showed all the signs of a narcissistic employee. She was withholding information, gossiping, and her overall demeanor was clearly jaded whenever the OP was around. So, instead of trying to let good trump evil, they mirror her instead—then proceeds to resign without warning. What follows is a classic case of FAFO. Scroll to read.