Boss demands employee pay for professional corporate profile picture, employee uses a fake picture of themselves instead, only for boss to love it: ‘He's praising my commitment to excellence'

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jan 21, 2025 1:00 PM EST

Any demands bosses make for employees that relate to the job, but are not an actual part of the job description, should be financed by the job. If bosses all of a sudden want their employees to learn how to jump rope, the least they can do is supply the rope and pay for the lessons, right? Employee have enough on their plates doing their jobs, as they should, so dropping new assignments that do not really affect said job should not be their responsibility, and definitely should not come out of their own pocket.

Thankfully, we have never actually heard of bosses who demand their employees learn how to jump rope, at least not in a corporate environment, but the demand the boss in the story down below made was possibly as unrealistic. 

This boss accused their employee of actively hurting the company's image because he deemed the employee's profile picture on the company's website 'unprofessional'. This accusation would have been forgivable if the boss hadn't followed it up with the demands that the employee would pay for a proper professional photo of herself. 

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  • Any self-respecting company that wanted their employees to have professional photos, would have paid for one. Expecting employees to do so themselves is as outrages as demanding they learn how to jump rope.

    This is why we are so delighted by the way the employee in the story decided to comply with her boss's unreasonable demands. Keep scrolling to read how it went down.

  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10456975616
    via ti-ja

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02

    "You need a better corporate image"

    Boss went on a major PR crusade last week about "company image." He pulled me aside one day and told me my profile picture (just a casual selfie I took at the
    via gossigirl
  • 03
    park) was "completely unprofessional" and actively hurting the company's image. He ordered me to get a "proper professional photo" ASAP, making it
    via gossigirl
  • 04
    sound like this was some kind of urgent crisis. Being both broke and pretty annoyed at this point, I figured I'd take the path of
    via gossigirl
  • 05
    least resistance. I did some searching and I found one of those online Al headshot photo generators. Just wanted something cheap that looked corporate
    via gossigirl
  • 06
    enough to get him off my back. I chose the best result from the bunch, swapped out my profile photo, boom done.
    via gossigirl
  • 07
    Plot twist: He absolutely LOVED it. Not only did he approve it, but he sent out this enthusiastic email to the entire office showcasing my "incredible new
    via gossigirl
  • 08
    professional photo" and praising my "commitment to excellence." Now he's using me as an example of "taking initiative" and "understanding corporate image." The irony is killing me.
    via gossigirl
  • 09
    Some of my coworkers definitely caught on though. One of them walked by my desk and said "nice profile photo OP" with the most sarcastic smile I've ever seen. Pretty sure 10% the
    via gossigirl
  • 10
    office knows it's Al- generated at this point, maybe that's because they already have one themselves?
    via gossigirl
  • 11
    I'm honestly torn between laughing and cringing. How long until he realizes my hair color is different? Part of me feels like I should eventually swap it for a real
    via gossigirl
  • 12
    photo, but another part thinks it's not worth the hassle since he's so happy with this one, and even I can't believe it's not a real photo sometimes. Not sure if I should even bother worrying about it at this point.
    via gossigirl
  • 13
    Cheezburger Image 10456976128
    via Jacob Lund

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 14
    BBG1308 I think it's weird your employer expects you to pay for your own photo for your employer's website.
    via BBG1308
  • 15
    gossigirl OP (ツ)_
    via gossigirl
  • 16
    SecretOscarOG He didnt even notice your hair color was different? Oof
    via SecretOscarOG
  • 17
    clutchplate Spoiler alert: you have to subscribe to get any photos
    via clutchplate
  • 18
    gossigirl OP yeah duh you get what you pay for
    via gossigirl
  • 19
    TarotCatDog Give all your coworkers the name of the app so they can all generate the exact same photo, same outfit, same background. Report back to us with boss's reaction.
    via TarotCatDog
  • 20
    CoderJoe1 You worked smarter, not harder. Next time you're out sick and want a doctor's note, Al can generate one complete with signature.
    via CoderJoe1
  • 21
    InternalGreenGlitter He probably won't notice the hair and if he finds out about the Al he'll probably think you're "cutting edge." lol. Don't worry about it!
    via InternalGreenGlitter
  • 22
    RealUltimatePapo "Take a better picture!" "Aye-Al, captain!" Why is this idiot trying to tell you what to do with a personal account? That can't be OK with HR, let alone legal
    via RealUltimatePapo
  • 23
    NightMgr "I found a studio and for only $2000 I can have it done. I'll need Monday off."
    via NightMgr
  • 24
    Initial-Shop-8863 It figures that a plastic, superficial boss would love a plastic, superficial headshot.
    via Initial-Shop-8863
  • 25
    katieroseclown My work profile picture is me in the sunlight in the yard. It's fun, friendly, and totally appropriate, just not 'corporate'. I purposely don't use a professional headshot. Oh well.
    via katieroseclown

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Tags

boss workplace-stories employee manager job malicious compliance tales-from-the-workplace reddit story profile pic workplace Reddit company malicious compliance reddit funny
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