20+ IT workers discuss how they would respond to unrealistic demands from the CEO: ‘That choice is a couple of pay grades too high for me to make’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Feb 6, 2025 7:00 PM EST

Realistically, when a CEO hires employees to do a job, they hire them to take care of business they cannot take care of themselves. Whether it is because they don't have the time, or maybe they don't have the skill, either way–everyone is there for a reason. That is how you build a company, by assembling a group of people who can help the business take off, and do what needs to be done.

However, since we are still talking about the CEO, they still get to treat the company like their own, and justifyingly so. They can make demands, change elements of the work, and ask employees anything, and they would not be denied. They owe everything there after all, why would they be denied?

Well, the answer is that even though they run the business, that doesn't mean they understand everything about it. Again, they have employees for a reason. Employees who master and understand their field, and they do not need the CEO, or anyone else related to the CEO for that matter, to get involved.

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  • The question presented below caused IT employees to share their opinions and stories regarding the IT field. We all know that the IT department in any company is a delicate one, so anyone who tries to get involved should do so under very close observation. 

    That is exactly the reason for the debate below. Keep scrolling to read all about it.

  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10464121088
    via Mike Marchetti

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

  • 02
    IT workers, how would you react if your CEO's friend walked through the door and demanded full access to all of your systems?
    via Hrekires
  • 03
    Hdys Laugh And then I would tell them to open a ticket
    via Hdys
  • 04
    TheNegotiator12 I would say he needs to talk it over with the IT director, I don't even have access to all of the systems, which is why any good IT department practices least user privilege.
    via TheNegotiator12
  • 05
    ClownfishSoup I would do my job. I'd ask him for written authorization from the CEO, since the friend is not an employee with proper clearance. I would ask the CEO to
    via ClownfishSoup
  • 06
    personally approve this and I would keep it as a record if he insisted on the access. Otherwise the "Friend" can off.
    via ClownfishSoup
  • 07
    otacon967 Same as any other policy exception. Request to management and infosec for approval.
    via otacon967
  • 08
    UnsorryCanadian "This is exactly how people get hacked, you're not fooling me"
    via UnsorryCanadian
  • 09
    ryo3000 I'm calling my boss They'll probably call their boss too And the only way I'm doing anything that's under my control is if I get in writting and signed by basically the entire chain of command above me
    via ryo3000
  • 10
    BeTooLive I have denied my manager access to a system before. It resulted in a bunch of shouting back and forth. But in the end he still didn't get access.
    via BeTooLive
  • 11
    Icarus Nocturne Point him to the IT director and leave that problem to him. That's choice is a couple of pay grades to high for me to make.
    via IcarusNocturne
  • 12
    Timo Was Taken How did you get in here? I'm calling security. Where did you park, they tow?
    via TimoWasTaken
  • 13
    glarbknot I would say no. Then I would site legal reasons for protecting my data. Then I would go to lunch and avoid that person and the CEO. Then I would probably get fired, f kit though I been fired for stupider reasons.
    via glarbknot
  • 14
    spytez ME: Hey boss is this ok? Boss: Yes Me: ok.
    via spytez
  • 15
    LOOK KINFOLK Paper&Stitch Photo props
    via Thx4Stock

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

  • 16
    Ceilibeag After checking with the CEO, I'd say 'knock yourself out' or 'pound sand' whichever was appropriate. Not my circus, not my monkeys.
    via Ceilibeag
  • 17
    SweetCosmicPope Tell him that I can't authorize that access. If he's gone through HR background checks and is onboarded as an employee and the CEO tells me to give him access, that's
    via SweetCosmicPope
  • 18
    another story. But if the guy just strolls in off the street, I'm going to tell him to kick rocks. And I wouldn't worry about being fired. I'll find something else. Any IT team worth
    via SweetCosmicPope
  • 19
    working for is not going to look on you negatively for not following proper security policy (and in my case, the law, because I work with protected data).
    via SweetCosmicPope
  • 20
    outerproduct Having worked with TS financial data, I'll tell them exactly where to shove it. Come back with a court order.
    via outerproduct
  • 21
    BenPanthera12 As long as you pay my salary and the CEO agreed to it, what do I care.
    via BenPanthera12
  • 22
    Phaedo I'd probably start replying to a bunch of people I'd been avoiding on LinkedIn.
    via Phaedo
  • 23
    Vegetable-Soup 1714 I'm in cyber, the answer is always no. Let them follow proper channels and build a business case for it.
    via Vegetable-Soup1714
  • 24
    celbertin Could you show me your badge? No? How did you get in here? The CEO let you in? it is against policy to allow someone to enter without an access card and ID badge. SECURITY!
    via celbertin

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