‘I finally said “NO”’: Fed-up employee finally shuts down a needy, bossy coworker, leaving them stunned and silent for the first time

We've all crossed paths with this workplace archetype: the non-boss who acts like they're running the whole operation, the part-time oracle of unsolicited advice, who somehow makes every meeting, task, or lunchtime interaction about them. At first, you think their nagging is helpful, maybe even a gesture of goodwill to help you learn the ropes. And then the reality hits—they're less mentor and more menace.  

This is the coworker who demands endless help while simultaneously critiquing your work, like they're chairing your performance review on their lunch break. They'll ask you to do their job, then circle back 20 minutes later to let you know you're doing yours wrong. "We're a team, right?"

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Author image for Etai Eshet Etai Eshet
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  • It’s exhausting, but every once in a while, the stars align, the universe shifts, and the moment comes. The moment where you, finally, gloriously say, “No.”  A seismic shift in your workplace dynamic.

    Congratulations—today, you achieved what no training manual ever could: Saying no. 

    Maybe tomorrow they’ll figure out their own tasks, see it as an opportunity for growth. Or maybe they’ll just find someone else to bother. Either way, you won.

  • "I finally said “No.”"

    "Their mouth dropped open and for the first time ever, they were speechless"
    via RollingCamera

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

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  • I've been at my new job for 5 months. There is an employee who works close to me who is part-time. I'm full time. But they have been there for years. And they are the textbook example of BUSYBODY. Like always always
    via rushbc
  • always up in my business. And also telling me how I'm doing things wrong or badly. At first I liked it because it helped me to learn to do my job better. But
    via rushbc
  • now it's just getting annoying. And sometimes this person asks me how to do stuff now, or how they should handle something.
    via rushbc
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  • The face of a person learning that "no" is a full sentence.

    Cheezburger Image 10485694464
    via RollingCamera

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

  • Then 20 minutes later they are telling me I'm not doing something correctly. To their credit, they will sometimes also let me know when I do something correctly or do a good job. Sometimes.
    via rushbc
  • This person is NOT my boss, but they were one of my trainers. And boy they have been getting on my last nerve lately!
    via rushbc
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  • This person also constantly asks me/demands me for help. "Help me do this." "Help me with that.” It is affecting my performance and hurting my metrics. My productivity and efficiency is
    via rushbc
  • down because of my constant stopping to help them. Since I'm the new guy, I never complain about this and I never say no when they ask for help.
    via rushbc
  • Cheezburger Image 10485698816
    via DAPA Images

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

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  • ALSO, most infuriatingly, they have a very bad habit of avoiding tough tasks or time-intensive tasks, and shoving those tasks on to me.
    via rushbc
  • So today, they again asked/demanded for my help I. But this time I said "no, I'm very busy right now, I can't help you,
    via rushbc
  • sorry". They literally said "what? You can't help me?" I again said "no not right now, I'm too busy, so sorry".
    via rushbc
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  • Their mouth dropped open and for the first time ever, they were speechless!
    via rushbc
  • AND THE LOOK ON THEIR FACE WAS PRICELESS!
    via rushbc
  • It truly made my day.
    via rushbc
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  • ListenandLearn 17 So proud of you for saying no! Keep setting those boundaries.
    via ListenandLearn
  • -orangutang- Good job! I feel like this gives me some food for thought on the hidden power dynamics of training a new coworker when they don't report to you. Like when does the training stop? I bet they feel
    via orangutang
  • like they still have a right to criticize or give you "learning tasks" because they trained you. This is so patronizing after you've been at a job for a while.
    via orangutang
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  • RaistlinWar48 If they are affecting you performance and metrics, you may want to meet with a supervisor to "determine exact job parameters". Get it on the record asap.
    via RaistlinWar48
  • Spiritual_Cap2637 They probably posting somewhere here the face you are going to make when they slap a PIP on you tomorrow for saying no to them.
    via Spiritual_Cap2637
  • Brilliant-Quit-9182 Congratulations
    via Brilliant-Quit-9182
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  • rushbc OP And when they ask me a question I'm thinking to myself “you've been here 5 years, I've been here 5 months. ?"
    via rushbc

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management boss workplace-stories hr toxic-workplace manager bosses work PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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