Petty employee gets boss to sign off on 50,000 unusable catalogs and causes 2 week delay, boss gets fired: 'It's something I NEVER would have done'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Mar 31, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

This person would've been in huge trouble if their boss hadn't signed 2 little letters on a piece of paper! 

The longer you're in the workforce, the more you learn to CYA. Always document things in writing, especially if it's something you strongly disagree with. That way, when your boss gets upset that you did or didn't do something, you can point them to the email you sent them, or the Slack message you sent, complete with time stamps. 

Not to mention that just the phrase "Can you send me that in writing?" is enough to stop most managers in their tracks. It begs the question, "Why do you need that in writing?" and the answer is, well, it's probably because that manager is requesting something so dim-witted that it needs recording. No one wants to look uninformed in the workplace, especially not when it's properly recorded by a diligent employee. 

This boss made a giant mistake, and lost his job over placing his initials on the wrong thing. It's a tough lesson for him to learn, but it was a very costly mistake that could've been easily avoided if he wasn't so full of hubris. 

Next, read about the scorned stay-at-home mom whose husband didn't invite her to a work event: 'I ran into the CEO's wife... she confirmed she was there.'

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  • 01
    Zs
    via Elizabeth Dunne on Unsplash+

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

  • 02

    "Boss did not like the look of the 'bulk mailing' stamp, told me to remove it. Cost the company over $220K"

    Back in the 1980's I worked for a sporting goods company as a catalog designer. Small company, privately owned. I was the entire advertising department. I created four catalogs a year - these were responsible for most of our mail- order sales (pre-internet) to the tune of around $700K a year.
    via u/BrightRick
  • 03
    We sent the catalogs via bulk mail using a mailing service - this let us send them for a much discounted rate. To do this required the use of a bulk mail permit, and placing the permit info on the mailing area of the catalog. Technically it's called a "fiche."
    via u/BrightRick
  • 04
    Enter a new boss, call him Ron. I was #1 - the only one - in my department. For some reason the company owner hired Ron as a favor to a friend. From day one he was micromanaging, questioning everything, and up my very tight schedule. This was BEFORE computers were common. EVERYTHING was by hand. Literally typing out copy and reducing it on a photocopier to fit. Developing the photo film myself, making prints, etc. The actual printer had to add screens to the photos so they'd print, burn metal pl
    via u/BrightRick
  • 05
    I was complaining to the owner, but he really couldn't care less. I really wanted to stick it to Ron and the opportunity presented itself. Constant threats of "my way or you're fired" were getting to me. The latest pre-summer catalog was done (summer was our BIG season.) I had to give him my mock-up (photocopied sheets stapled together) of the final catalog for his approval - a new step added after he demanded it. He looked at it and sent it back with several pointless revisions. And a note to r
    via u/BrightRick
  • 06
    no time to check it again. So he did. I knew it would be a total mess and it's something I would NEVER would have done in the past. 50,000 catalogs printed and shipped directly to the mailer. The day they arrive at the mailer the boss gets a call from the sales rep. "We can't mail your catalogs." Boss storms into my area of the building and is literally screaming. Ron is now ped and yelling at me, joined by the boss. I swear - spittle and froth, vein bulging screaming. Minimum two week delay, wa
    via u/BrightRick
  • 07
    Rental and labor was almost $8,000. Adjusted for inflation that's $20,000. Plus our early summer sales boost was off by almost $50K from previous years. Or $200K adjusted for inflation. Ron WAS fired. I was left alone after that.
    via u/BrightRick
  • 08
    hymie0 It's truly amazing how many people don't realize that "can I have that in writing?" is code for "you f'ed up and I'm keeping the receipts."
    via u/hymie0
  • 09
    140 MATEME OMONON TORKIYE CUMHUR REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE www DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST 20 TÜRKİYE POS
    via kevs on Unsplash+

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

  • 10
    yachtiewannabe Ron digging his own grave and not even seeing it coming.
    via u/yachtiewannabe
  • 11
    MaryK007 So glad you documented.
    via u/MaryK007
  • 12
    TrillionSquids "Because the boss knows what the boss says goes, if the boss's suffered losses then that's what the boss chose!"
    via u/TrillionSquids
  • 13
    Frenetic_Platypus Boss storms into my area of the building and is literally screaming. Ron is now ped and yelling at me, joined by the boss. I swear - spittle and froth, vein bulging screaming. They really went postal on you, eh?
    via u/Frenetic_Platypus
  • 14
    BrightRick OP I'll never forget that day. The boss was an ex marine drill instructor. His management style was to scream. Have a question? Scream louder.
    via u/BrightRick
  • 15
    Its Nosey Rosey More more more lol u/BrightRick How did Ron get fired? Update on Ron? Did you end up staying with the company and did your boss ever apologize?
    via u/ItsNoseyRosey
  • 16
    BrightRick OP Ron was fired the next day. I never received an apology. I stayed for several more years, but the bosses temper kept getting worse. He actually beat an employee and took a swing at another. The guy was a monster - had a mini-gym in the warehouse. He eventually went on to become a Chicago cop. Ron went on to work for Sears.
    via u/BrightRick
  • 17
    Dangerous-Project672. I'm not saying this is the most professional thing, but if I were your company's owner I might've let you fire Ron yourself as an apology to you
    via u/Dangerous-Project672
  • 18
    Thex667. Never interrupt the enemy while he is making a mistake.
    via u/Thex667

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