Manager denies employee promotion after taking credit for their work, faces fallout after employee stops completing managerial duties: 'Things went south quicker than I could have imagined'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Apr 17, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

If there is one piece of advice that many dedicated employees wish they had taken on board at some point in their careers, it would be to be careful who you work hard for (and when you do it). Many a worker has put their heart and soul, or at the very least, many hours, into a project or goal for their job and then been rewarded with more thankless work or, even worse, have somebody else take the credit for what succeeds. 

Few things squash enthusiasm for a role quicker than putting in the work and not getting any recognition for it, or watching another person take the praise. It doesn't really make sense that it can be a common occurrence, but it is nonetheless. In some cases, there is nothing to be done about the issue, so it makes it extra sweet when the opportunity arises to teach somebody a lesson.

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  • 01

    Boss took credit for my work, malicious compliance occurred

    A few years ago I was hired as a manager to create the contracts department of a tech start-up. My boss was on an opposite coast as me and we barely spoke. About a year in the company hired consultants to overhaul depts except for contracts because it was running so smoothly. I was truly proud of this. The company sent me on a paid trip to the Bahamas as a thank you.
    via vagueambiguousname
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10494775552
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

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

  • One employee got the chance to do exactly that after it was revealed to them that their boss was choosing to deny them a promotion so they could keep taking credit for their work. In response to this revelation, they decided to step down from the duties that were not in their job description and let their manager take them on. The consequences were immediate, and it allowed them to move into a better-compensated job. They shared their story.

  • 03

    "He sent me a list which was everything I was already doing"

    After I got back from vacation I asked for a raise to director level. My boss said I just "wasn't there." I asked for a list of what I would need to do to be director. He sent me a list which was everything I was already doing and basically admitted that if I was director he would no longer be able to take credit for my work. Friends told me I needed to either leave or put up and shut up. Instead, I chose to kill with kindness. I wholeheartedly apologized to my manager for "overstepping," and sa
    via vagueambiguousname
  • 04
    Things went south quicker than I could have imagined. We started missing sales targets. Product said my boss agreed to a term in an agreement that would completely destroy their budget and product roll out. My boss didn't know commission agreements and let sales manipulate contracts so we were paying commission on contracts with termination clauses. I only interjected once to stop a contract amendment from being approved because my boss was unknowingly letting a VP artificially inflate sales num
    via vagueambiguousname
  • 05

    "My boss gave me a 7% bonus"

    Stories started circulating about my boss holding stress b lls and cursing in meetings. I was more relaxed than ever and during my new found free time at work I studied for and obtained professional certifications. I would also leave work early to get to the gym before it got busy. About a month after I unloaded my added responsibilities my boss gave me a 7% bonus. It was unspoken but I could tell he wanted me to take back on the director responsibilities without the title, but I continued to fo
    via vagueambiguousname
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10494775808
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

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

  • 07

    Commenters applauded the move.

    AppropriateRip9996 If you put me in my place I'll stay there.
    via AppropriateRip9996
  • 08
    OffSeer One of the best parts of my job was promoting one of my employees. I can't understand why you'd be a manager of people if you couldn't find the joy in making someone a success. There's enough sh you have to do that sometimes that's the only part that gives you satisfaction.
    via OffSeer
  • 09
    Fair_Fudge12 There are bosses like this one, that are looking for everything else like money and power and don't care to be a manager of people, it's just necessary for them to advance up the ladder. Good on OP for taking the step back, unfortunately he probably got blamed and got laid off but at least he got some freedom.
    via Fair_Fudge12
  • 10
    Schonke it's just necessary for them to advance up the ladder. This is a real problem in so many organizations. There are no available careers/promotions which aren't managers, or no non-managerial positions that include a proper pay raise.
    via Schonke
  • 11
    PN_Guin One wonders what the boss expected you to do. Roll over and take the ab...e? This only ever works on the very desperate and even then only temporary.
    via PN_Guin
  • 12
    newfor2023 Well they were doing it anyway and they obviously couldn't do the job themselves. Also not a bright spark to tell the person that however. Some people do seem to manage to hit a level. Coast for a while. Live on gardening leave, get another similar role and repeat.
    via newfor2023
  • 13
    authorinthesunset Your boss was so short sighted. If one of your reports succeeds that is a success for you as a manager.
    via authorinthesunset
  • 14
    cyberllama Not when they're succeeding at what you're supposed to be doing
    via cyberllama
  • 15
    Legitimate_Drive_693 Reminds me of my situation currently my ex boss is his pants because he can't explain how to do 80% of the teams work that he was taking credit for which I did and transferred to a different department. I am now sitting and watching as he has a fire lid under him and he can't keep up with anything. Also, he will have Miss all of his deadlines that were associated with me because nobody knows how to do it and he refused to have a trained anyone because he was so spiteful and
    via Legitimate_Drive_693
  • 16
    DaddysStormyPrincess I had a coworker try to take credit for my input. As soon as it was spoken I piped up and said "Yes! Exactly. That is how I discussed it with you. You were truly listening!"
    via DaddysStormyPrincess
  • 17
    ihearhistoryrhyming Excellent! I like this. You didn't even tell on him. Just got your ducks in a row, and sailed on.
    via ihearhistoryrhyming
  • 18
    Taped Butterscotch025 FYI folks this concept is called "Work to rule". It's also common in places where there is a no strike clause (like many public agencies) but you want to show your discontent. And normally it's very much supported by the union because you're still technically doing your job haha. Nice OP, congratulations on the raise and new gig.
    via TapedButterscotch025
  • 19
    missannthrope1 When ego overrules common sense, it's a death knell for the company.
    via missannthrope1
  • 20
    dannybau87 I've learnt the hard way that you need to stay in your lane and let things fail if you're not being paid for it
    via dannybau87
  • 21
    Saltysockies Something similar happened to me in my previous role. I was grossly underpaid and my boss took all the credit even though she didn't have a clue. At a company gathering everyone cheered her hard work and how much money she saved even though she had zero input and just pulled the numbers from the system. I asked for a fair pay rise, but they refused. I handed in my notice then suddenly that pay rise became available and I told them it was too late. They hired 3 people to replace me a
    via Saltysockies

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promotion boss employee manager job malicious compliance work workplace reddit thread Reddit entitled people
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