'Take that, Dave': 15-year-old assistant soccer referee cheated out of money over a bogus new rule, maliciously complies and gets boss fired

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Apr 29, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

We tend to underestimate young people in the workplace. Whether it's poorly paid interns or kids working summer jobs, there is a general assumption that because these folks are being introduced to paid work for presumably the first time, they have no problem being unfairly treated. This is, of course, part of a tried and outdated "pay your dues" mentality. Regardless of what industry you're in, too many authority figures feel like they can get away with manipulating and overworking their younger employees because they were put through similar experiences when they were starting out.

What's the biggest problem with this phenomenon? Well, it speaks to our human tendency to want the people behind us to go through the same unfair nonsense rather than to make sure they have it better than we had it. The latter mentality is not only healthier for the future of the workplace, but it's also a healthier mentality to have as a person. Keep scrolling below for this tale of how a young assistant soccer referee refused to be taken advantage of by his boss!

Advertisement
  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10499469824
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • This 15-year-old was told by his 18-year-old boss that he was supposed to show up to every soccer game 30 minutes early or he wouldn't be paid. The teenager knew that this was a made-up rule, but he decided that the best way to prove his new manager wrong was to see how often his boss complied with his own fake policy. I guess you can imagine how that turned out…

  • 02
    I am 15 years old and work as a soccer referee. I will normally arrive 10-15 minutes early to a game, which is plenty of time to check in players from both teams
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 03
    and make sure the field is in proper playing condition. One game I showed up to, as an assistant referee (AR). My center ref, 18 years old, let's call him Dave, told me that all refs have to arrive 30 minutes early to every game. I know this is not true, and stayed silent.
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 04
    We reffed the game as usual, and returned to where we put our stuff at the end of the game. Dave told me that because I didn't arrive 30 minutes early, he would mark that I didn't show up,
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 05
    basically telling me that I wouldn't get paid for the game we just worked. I complained that this was a rule that he made up.
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 06
    He left the game without saying anything else, figuring that would be all.
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 07
    Note: If you referee without any ARs, you get paid like 5$ more. I think this was Dave's plan.
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 08
    When I got home, I made sure to sign up to be center referee at every game where Dave was an AR. Poor Dave showed up to his next game 15 minutes early, which is absolutely unacceptable.
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 09
    I said nothing the whole game, but only marked him absent, which means he wouldn't get paid. This went on for a week and half until his paycheck came in,
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 10
    and he was about 120$ off of what his total should've been. (I did make sure every game that Dave was less then 30 minutes early)
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10499470080
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • 12
    Dave emails one of the main referees (who run everything) to see what the problem was. One of the main referees, let's call him John, told Dave that he wasn't there, so he wouldn't get paid.
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 13
    Dave put two and two together and realized what I did. Emails were sent between Dave, John, and I, until John had the full story.
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 14
    Dave was fired for making up rules, and I got paid for the first game with Dave. Don't take advantage of young people. Take that Dave.
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 15
    Vondecoy • 2h ago Is anyone else more upset by the fact it's a Referee? Someone who is meant to be trustworthy.
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 16
    Vondecoy • 2h ago Is anyone else more upset by the fact it's a Referee? Someone who is meant to be trustworthy.
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 17
    Odd_Marionberry... . 2h ago If Dave was fired for making up rules, I hope you were not fired for applying those same rules.
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 18
    wraith_majestic • 2h ago Lol screw dave.
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 19
    NarrowHamster... Good for you man. I 50m ago remember my first shift behind the bar at my college job from being a waiter at the same restaurant an older
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 20
    lady was working the bar with me and another bartender. The other bartender got off early as scheduled and it was just me and the older lady. Come
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 21
    end of the shift she did the splits, they seemed a little. high to me but again, first shift behind the bar so I was giving the benefit that maybe I was just confused.
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 22
    Plus what's an extra $20. Well my next shift I was waiting and my manager came up to me kinda guns a blazing but willing to hear me out at least, asking me
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 23
    how much I made bartending the previous shift, and then said "do you realize you stole from the bartender who left early?"
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 24
    And I explained exactly what happened and apparently the older lady knew exactly what she was doing, was upset the other bartender got to leave early, and gave
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 25
    us both higher splits of the tip jar than we deserved and tried to pin it on me since I was "the new guy" well if nothing else I learned that day the value of honesty
    via Obvious-Secretary151
  • 26
    because I got to keep the money I was given, the other bartender got to get the difference from the restaurant, and the older lady got fired
    via Obvious-Secretary151

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

malicious compliance teenagers work entitled people karma pay soccer workplace malicious compliance reddit entitled people
Scroll Down For The Next Article