'You requested I do not use my own discretion': Haughty manager belittles the administration employee in charge of scheduling staff training, ends up getting 20+ sessions canceled because of malicious compliance

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
May 15, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

Administrators hold your entire life in their hands. Literally and sort of figuratively, these click-clacking keyboard surfers have the entire company at their fingertips, controlling employee availability, PTO requests, and most importantly, calendar scheduling. Anyone with an ounce of self-preservation in the office would treat their receptionists and other admin folk with the utmost respect, because at the end of each workday, they are powerful enough to pull the strings and find every opportunistic scheduling loophole. 

However, this hot-headed manager just had to be the king of the office, belittling the administration staff to bolster his own company image. But after CCing the entire company on a rage-fueled email to make himself look better than the admin scheduler, he quickly realized he'd just thrown his entire team's priority out the window. 

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  • Because when it comes to admin, the person behind the computer holds all the power to schedule out your next mandatory in 6 months. They know you need these modules scheduled urgently, but there's just no time on the calendar until November—hope that's okay! Keep scrolling for the office karma that came out of a public humiliation email. 

  • Cheezburger Image 10504867328
    via Pavel Danilyuk

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

  • Want to be rude -I will no longer bend rules to help you. M
    via DOAHJ
  • I work in a training environment I plan training, book training, report etc I do more but that's what is what you need to know for this post. I have also
    via DOAHJ
  • previously trained staff myself and worked clinically essentially I moved from a clinical role to administrative because of severe health issues. Recently I received
    via DOAHJ
  • a request from a manager for a member of staff who between myself and four senior members of staff have been trying for 9 months to get them booked It's considered mandatory training
    via DOAHJ
  • and essential for patients safety. Staff member has either failed to attend, the trainer was sick or she was pulled for clinical reasons. I replied that the date that they requested was full but
    via DOAHJ
  • here I have booked another. (The rotas for that time period hadn't been done as I checked). Manager of said person (AH manager) goes off on a huge
    via DOAHJ
  • email rant copying in lots of senior staff directors etc how dare I say when her staff should attend I knew nothing about running a department, or a clinical environment don't dare do this again etc etc.
    via DOAHJ
  • AH manager own supervisor approached me (someone I have worked with for ten years) and asked what happened I explained she was was happy with my resolution and reasoning. I said it
    via DOAHJ
  • was no worries I wouldn't book her staff without the full documentation in future. Other senior staff who were also copied in have had a laugh and asked if I told her my previous knowledge and skills base. Nope I'm sure someone will eventually.
    via DOAHJ
  • Cue the malicious compliance. AH manager has sent through a good number 20 plus of bookings recently ALL declined as full or weren't ever offered or wrong inadequate booking information.
    via DOAHJ
  • Normally I will look at the rota and book on something else suitable look up the missing info I I don't have to but I get they are busy and it helps. AH manager has phoned 3 times to be met
    via DOAHJ
  • with as per email you requested that I only use the completed booking form and do not use my own discretion. I am following protocol please complete the application process again.
    via DOAHJ
  • It's taking her 2-3 times to get the members booked. (Those in charge won't pay for a live booking system but hey not my fault) her compliance figures have dropped massively something they are judged on at annual appraisals. All because she wanted to belittle administration staff.
    via DOAHJ
  • Zealousideal_Fail9 Good for you and there is nothing she can do about it. Sounds like the right people have your back. She will have to back down or, learn to do it the right way the first time (not likely).
    via Zealousideal_Fail9
  • What I hope is that someone else who has issues and knows her will someday say "I didn't have any issues getting my people in and we were three days later sending in our stuff..." LOL
    via Zealousideal_Fail9
  • SarkyMs My sister manages a training company, the health customer is always a nightmare.
    via SarkyMs
  • Princess-Donutt. I'm about to say, most of these compliance training sessions are offered at a set number of times to accomodate schedules and shifts, and department supervisers are expected to stagger their staff to attend them while maintaining operations.
    via Princess-Donutt
  • Easier said that done when in person and these sessiosn fill up. A lot of supervisors I know would love to just email the trainer and say: "Hey, here's my 10 RN's and their schedules. Can you just schedule them spaced out a bit, ill take care of my end."
    via Princess-Donutt
  • latulent Opposum They FAFO.
    via latulent Opposum

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