Bossy coworker bursts into tears when a young colleague asks her to stop barking orders and show some basic respect, setting off a chain reaction and behind-the-scenes HR chats: ‘The thought of asking nicely literally drove her to tears’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
May 27, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Every office has its unofficial royalty, and at this workplace, Bossy B is unmatched. With the power of job security and the subtlety of a foghorn, she's carved out a fiefdom where courtesy is outdated as monarchy. If you block her chosen path, prepare for a barked order—never a polite word or a passing excuse me. She has everyone so well-trained that even the boss dodges her path, and coworkers line up to defend her, spinning tales about her "meaning well" as if it excuses her every stomp and scowl.

On an ordinary day, after yet another demand to move his backpack, our early 20s brave worker decides to test an ancient office myth: what happens if you simply ask the office sovereign for a little mutual respect. He floats the idea, suggesting she treat others the same way she expects to be treated. But he concept glances off her like water on oil, and she doubles down on the demand. 

So, he tries a more direct approach— asking nicely, just once. Suddenly, the unthinkable occurs. The iron lady, destroyer of basic pleasantries, bursts into tears. Not a small sob—full-blown waterworks, complete with a spontaneous support group appearing at her side.

Taking this as a sign of either apocalypse or high office drama, he lets HR know and then takes a strategic retreat.

In this court, questioning the monarch means risking the wrath of her loyal subjects, especially when the only real crime was hoping for a simple please or thank you.

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  • "I asked an entitled coworker to ask me to move my bag nicely. Instead she cried."

    "Hey. Crazy concept here, but why don't you treat me with the same respect I treat you with?"
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • I (M Early 20's) have a coworker let's call her B. She's an older woman who's been at my workplace longer than most of if not all my coworkers. Because of
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  • this, she basically thinks she runs the place. Not being able to admit something is wrong, even when the evidence is literally staring her in the face, always
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  • telling people what to do, she can't even be bothered to say "excuse me". If you're in her way, she'll just say firmly "MOVE!" She's even this way to our boss! The fact that she's still employed here is utterly amazing.
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  • And the worst part about it is that everyone loves her. Any time I've complained about her, I get anything from people saying stuff like "I know she's bossy, but she
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  • Cheezburger Image 10509859072
    via kasparsgrinvalds

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

  • means well" from people straight up telling me not to "disrespect" her. She has everyone fooled, AND SHE'S NOT EVEN TRYING TO FOOL THEM!
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  • One day, though. I was grabbing my water bottle from my backpack. B comes over and demands I move my backpack. I
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  • turn to her and say in the most respectful way (albeit a bit sarcastic) "Hey. Crazy concept here, but why don't you treat me
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  • with the same respect I treat you with?" This literally went in one ear and out the other. She demands I move my bag again. I
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  • Cheezburger Image 10509864448
    via www.canva.com

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

  • decide to be a bit more direct. "Ask nicely". And I kid you not. This woman, who's like three times my age, starts CRYING!! Like, I WISH I was kidding.
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  • Someone even came over and hugged her. I was so baffled that I went to take a bathroom break to process what just happened (without moving my bag of course).
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  • The thought of swallowing her pride and asking me to move my bag nicely literally drove her to tears. I also decided to stop by
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  • HR and ran the story by them. They said they'd have a talk with her. And when I went back, she had stuffed my bag in one of the lockers.
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  • At this point I'm a little worried for the safety of my job. What did she say to the person that comforted her? Could she
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  • potentially turn the whole workplace on me? Maybe even get me fired? All because I'm the only person there that's actually
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  • called her out instead of kissing her yellow toenailed feet? At the very least while not SUPER helpful, my supervisors have told
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  • me I have a right to call her out and doesn't seem like they blindly take her side. But still.
    via Kookie_Kat_

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Tags

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