Employee told to just focus on the own tasks as outlined in their job description, drops all other tasks forcing them to put a job ad out: 'Let’s stick to what’s actually in your job description, alright?'

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jun 2, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

It's unfortunately rare to have a manager who is actually looking out for you, your best interests, and your growth and elevation in mind. The fact of the matter is that it is just synonymous with good management. An able and capable workforce is one that is motivated and supported. Of course, cynically, here in this case, the manager might just have the best interests of their workgroup in mind. Having their team spend time on tasks that aren't important to their own role does nothing but detract from the team's productivity and impact, as measured by statistics and performance indicators. But the two aren't mutually exclusive. 

By asking their team to stick to the tasks outlined in their job descriptions, they're forcing the organization's hand, requiring them to hire staff for tasks their team shouldn't necessarily be handling. This reads like the worker is holding it against their boss, when it seems like their boss has actually made a level-headed decision here, and they themselves are committing some malicious compliance of their own to the larger interworkings of the organization.

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    "They said I could only do tasks listed in my job description. So I stopped answering the phones"

    I do billing at a mid sized office, invoice, payment logs, spreadsheets, real thrilling stuff. It's not technically my job to answer phones, but when reception's drowning, i usually help out, or.... used to. Last week my manager goes "Let's stick to what's actually in your job description, alright? Just focus on billing" sure thing, sounds like less hassle for me. So that's what i did, phone rings? Not my problem. Someone asking for help up front? Not my lane, i just kept tapping away at payable
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    By day two our office manager's practically spinning plates trying to keep up, my boss glances at me like he's waiting for me to tag in. I just said "just doin billing, like you said" he just nodded. Hasn't brought it up again and yep, that job description's now taped to my monitor, front and center.
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    • GrumpyOldGeezer_4711 7h ago That last paragraph makes me think the boss is the one being malicious. Front desk needs more staff but has avoided hiring until now, boss makes sure the problem becomes visible.
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    just_some_guy2000 ⚫ 7h ago I like that your manager was actually looking out for you on this one.
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    prollycantsleep • 7h ago It sounds like your manager might have actually done you a solid!
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    elldee50 7h ago Sounds like your manager is trying to make a case for a second admin.
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    Kuronan 7h ago • Sounds like your Boss is looking to convince your Manager (or maybe someone higher up) to stop putting off hiring more people. Corporate always wants to shove as much backbreaking work as possible onto every person below them as they can with as little pay as possible. "More heads means less profits." Coprorate never understands that "Many hands make light work." Or that people have breaking points.
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    parkylondon • 7h ago Boss level malicious compliance - quite literally! Boss is making life better for you, better for them; better payables results, better cash flow, better EBITDA And, at the very same time, making a STRONG case for more staff in what is clearly a busy department This is a keeper Boss!
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    Francoberry .5h ago I feel like you're reading this situation as if your boss is being a but all I see is that they're protecting your time. There's nothing here for you to be 'maliciously compliant' about if you're just following a good instruction and benefitting from it. This is like saying 'my boss asked me to look after my health and wellbeing so now I'm gonna do it! Muhahaha what a fool they are!'
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workplace discussion workplace-stories jobs employee job malicious compliance work workplace workplace malicious compliance employment in the workplace
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