Manager enacts new policy that puts speed over accuracy, employee notices a mistake but gets forced to ‘follow policy to the letter,' company losses $12,000: ‘You got it boss!’

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Jun 30, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

When you are a manager, you are expected to enact new policies that help the company—that's usually why you were promoted or hired. However, it would appear that more times than not, managers enact stupid policies. Rules that actually end up costing the company more money or stealing more time from the employees or making the work harder to actually do, you get the picture. 

 

Some valiant employees try to point out the faux pas of these incompetent managers, but tend to be rejected or even written up for their insubordinate behavior. When this happens, the employee can either get all huffy puffy about it and get in even more trouble for a stupid cause. Or, as the internet would suggest as the best route, they can start to do malicious compliance. Ah yes, our favorite! 

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  • Here you find an employee doing just that. He tried to point out that they were about to mess up so badly that they would loss $12k, but the manager doubled down on his heinous new policy and guess what?! They lost $12k… Good thing the employee saved the documentation proving that it was his manager's fault! 

  • Cheezburger Image 10522645248
    via Unsplash+ (and Andrej Lišakov)

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

  • "You want me to follow policy to the letter? Sure. Enjoy the $12,000 loss."

    A few years ago, I worked in logistics for a mid-sized warehouse that shipped expensive industrial equipment. One of our newer managers -let's call him Brad
    via SignificantLab3509
  • ―wanted to "streamline processes" and said everyone needed to stop "wasting time double-checking outbound shipments."
    via SignificantLab3509
  • Now, the company policy clearly stated we were to verify model numbers, serials, and recipient info before shipping. But Brad, in his infinite wisdom, told us in a team meeting:
    via SignificantLab3509
  • "From now on, you ship what's on the top of the pick list. No questions. No. double-checking. That's the new standard."
    via SignificantLab3509
  • I asked for clarification: "Even if the model or serial doesn't match what's in the system?" Brad: "Correct. Just follow the list."
    via SignificantLab3509
  • You got it, boss. Fast forward two days. I notice a $12,000 part at the top of the pick list meant for a customer in Ohio,
    via SignificantLab3509
  • but the serial doesn't match the order. I bring it up. Brad, overhearing, jumps in: "Didn't we just go over this? Ship what's on the list."
    via SignificantLab3509
  • Cool. I slap the wrong serial sticker on it, scan it in, and ship it out. Four days later, chaos erupts. Customer is furious.
    via SignificantLab3509
  • "
    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

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

  • Wrong part, wrong serial, and now they've missed a major contract deadline. Refunds are demanded. CEO is looped in.
    via SignificantLab3509
  • Brad tries to throw me under the bus, saying I should've checked. I pulled up the email from the team meeting summary he sent out...
    via SignificantLab3509
  • "Employees are no longer required to verify serial numbers. Ship per pick list."
    via SignificantLab3509
  • Guess who got written up? Not me. Guess who got demoted two weeks later? Brad. Guess who got praised for "following procedure to the letter"? Yours truly.
    via SignificantLab3509
  • Scenarioing "I pulled up the email" ---It is always a priceless statement. SignificantLab3509 OP "I pulled up the email" Cue slow motion, dramatic music, and Brad whispering "oh no" in Dolby Surround.
    via Scenarioing
  • MsSamm Good for you! Always save documentation. SignificantLab3509 OP Real ones know. Documentation isn't just a habit — it's a defense mechanism, a petty weapon, and sometimes... a career-ending receipt. Good notes walk so bad managers can fall.
    via MsSamm
  • tippyd There's always a brad SignificantLab3509 OP Always. Every job, every office, every group project — there's a Brad. Loud opinions, zero follow-through, and a clipboard he doesn't deserve. You don't hire a Brad. You accidentally promote one.
    via tippyd
  • Obvious-Storage9220 How do model no.'s, recipients, and serials even get messed up with orders. If you're dealing with parts THAT expensive shouldn't the people in sales, and those compiling the orders be, dare I say, competent? This is the sort of work that can be done with lookups on excel and shouldn't require manual inputs.
    via Obvious-Storage9220

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