'Sorry, it's not in my job description': Snarky ex-coworker who refused to help trainee answer simple question gets bitter revenge when the two cross paths again

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jun 29, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

You know the saying, "You can forgive but you can never forget." This may be a little bit of a bitter outlook on humanity, but it's usually true. Even if you've moved on in your heart and soul, your brain will probably hold on to the memory of whoever hurt you or wronged you. I don't know about you, but I'm still a little bit hung up on injustices that happened to me when I was in elementary school. If only I could go back in time and make myself known. Whenever someone hurts you, your instinct is to hold onto it. 

You know it may be irrational but there's still a small flickering flame within you that wants revenge. It's usually best practice, though, to try to extinguish that flame on your own. It's not healthy to hold on to stuff, plus you know you'll probably never get the revenge you want.  

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    Cheezburger Image 10522692096
    via Unsplash+ (Kateryna Hliznitsova)

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

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    "Sorry, it's not in my job description"

    Several years ago I worked a sales job I hated. I was brand new, barely given any training....like a half day to learn how to operate their system. One of my coworkers who sat next to me was one of the top sales reps in the department. The purpose of sitting a newbie and someone like her together was so the noob learns
    via u/Mean-Repair6017

  • Unless you do. Sometimes, in rare cases, the universe gives you the perfect opportunity to dunk on someone who wronged you. It serves up the chance for revenge on a shiny platter and it's just up to you to take it. That's what happened in this workplace story. Read on to see how it played out. 

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    But, teaching junior reps is technically not in her job description. That leads me to a day I have a potential sale on the phone and I got stuck on product knowledge due to my newness. I asked her a simple yes/no question and she tells me, "Sorry. It's not in my job description to help you." I ended up trying to find someone else for help and by the time I got the answer, the prospect already hung up.
    via u/Mean-Repair6017
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    Shortly afterwards, I left that company and found my footing where I currently have been nearly the last decade. We got a new sales rep on our team last week Guess who it is. She knows who I am too.
    via u/Mean-Repair6017
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    A few minutes ago, she just asked me a product-related question and I said those same exact words back to her with a huge smirk on my face! "Sorry, it's not in my job description." Hahahaha Finally! Justice is mine! She lost the sale because of the same reason I lost mine to top it off My boss is probably gonna talk to me about this later. I DGAF
    via u/Mean-Repair6017
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    Cheezburger Image 10522692608
    via SoyBreno

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

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    Commenters delighted in this story of petty revenge.

    urbanmissile 18h ago Oh karma you lil ol beauty you.
    via u/urbanmissile
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    LindonLilBlueBalls 18h ago • I had a coworker years ago that told me to stop helping the new guy (I was only like 1 or 2 months in longer than the new guy) because he would take my job and do it cheaper. I told him if my knowledge helped the new guy get ahead of me, it would be my own fault for not getting any better than I currently was.
    via u/LindonLilBlueBalls
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    A few years later guess which two guys were running projects and who they had working for them.
    via u/LindonLilBlueBalls
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    4me2knowit • 18h ago I'd tell your boss it's a lesson she needs to learn, a little humility. From here on I would be the bigger person and help, point made A favourite author of mine calls this
    via u/4me2knowit
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    vindictive forgiveness because it's the nastiest thing you can do
    via u/4me2knowit
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    Kroe 14h ago • I was working in a restaurant long ago. Another guy on shift asked me to help him with a few things so he could go early, so I started helping him. One of the senior cooks comes by and starts yelling at me about how that's not my job. OK, I went back to
    via u/Kroe
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    whatever I was doing before. Later that night, he asked me to help him on some things he needed to do for close. Sorry dude, that's not my job. I thought he was going to punch me, but he didn't. F that guy.
    via u/Kroe
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    DinkingPickles 17h ago Funny how always those who are being to others believe they wouldn't get the same treatment back
    via u/DinkingPickles
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    CoderJoe1 • 17h ago . She had it coming
    via u/CoderJoe1
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    No-Environment61... . 18h ago Wonderful. I've had similar stuff happen. 2 can play that game, I'm fine with that.
    via u/No-Environment6103
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    SuitableEggplant639 · 16h ago • I'd tell your boss the whole story, they will probably rethink hiring someone who is not a team player.
    via u/SuitableEggplant639
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    delulu4drama • 17h ago She should have just answered the question in the first place you never know who you will need a favor from later...
    via u/delulu4drama
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    OSG541 16h ago What a b this is exactly I what's wrong with corporate America, throw everyone else underfoot so you can use them to climb the ladder.
    via u/OSG541
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    chta You didn't burn a bridge, you just let her walk across it, and then gently pulled the last plank. That's patience, not pettiness.
    via u/chta
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    Peacemkr45 14h ago . Tell your boss the same thing; "It's not in my job description" and call it settled.
    via u/Peacemkr45
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    DapperExplanation... • 10h ago Soon after I started my new job a couple of years ago, the coworker I work regularly with went in for a surgery and was gone for a month. There are two more in the team who do different tasks but are acquainted with the process.
    via u/DapperExplanation77
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    Anyway, when I got stuck on something especially in a stressful and time sensitive situation, I would type in our common chat a simple Y/N question and would receive a lengthy reply how we were in a copy in some email chain or how this has already been
    via u/DapperExplanation77
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    explained to me etc. Well, for a year and a half we've been working with a new software and guess who got on top of it the quickest, and who gets asked questions that receive a "this was mentioned in this and this email / chat"
    via u/DapperExplanation77
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    B2Rocketfan77 · 5h ago I'll never understand why people can't just be helpful. If that person hadn't been a beast you would have helped them.
    via u/B2Rocketfan77

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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