'You really shouldn't have signed that': Employee at medical records office is written up by a coworker for breaking a rule invented that day

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Aug 23, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Nobody likes getting in trouble. As adults, we probably do our best to stay out of it. We try not to hurt anyone's feelings or step on anyone's toes. Of course, some rules were meant to be broken. You have to have discretion over which ones you'll obey and which ones you won't. Sure, I'll fill up a "water cup" at Chipotle with lemonade… who is going to stop me? But one place that's probably best to follow the rules is at your job. You probably want to keep yourself in the clear, because the consequences might be dire. 

Plus, you signed up to work for them, so it's probably only fair that you follow their rules. Even at work, though, we should be given a little bit of grace. Sometimes rules get in the way of getting the job done. And if they were made up on the spot, then how the heck should we know that they even exist? Ignorance of the law might not hold up in court, but it should hold up in a workplace setting. We're not mind readers. 

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  • 01
    A man looks at his laptop upset.
    via Francisco De Legarreta C.

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

  • But that's what happened in this story, where an employee was not made aware of a rule. Even worse, it was invented on the spot by someone who wasn't even their superior. A classic case of someone overstepping their sense of power. Read on to see what happened in the story.

  • 02

    Got written up for a rule invented on the spot...

    I've been here less than two months, and I'm already trying to get out. I work with medical records at this office that was urgently hiring. One guy has been working 7 days a week for over three months because they can't keep people for evenings. I wonder why.
    via u/Correct_Doctor_1502
  • 03
    The second the boss leaves, he thinks he's in charge just because he's been there the longest (6 whole months now), and he's a super micro manager who isn't even a supervisor. He "gave" me a "verbal" for listening to music while he was too, and my supervisor didn't do anything.
    via u/Correct_Doctor_1502
  • 04
    Today, he wrote me up (who knows if it is real, guess I'll find out tomorrow) for not following procedure. Here's the kicker, I absolutely did he just invented an add-on to the rule on the spot. The rule is if the janitor doesn't clear the metal detector, we call his supervisor over, and they clear him, and I did. Not long after he
    via u/Correct_Doctor_1502
  • 05
    calls me over and says "you need to call me so I can call a different manager to clear him" I asked why because this was news to me, the janitor and the janitors manager and he said "because I said so"
    via u/Correct_Doctor_1502
  • 06
    I went on with my day, and right at the end of the shift, he hands me a paper to sign. Says, "It's no big deal drops off in 90 days." | wanted to punch him in the face right then and there, but I signed it. Messaged our boss the second I got outside, hoping he'll do something but doubt it. Power tripping s k up better. Get used to working every day of his life alone because I'm getting out of this sinking ship. I see what they can't keep anyone on this shift.
    via u/Correct_Doctor_1502
  • 07
    A man works at a jobsite with power tools.
    via Elite Door And Glass

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

  • 08

    Commenters gave some advice to this worker.

    Icy-Chemistry6536 7h ago • you really shouldn't have signed that. if he's your peer and not your boss he can't actually make you do anything. every time you listen to him and do what he says, he's just going to get worse, which is what has been happening this whole time.
    via u/Icy-Chemistry6536
  • 09
    if he's not your legitimate manager, he is actually acting inappropriately and his only power is what you give him. you actually can just say, "no. you're not my manager."
    via u/Icy-Chemistry6536
  • 10
    MonteCristo85 · 3h ago . You dont even have to sign it if they are your boss.
    via u/MonteCristo85
  • 11
    rckola_6h ago Stop signing sh he hands. you, he isn't your supervisor. If he tells you to do something or something you did was wrong then make him prove it.
    via u/rckola_
  • 12
    loki2002 3h ago • YOU'RE NOT MY SUPERVISOR!!
    via u/loki2002
  • 13
    InsistorConjurer • 8h ago What a PoS. Can't imagine your boss would support him. If he does, leave.
    via u/InsistorConjurer
  • 14
    KidenStormsoarer 3h ago Go to hr and file a harassment complaint. He isn't your boss and has no authority over you.
    via u/KidenStormsoarer
  • 15
    ejrhonda79 · 2h ago His name wouldn't happen to be Dwight would it?
    via u/ejrhonda79
  • 16
    • onirasup 7h ago Document everything meticulously, including dates, times, and what was said or done. If possible, get a copy of the write-up and any related communication. This will be crucial if you decide to escalate the issue to HR or need to defend yourself against any future fabricated claims.
    via u/onirasup
  • 17
    Osniffable · 45m ago For the life of me, I can't understand why you would think you had to sign anything from a coworker peer.
    via u/Osniffable
  • 18
    blu3str 2h ago . I mean, you aren't that smart for signing that. Are you like 14 and don't know better?
    via u/blu3str

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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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