'Delete anyone who doesn’t use it daily': IT developer maliciously complies with manager’s demand to restrict coworkers' portal access, after being blamed by multiple employees for being removed, he locks manager out of portal for not meeting requirements

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Sep 30, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

When someone keeps preaching the same rule over and over, like it's the only thing they've ever learned how to say, it's natural to get a bit tired of hearing the sound of their voice. Nagging is one thing, but constantly changing your rules and decisions like clothing? That just makes it 100% more infuriating—especially when you hold a position of leadership and guidance. 

This manager insists that his IT developer restrict coworkers' access to the system portal, stating it should only be available to those who require daily access. So, like any employee who wants to keep their job, the developer follows instructions to a T, removing the majority of users from the system. You can imagine how that goes: a company with thousands of employees, most of whom suddenly can't access the very system they need to do their jobs. And the blame? Of course, it all lands on him. So, what does he do? He reverses it, as per the manager's request. But a few weeks later, the manager circles back, nagging his original demand again: "Too many people have access. Time to remove those who don't use the portal daily."

Okay then, Sir, you're one of those people, so your access has officially been denied.

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  • 01
    Male manager shouting at employees
    via gettysignature

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    Want me to clean up users on the portal? Done, you’re deleted.

    I work in IT for a big company and manage a portal that a small group of people use daily.
    via lilbea
  • 03
    Manager wanted me to go through the list of users and remove anyone who didn't need access.
    via lilbea
  • 04
    Simple request, I reduced the list from 100 to 30 people. Everyone's happy. Couple weeks later, manager is complaining that 30 users is too much and wanted me to create a list of all their names, what team they are a part of, who they report to, and how often they need access to this portal.
    via lilbea
  • 05
    Annoying request but sure I got it done. He goes through the list and gets mad when he sees names he doesn't recognize even though our company has a couple thousand employees... So he tells me to delete all users who's name he doesn't recognize... Stupid request but ok done.
    via lilbea
  • 06
    We are a global company so immediately over night I'm getting bombarded with emails that systems are down and no one has access to log into the system and fix it.
    via lilbea
  • 07
    My phones going off but f I don't get paid to work at 3am. Next morning my manager somehow gets mad at me for deleting the users he told me to delete and tells me to add them back???
    via lilbea
  • 08
    No sh. Sherlock. Couple weeks later he AGAIN brings up that he's not happy, and the system is not secure, too many users have access, blah blah blah....
    via lilbea
  • 09
    Logging in online
    via gettysignature

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 10
    Like BRO how bored are you? He wanted me to review the list of users with him AGAIN.
    via lilbea
  • 11
    27 of the users use this system daily. There are only 3 users (himself and 2 other people) that are high up management that don't use the system at all but are there for political reasons.
    via lilbea
  • 12
    He starts yelling at me telling me to delete anyone who doesn't use the portal daily as part of their core job and anyone new who wants access must fill out a form and explain why they need it.
    via lilbea
  • 13
    Ok, fine, f I, done. Couple weeks pass by and he goes... Manager: Hey, I think somethings wrong with the system, I can't log in anymore.
    via lilbea
  • 14
    Me: Nope it's working just fine. Manager: Then why can't I log in? Me: I removed all users who don't use it daily as part of their core job.
    via lilbea
  • 15
    (Quoted my manager from weeks ago word for word). Manager: Add me back. Me: Slides him the form he
    via lilbea
  • 16
    Manager: >:0 Me: :) It's been weeks and he still hasn't filled out the form and I still haven't added him back.
    via lilbea
  • 17
    We are somehow on good terms now!
    via lilbea
  • 18
    still-dazed-confused Sounds like he has serious seagull tendencies (swoop in, screen a lot, shon everything and fly away) combined with not having enough to do :)
    via still-dazed-confused
  • 19
    MechanicalSpirit Bored managers create chaos & confusion
    via MechanicalSpirit
  • 20
    Confused employee on the phone
    via stagestock

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 21
    revchewie "We are somehow on good terms now!" How?! You must have the weirdest manager ever. Excellently done though!
    via revchewie
  • 22
    Eastern_Moose4351 It sounds like you do but make sure you have that all documented he could be using the situation to avoid a responsibility and could possibly be telling his superiors it's your fault in the meantime.
    via Eastern_Moose4351
  • 23
    tomtomclubthumb Now he doesn't have access he doesn't have to worry about who does because he can't see it.
    via tomtomclubthumb
  • 24
    caleblbaker The idea of just unilaterally revoking people's. access just because you don't recognize them is baffling to me. I feel like the correct move would have been to come up with the request access form first and then send all the users who don't access the system daily an email with the form attached saying "your access will be revoked in 30 days if you don't fill out this form."
    via caleblbaker
  • 25
    astrolegium Making him chew through his own red tape is chef's kiss!
    via astrolegium

  • Doesn’t anyone know the first rule of How to Really Annoy your Boss: Do exactly what they say…That always seems to get them riled up. Whether they let it on or not, all bosses like to have a bit of space to tell you to clean up your mess, but when you become spotless…suddenly they are forced to focus on their own messes…

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expectations boss antiwork workplace-stories employee drama manager access denied unrealistic bosses work coworkers log in askreddit workplace daily Reddit restrict indecisive
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