Intern with memory issues outsmarts toxic manager after she asks him to memorize and recite every detail of client interactions, turns tables by presenting every unnecessary detail of his day, forcing HR to intervene: 'They agreed it wasn’t sustainable'

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Emma Saven
Oct 18, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

When someone purposely uses your weaknesses against you, especially in front of everyone in the workplace…some, and by some, I mean this employee, argues that it's the perfect opportunity for some petty revenge. Perhaps those who build the tables are the ones who should be allowed to turn them?

This employee is heavily flustered and frustrated when his toxic manager, who is highly aware of his memory issues, unrealistically requests him to memorize and verbally recite every detail of client interactions from the moment the sun rises to the moment the sun sets. Not only is that challenging for any employee, but he already struggles with memory issues, so the idea of presenting in front of all his coworkers without a point of reference but his memory, is very intimidating to him. Yet, he decides to take on the challenge in a way that will likely benefit him more in the long run! He decides to recite every detail of his day, from his coffee order to on which foot he entered the office first, and after an hour of this, his manager decided enough was enough! HR soon became involved, and within a short matter of time, let's just say this manager-employee duo no longer had to pass each other in the hallways anymore. 

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  • He was eventually moved to a different department and both the manager and her little ‘report rule’ disappeared from the office faster than he could recite his greetings with the receptionist (something he included in the report btw) Sometimes the only way to beat someone at their own game, is by doing exactly what they’ve asked of you, until they start to regret it!

  • 01
    Employee presenting a report
    via elnur

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

  • 02

    Report everything that happens on these files - or else. Okay then...I will

    Ok I will get this right this time. 10 y ago. I worked under a manager who could best be described as old- school old- battleaxe.
    via AeonFinance
  • 03
    It was an hr office (I do not work in hr anymore and this is probably why).
    via AeonFinance
  • 04
    I was an intern starting a white collar hr corporate job after 10 y of blue collar work.
    via AeonFinance
  • 05
    I was excited to be in a climate controlled office. I dreamed for years for this and put myself through university by my bootstrap.
    via AeonFinance
  • 06
    I would do anything for air conditioned office. I just broke my back a year prior and had a difficult time finishing my final year.
    via AeonFinance
  • 07
    She was known across the office for being impossible to please and for running through staff faster than the copier toner.
    via AeonFinance
  • 08
    Nobody lasted more than a year, I was told. From my first day, I was on her radar.
    via AeonFinance
  • 09
    I make occasional typing mistakes because of medication I was on that affects short-term memory. I always ran spellcheck and proofed my work carefully, but she treated every minor error like a personal failure.
    via AeonFinance
  • 10
    She would scold me for the smallest things. Once she gave me an hour- long lecture about professionalism because I wore a blue shirt instead of a white one.
    via AeonFinance
  • 11
    I wore a sweater to a client meeting because their thermostat was broken and it was -20c outside.
    via AeonFinance
  • 12
    I got shouted at by my supervisor for wearing the sweater harder than I did on any work site.
    via AeonFinance
  • 13
    Every day felt like inhaling glass shards. Then came the instruction that broke the camel's back.
    via AeonFinance
  • 14
    She told me I needed to deliver a daily oral report on every client file | managed.
    via AeonFinance
  • 15
    Colleagues listening in a meeting
    via mangostarstudio

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

  • 16
    These weren't short updates. She expected me to know every number, every email, every call from memory.
    via AeonFinance
  • 17
    Word for word what was said. If i even got one word out of the transcript off..
    via AeonFinance
  • 18
    i was not fit to be there. She said, "From the moment the sun rises on this office to the moment it sets, you are to report everything that happens in these reports" She knew I had a memory-related disability from a past concussion.
    via AeonFinance
  • 19
    She knew it would overwhelm me. So decided to take her words literally. That night, I opened Excel and began logging everything.
    via AeonFinance
  • 20
    Every keystroke. I wrote it all down. I even practiced my delivery so I could recite it perfectly.
    via AeonFinance
  • 21
    The next morning, when she called me into her office, I began: "Walked from my car to the building.
    via AeonFinance
  • 22
    Opened the office door with my right hand, moderate pressure. Entered the building. Greeted the receptionist.
    via AeonFinance
  • 23
    Employee walking into the office
    via xixinxing

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

  • 24
    Made a coffe in the keurig for 25 seconds. Sat at my desk. Adjusted my chair.
    via AeonFinance
  • 25
    Started computer. Open excel. Began typing reports, ensuring keyboard sound remained within acceptable volume to avoid disturbing senior management arriving 45 minutes after 9am...." I continued like that for almost the entire hour A UNinterrupted.
    via AeonFinance
  • 26
    She tried to interrupt, but I reminded her gently that I was "reporting everything that happens..." When it was over, she just stared at me.
    via AeonFinance
  • 27
    A week later, HR called me in (yes HR does have its own HR). I explained the situation exactly as it happened, that I was following her directive word for word.
    via AeonFinance
  • 28
    I had detailed documentation (by this time I wrote down EVERYTHING that happened in that office).
    via AeonFinance
  • 29
    They agreed it wasn't sustainable. Within a month, I was transferred to a new department. I was laid off 3 m later because that boss quit but I got a good reference.
    via AeonFinance
  • 30
    _Kramerica_ It always baffles me that companies would rather keep the problematic employee instead of taking a step back and wondering if insane turnover for a specific position working with a specific person was maybe detrimental to the company. Hmmm
    via _Kramerica_
  • 31
    OP AeonFinance Yeah I have wondered that my whole career..
    via AeonFinance
  • 32
    wolfgang784 Can't say for certain here, but when the offender is reaaaalllyy bad and somehow not fired it almost always comes down to being family or friends with the decision makers. One or the other is enough.
    via wolfgang784
  • 33
    OP AeonFinance The Peter principle
    via AeonFinance
  • 34
    One-Cute-Boy What do the different colors of collar mean?
    via One-Cute-Boy
  • 35
    OP AeonFinance We used to wear clothing that symbolized these colors. Actually I used to wear orange becauss that was the color of the material you got on reflective coats and shirts and stuff but yeah
    via AeonFinance
  • 36
    usrhome How hard is it to capitalize "HR"?
    via usrhome
  • 37
    OP AeonFinance You sound like you work in HR
    via AeonFinance

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boss memory antiwork oral-report workplace-stories fired manager presentation embarrassing files askreddit word-for-word employees detailed workplace Horrible Bosses remember report
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