Boss writes employee up to HR for not following instructions, employee proves that boss contradicts himself constantly: 'Sometimes you have to do what needs to be done'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Nov 19, 2025 8:00 AM EST

Any wise employee knows that keeping a paper trail is the best way to protect themselves down the road.

This author knew his incompetent supervisor was out to get him. This entitled 45-year-old manchild started to get into the habit of demanding something from the author to be prioritized and then amending his directives constantly. It would get to the point that the author had no idea what his boss wanted from him.

Before things got too out of hand, the author decided to go to human resources himself to ask for some advice. Clearly, this guy's inconsistent behavior was unpredictable, and based on HR's reaction to the author's story, this had happened before. HR told the author to document everything so that if something should arise, he'd have something in writing to prove that he was in the right.

Eventually, something did arise, and the author had that paper trail to prove that he was simply trying to follow unclear and irrational directives from the supervisor. Now, HR was able to easily side with the author, given that he had plenty of evidentiary support.

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  • 01
    A professional man sits opposite a female colleague in a work conference room.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • You have to at least hand it to this HR representative for encouraging the author to write everything down. Usually, HR gives some sort of empty professional statement that would almost certainly side with the supervisor, but that was not the case here. Our guess is that they were waiting for a reason to get rid of this man.

  • 02

    "HR told me to ‘document everything,’ so I did. They were not ready for how much ‘everything’ was."

    My supervisor (45M) has this habit of making verbal demands he never remembers. "Submit this form by Friday." "No wait, I meant Monday." "No, actually don't do that at all." "Why did you do this? I never said that."
    via Gold-Telephone8551
  • 03
    It was getting ridiculous. I finally went to HR. They said: "Just document everything. Every instruction. Every interaction." Cool. Bet.
    via Gold-Telephone8551
  • 04
    I created an organized email chain. Bullet points. Quoted instructions. Timestamped everything. Attached files. Color coded if needed.
    via Gold-Telephone8551
  • 05
    Fast forward two weeks. Supervisor tries to write me up for "ignoring direct instructions." I say, "Give me one moment," open the folder, and hand HR:
    via Gold-Telephone8551
  • 06
    26 emails 8 audio-approved recorded meetings (he knew meetings were recorded) 14 Slack screenshots A literal spreadsheet with dates, instructions, and results
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  • 07
    HR's face did that blinking, slow- motion "Oh." Supervisor kept insisting everything was "taken out of context."
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  • 08
    HR finally goes: "The context is... you contradict yourself multiple times per day." The write-up? Deleted. A corrective plan? Issued, for him.
    via Gold-Telephone8551
  • 09
    And today he emailed us: "Moving forward, all instructions will be provided in writing." No shit, Darren.
    via Gold-Telephone8551
  • 10
    A professional man shakes hands with a female colleague in a work conference room.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • 11
    Nydus87 I remember being told when I was basically a kid in my career "if it didn't happen in writing, it didn't happen." Nothing claps back at a sh coworker like "as per your previous email (attached for your convenience)."
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  • 12
    Shalamarr I had a supervisor who got exasperated with me emailing him asking for clarification on my tasks instead of just coming over to talk to him. My official explanation was "My memory isn't great, and I'll remember better this way." The actual reason was "Because you tell me one thing, I do that thing, then you yell at me and deny you ever told me to do that thing."
    via Gold-Telephone8551
  • 13
    Nice Guidance-Still sometimes you have to do what needs to be done
    via Gold-Telephone8551
  • 14
    FoncusedFistula It's sad that we literally need to do this for proof. But to be fair HR needs to protect the organization from retaliation so they need a paper trail. Granted they should be able to access all of that info on the back end. I'm glad you kept such diligent receipts. Be wary of this person. Maybe request a transfer if you can. I had a nightmare boss and I got him cornered and he was let go immediately when I reported him with my receipts. Nightmare boss gave all my team members PTSD
    via Gold-Telephone8551
  • 15
    Unknown_gemini88 This is satisfying malicious compliance for the win lol
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  • 16
    KSway415 I've been here before with a woman who was not my supervisor, but a portion of my work came from her work being finished. She brought me before HR and my direct supervisor and swore up and down that I was ignoring her "orders." Meanwhile, I had repeatedly told her to email when she was done (then I would respond "done" so she could finish the rest of her job & there was a record). She had no proof against me and I had emails and coworkers in my favor. She got reprimanded and was told to
    via Gold-Telephone8551
  • 17
    drsteve14 As a junior doc my registrar told me to do something. In the ward round the consultant asked me why did I do that. I looked at the registrar, no support. I learned a lot that day.
    via Gold-Telephone8551
  • 18
    throwaway346556 and you used their time to do all this i bet. good job
    via Gold-Telephone8551
  • 19
    gnorpmcpickel He should be tested for cognitive decline.
    via Gold-Telephone8551

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employment issues workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work human resources company employment toxic-work-environment
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