Employee raises company policy issue, manager disses their work ethic in response: 'I don’t see the point in continuing to give 110%'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jul 22, 2026 1:15 PM EDT

Some bosses seem to take offense at their employees doing their job correctly.

In theory, a manager should love somebody who completes all their tasks in good time and works by the book, but in practice, that isn't always the case. In fact, some can actually resent an employee who does their job as they are supposed to. 

This can be for many reasons. Sometimes, it is that a worker who is too competent will expect a level of recognition and compensation that they are not willing to give. Other times, they simply don't like the employee in question. Another thing that is incredibly common is that they do not like the fact that this person's work shows up their own inadequacies when it comes to doing their job.

It is undeniably a frustrating experience from the perspective of an employee. You can be doing the best work of your career, and the individual who is supposed to champion that is either ignoring it or actively thwarting your efforts. At its worst, it can end up being one of many reasons that somebody may check out of their job and stop doing anything that they do not feel is absolutely necessary.

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  • A male employee stands over a desk and looks at a piece of paper
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A male employee stands over a desk and looks at a piece of paper

  • A worker felt disillusioned with their job after they had a disagreement with their team leader. They had refused to do something and reported an issue to their manager, as they felt that this demand had been a violation of company policy.

    While they had been expecting the boss to support them, he instead insisted that they did not have the right work ethic. They felt like this was totally incorrect, given the evidence. It led them to do some thinking, and they believed that this meant a change of perspective in the workplace was the right solution.

  • I’ve decided to do the bare minimum at work from now on.

    I recently had a meeting with my team lead and manager. The issue started because my team lead wanted me to do something that I believed violated company policy. I refused and reported the situation to our manager because I genuinely thought it was the right thing to do. My goal in the meeting was simply to explain that I wasn't
    via DecisionFam3839
  • comfortable going against company rules and that I wouldn't follow instructions that conflicted with them. Instead, my manager opened the conversation by saying he was disappointed in my work ethic. That completely caught me off guard. I consistently finish my work on time,
    via DecisionFam3839
  • A close-up of a male employee working on a laptop while holding a pair of glasses
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A close-up of a male employee working on a laptop while holding a pair of glasses

  • take ownership of my responsibilities, and often go above and beyond. My performance has never been an issue and the fact that my team lead is working against corporate rules was not even mentioned.
    via DecisionFam3839
  • After hearing that, something changed for me. If the extra effort, initiative, and willingness to do more than required are met with criticism instead of appreciation, then I don't see the point in continuing to give 110%.
    via DecisionFam3839
  • From now on, I'll do exactly what my job requires-nothing more, nothing less. I'll complete my tasks, meet my deadlines, and use every tool available to work efficiently, including ChatGPT and other Al tools where they're allowed. Why should I keep giving everything when it clearly isn't valued? Looking back, I honestly feel soo000 stupid for putting in so much extra effort when it seems to have made no difference.
    via DecisionFam3839
  • A male employee looking at a photo frame while standing in an office
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A male employee looking at a photo frame while standing in an office

  • Dextexer I feel you, I got cheated of my full performance review raise. But newer people who do less got their full cause they s k up to the boss. Act my wage right?
    via Dextexer
  • Routine-Medicine-208 Some managers / bosses are never satisfied. You could put in 24 hour days and work on weekends and do stuff way outside your regular duties and they won't be satisfied.
    via Routine-Medicine-208
  • PenWitty8214 Yea that's an hr escalation in my book. Document everything and start the papertrail now because I guarantee someone lied or omitted information.
    via PenWitty8214
  • rednecronomicon I got into trouble once when I was a supervisor because my supervisor was informed that I was only asking people to do the bare minimum. I would tell them they deserve more money and I can't give it to them, do your tasked assignments and after that I don't care what you do.
    via rednecronomicon
  • It was more the surprise that one of the people I supervised complained that I wasn't asking more from them than me actually getting into trouble.
    via rednecronomicon
  • tragedy strikes Another alternative when someone asks you to do something you think is against policy/regulatios/laws, and look like a team player is to cheerfully say "Sure thing, could you please send me an email with that request/instruction and cc our manager/director and I'll get right on it!"
    via tragedy_strikes
  • Either the person will recognize that now there will be clear contemporaneous evidence to show they were the one instructing a subordinate to break a rule and then proceed to change their mind or you have CYA material when something goes wrong and they're looking for someone to blame.
    via tragedy_strikes
  • teresajs While you're doing that, don't forget to slow down. Fast paced work causes stress. You don't owe this company any hurrying.
    via teresajs
  • D inTicklePickle Be prepared to be told you're not pulling your weight now, because you don't work as hard as you did. Also your evaluation will reflect you not working as hard as you could. Take this as a learning experience, find a new job, and only do what is expected at your next job and nothing extra. It doesn't pay to try.
    via DamnTicklePickle

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employee company policy bad bosses workplace story
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