It’s hard working for a boss who doesn’t appreciate you or the work you do. We can find plenty of stories abouthorrible bossesand their antics on the Internet. The lesson in most of them is that employees should not be afraid to stand up for themselves. A healthy dose ofmalicious complianceor petty revenge can sometimes be the best medicine against a jerk boss.

The OP ofthis storycertainly wasn’t afraid to stand their ground. When an incompetent boss broke the news about a demotion, the OP came up with a genius revenge strategy. Read on for the whole story and see people’s reactions to the OP’s strategy below.

A boss who regularly drinks while on the job is probably already not that good of a boss

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Image credits:mstandret / envatoelements (not the actual photo)

This lousy boss cost the company a lot of money after an employee executed his “memey” revenge

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Image credits:Michael Burrows / pexels (not the actual photo)

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Image credits:Bored Panda (not the actual photo)

Image credits:sparkzz32

Having a horrible boss is infuriating, but there are some strategies on how to cope with it

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Image credits:Yan Krukau / pexels (not the actual photo)

Dealing with bad bosses is never easy. Bosses that exhibit narcissistic traits may be the most toxic. Ina previous interviewforBored Panda, leadership coach Louise Carnachan said that narcissistic leaders might not be afraid to throw their employees under the bus instead of taking the blame themselves. “Everything is about their gain,” Carnachan explained.

How does one deal with such a boss? The leadership coach advised our readers to be friendly with them but not to try and get inside their inner circle. “It may not feel as good to stay out of the chosen group, but it’s a lot safer,” Carnachan explained.

“Do not give them any personal information that is important to you because they are not beyond using it to demean or threaten. Don’t gossip aboutother employeeswith them. And look for job opportunities away from this person unless it’s clear they’ll cycle through quickly.”

What to some may seem like bullying or harassment might simply be poor communication. Carnachan advised not to mix up the two. While the latter is just annoying, the former is illegal.

“Report harassment through whatever channels are available to employees (union, boss’s boss, human resources, EEOC, whistle-blower hotline, ombuds office.) [Worrying] about retaliation keeps many from reporting, but if there are enough of you, you can form a coalition,” Louise Carnachan told Bored Panda back then.

Good managers should prioritize their people

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Image credits:Kampus Production / pexels (not the actual photo)

The boss in OP’s story had no regard for the employee’s time. Writing up a technical manual in one day is in no way possible. Demoting a worker because you can’t hire another person willing to accept the offer for a small salary is another sign of poor leadership.

It’s no wonder the OP chose to quit immediately. According to thePew Research Center, 35% of Americans resign because they don’t feel respected at work. Being respectful to your employees is a vital characteristic for every person in a leadership position.

People aren’t born with the skill of leadership; it takes time and effort to be a good boss

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Image credits:Thirdman / pexels (not the actual photo)

When Bored Panda spoke to Louise Carnachan earlier, she also told us howbad leaderscan be born. “Most people are thrown into leadership positions because they’ve been there a while and were very good at their job – not because they’ve demonstrated competence in leading others, which is a totally different job.”

“Unless you’ve had a role model to follow, you’re probably at sea about what to do. Leadership training and coaching can help immensely, but not every organization makes this available. There are many good books and leadership classes you can take on your own or through your professional organization.”

“These are people who are not only respected, they often are therole modelsfor future leaders. Not surprisingly, former staff members stay in touch with them after they leave because they have been mentors, not just bosses.”

Commenters had some questions, but the OP came prepared to answer them

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Here’s what the people thought about OP’s malicious compliance

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Employee Leaves Boss With No Instructions After They Got Demoted, Costs Them $1.3M

Thanks! Check out the results:Gabija Saveiskyte

Indrė Lukošiūtė

Justinas Keturka

Work & Money