Fired for Driving “Too Fast” at 15 KPH—So I Maliciously Complied for 22 Hours (and Got the Last Laugh)
If you think you’ve had an over-the-top boss, let me introduce you to the Fire Boss (FB)—a man so enraged by a 15 kph (that’s 9 mph, for our American friends) “speeding” infraction that he fired a driver on the spot, then ordered him to drive all the way back to headquarters. Most of us would have just stewed in frustration, but Redditor u/Conscious-Farmer6953 devised a legendary act of malicious compliance that not only padded his wallet but delivered some delicious revenge.
This isn’t your average “take this job and shove it” story—it’s a saga of glacial driving speeds, unexpected windfalls, and karmic justice served in the most Canadian way possible: politely, but with a big ol’ “screw you” under the surface.
Let’s set the scene: It’s the late 1980s, and our hero has landed a dream summer job with the Ministry of Natural Resources in Canada. The gig? Supporting wildfire crews, driving all over a district the size of Indiana, and raking in double minimum wage. At 19 years old, this is the lottery of seasonal work: good pay, unlimited hours, and the kind of stories that make you a legend at college parties.
But there’s a catch. The backwoods roads are so rough, “pothole” doesn’t do them justice. Imagine a lunar landscape, but with more mosquitoes and less oxygen. After picking up a few higher-ups (including the infamous FB) at a remote helicopter staging area, a particularly gnarly pothole sends the Fire Boss into a full-blown meltdown. He rants about “kids with no respect” and accuses our Redditor of reckless speeding—at a whopping 15 kph.
The punishment? “YER FIRED! Get back to the district office and get processed out!” Most people would sulk or rage-quit. Not our hero. He grabs two giant gas cans and sets out for the office… at the crawl of a truck idling in neutral. No more 15 kph “reckless” speeds here, boss!
Malicious Compliance: Activate!
For 22 hours—yes, you read that right—he pilots the world’s slowest convoy from the fire camp to the nearest paved road, then obeys every speed limit sign with the dedication of a driver’s ed valedictorian. The result? A $300 overtime bonus for the extra-long journey and a story that would make even the most stoic Canadian snicker into their Tim Hortons.
But the universe wasn’t done with FB yet.
Karma’s Coming… and It’s in a Helicopter
When our protagonist arrives to get processed out, he runs into Crew Boss (CB)—an old friend and respected fire crew leader. As fate would have it, CB’s team needs a replacement, and our driver is hired on the spot. Within hours, he’s back on the fire lines… and a few days later, assigned to the very same wildfire from which FB had fired him.
Here’s where the revenge turns pro. CB and FB are best buds (go figure), and CB—knowing the whole story—makes sure our hero is always in FB’s line of sight during helicopter rides and crew meetings. It takes a week for FB to recognize the “speeder” he axed, and when he does, his face cycles through a rainbow of rage: pink, red, then full-on purple. CB, loving the drama, keeps the prank going, putting our Redditor in FB’s path at every opportunity.
Turns out, FB is infamous for his temper. He fires two more drivers over similarly ridiculous infractions. Meanwhile, our protagonist enjoys a summer of camaraderie, wildfires, and a “really weird tan”—plus three more summers of steady work with CB, great stories, and some not-so-legal (but never questioned) unemployment checks during the school year.
The Takeaway: Never Underestimate the Power of Malicious Compliance
What makes this story so satisfying isn’t just the slow-motion drive or the poetic justice of FB’s ongoing annoyance. It’s the lesson that sometimes, the best revenge is to play by the rules—so rigidly that it exposes just how silly those rules (and their enforcers) really are.
So next time your boss calls you out for “speeding” at a snail’s pace, remember: Karma might just have a gas can, a sense of humor, and a whole lot of patience.
Have you ever pulled off a masterstroke of malicious compliance? Share your stories in the comments below! And don’t forget to follow for more tales of petty revenge, workplace justice, and the occasional slow-burn comeuppance.
Original Reddit story: r/PettyRevenge - Fire me for driving too fast at 15 kph then tell me to drive back the district office? You got it boss!!
Original Reddit Post: Fire me for driving too fast at 15 kph then tell me to drive back the district office? You got it boss!!