How a Black-and-White Printing Policy Backfired in Glorious Color
Picture this: You’re in a small, bustling office, the hum of printers and the aroma of stale coffee in the air. There’s one sacred piece of tech everyone covets—the office color printer. But then, with a single decree, your boss slams the rainbow door shut: “From now on, only print in black and white. Color is for executives only.”
Sounds like the start of a comedic sitcom episode, doesn’t it? Well, for Reddit user u/Forsaken-Lab5056, it was just another day at work. And thanks to their masterclass in malicious compliance, it turned into an office legend worthy of a standing ovation.
From Vibrant Visions to Grayscale Grievances
Let’s set the scene: The company’s color printer is now exclusively reserved for “executives.” Everyone else is stuck with drab black-and-white prints, no exceptions. But there’s a twist: The boss, ever the contradiction, still wants her presentations and flyers to “pop” with the company’s signature red and blue logo. She instructs our hero to prepare them as usual—just without using color.
Undeterred, u/Forsaken-Lab5056 does exactly as instructed. Every chart, pie graph, and photo is rendered in glorious grayscale, as lifeless as a document from a 90s fax machine. The boss, blissfully unaware, struts into her big corporate presentation the next day wielding what she imagines is a dazzling showcase of visual flair.
Spoiler alert: It wasn’t. The presentation, stripped of color, fell flat. Charts blended into oblivion, the company logo looked like a smudge, and the overall effect screamed “budget cuts” rather than “professional excellence.” Embarrassed, the boss storms back to demand answers.
Why didn’t you print this in color? she fumes.
Our protagonist simply shrugs and delivers the perfect punchline: “Executives only, right?”
When Malicious Compliance Paints the Picture
This story is a brilliant example of the classic office power struggle—where policies meant to control costs end up costing more in the long run. It’s also a testament to the art of malicious compliance: following orders so literally that the results, though technically correct, are hilariously disastrous.
Let’s break down why this tale resonates:
- The Irony: The boss’s attempt to impose frugality directly undermined her own needs. She wanted to save on printing costs, but ended up sabotaging her own presentation. The universe loves poetic justice.
- The Execution: By giving the boss exactly what she asked for—and nothing more—the employee highlighted the absurdity of the rule. No passive-aggressive notes, no sabotage, just pure, unadulterated compliance.
- The Outcome: The punchline? The following week, a shiny new color printer appeared in the department. Sometimes, the quickest way to get what you need is to demonstrate what happens when you follow bad policies to the letter.
Why Do Bosses Love Bizarre Office Policies?
Many of us have been on the receiving end of penny-pinching office edicts. Whether it’s limiting color printing, rationing Post-it notes, or banning personal desk fans, these rules often sound reasonable in theory but fall apart in practice. What’s often missing is an understanding of the real needs of the team.
In this case, the boss’s policy overlooked the basic fact that presentations—and branding!—require color to be effective. By ignoring this, she set herself up for public embarrassment. It’s a classic lesson in the importance of listening to your team and understanding the tools that actually make your business run.
Workplace Wisdom: Sometimes the Best Solution Is the Obvious One
After the debacle, the boss didn’t double down or blame the employee. Instead, she did what she should have done all along—invested in another color printer. Problem solved, productivity restored, and the office balance of power reset.
So next time you’re faced with an illogical office rule, remember the power of creative compliance. Sometimes, following the rules exactly as written is the best way to show why they need to change.
Join the Conversation!
Have you ever been caught in the crossfire of a head-scratching office policy? Did you find a clever way to comply while making your point? Share your stories in the comments below—or maybe just print them out in full color for your boss to admire.
Because, as we learned, sometimes you have to show them in black and white before they finally see the value of color.
Original Reddit Post: Only print in black and white? Sure thing