How a Pretentious Boss Became “Plops”: The Hilarious Power of Malicious Compliance
There are few things in the workplace more satisfying than a perfectly executed act of malicious compliance. You know the drill: “You want it done exactly your way? Sure! But you might not like the results.” Recently, I stumbled across a side-splitting tale from Reddit’s r/MaliciousCompliance that perfectly captures this spirit—with a dash of British wit, a sprinkle of workplace absurdity, and a dollop of sweet, sweet karma.
Meet Plops—a manager so obsessed with being called by his official title, he unwittingly handed his entire team the ultimate nickname ammunition. What followed was a masterclass in team solidarity, creative abbreviation, and why you should never, ever take yourself too seriously at the office.
The Rise of Plops: When Titles Go Bad
Our story begins in a bustling production facility, where a new “Production Leader – Operations” (PL-Ops for short) took charge. But this wasn’t just any manager. As the Reddit author, u/FMLitsSML, so eloquently puts it, this young upstart had never actually worked the production floor. Yet, he carried himself with an air of superiority, insisting everyone refer to him only by the precise, full glory of his job title: “Production Leader.”
Gone were the days of camaraderie and “our team” language. Now, it was “my team,” and woe betide anyone who tried to use a friendly nickname like “gaffer.” The guy wanted respect, and he wanted it spelled out—preferably in all caps.
Unfortunately for him, his insistence on formality collided with the workplace’s greatest force: the irresistible urge to shorten everything. And so, “Production Leader – Operations” became “PL-Ops.” And “PL-Ops” became… “Plops.”
For those wondering, “plop” is the sound of something unceremoniously dropping—often used in British English to describe a rather specific bathroom event. Not exactly the badge of honor our manager hoped for.
Malicious Compliance in Action
As nicknames go, “Plops” spread like wildfire. Within a day and a half, every shift was following “Plops’” instructions, with just enough plausible deniability to keep it technically professional. After all, they were only using his job title’s abbreviation!
Plops, as you might imagine, was not amused. Every time he tried to assert his authority (“I am a PRODUCTION LEADER!”), he was met with a chorus of “What’s up, Plops?” and straight-faced explanations of shop floor realities that he clearly didn’t grasp. The best part? Even the upper management couldn’t bring themselves to care about his complaints. In fact, the chief of production seemed to find the whole thing as entertaining as the crew did, brushing off Plops’ grievances with a shrug and a “just play along.”
The Plops Phenomenon Goes Corporate
The legend of Plops reached its hilarious peak at a site-wide meeting. Plops, late and desperate to show off, piped up with an irrelevant question—only for the Director of Operations to innocently call him “Plops” in front of the entire company. The room erupted in laughter. Even after a sheepish correction, the damage was done: Plops’ reputation was forever cemented.
Not long after, Plops announced his transfer to another facility. The team, ever resourceful, made sure his new colleagues were fully briefed on the “Plops” tradition. At his very first meeting at the new site, a chorus greeted him: “Well said, Plops.” Some nicknames, it seems, are impossible to shake.
The story closes with a new, down-to-earth production leader (bearing home-made samosas and a willingness to actually listen), who cheekily labeled his door “Plops Office.” The message was clear: the team had moved on, but the legend of Plops would live forever.
Why This Story Resonates
This tale is pure, distilled workplace catharsis. We’ve all worked with someone who took themselves a bit too seriously—who forgot that respect can’t be demanded, only earned. The crew’s response wasn’t just mischievous; it was a masterclass in team culture, quiet rebellion, and the subtle power of humor in the face of pretension.
So, next time your boss insists on unnecessary formality, just remember: abbreviations can be a slippery slope. And somewhere out there, in a factory far away, a legend named Plops is making sure of it.
Have you ever witnessed or masterminded an act of malicious compliance at work? Share your stories in the comments—extra points if they involve accidental nicknames or office-wide inside jokes!
Original Reddit Post: You want us to refer to you by your job title? Okay then!