How One Employee Waited Years to Serve Up the Ultimate Petty Revenge at a Retirement Party
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as watching karma catch up to a workplace villain—especially when the sweet, sweet payback is years in the making. If you’ve ever fantasized about getting just a little bit of revenge on that boss who made your life miserable, this story from Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge will be your new favorite “office legend.” Picture this: an executive infamous for throwing his own staff under the bus, humiliating colleagues, and even making his own assistant cry, finally retires. But his sendoff wasn’t filled with the usual corporate platitudes and sheet cake. Instead, it was a masterclass in pettiness and poetic justice, decades in the making.
The Long Game: When Petty Revenge Ages Like Fine Wine
Some grudges fade with time; others, like a fine wine (or a well-aged vendetta), only get better. Our story’s hero, Reddit user u/GovernmentEither3420, had every right to be angry. After being thrown under the bus by an executive who’d do anything to avoid blame—even if it meant humiliating his own staff—the seed for revenge was planted. The incident was so egregious that the executive’s own assistant broke down in tears while revealing the betrayal.
But instead of a hasty, ill-conceived response, u/GovernmentEither3420 did what any true connoisseur of pettiness would do: they waited. Years passed. The executive’s reign of terror continued until, at last, he announced his retirement. Fate (or perhaps the universe’s sense of humor) put u/GovernmentEither3420 in charge of hosting the retirement party.
The Perfect Payback: A Speedo, a Poster, and a Room Full of Laughter
Now, here’s where the story veers from the mundane to the magnificent. The soon-to-be retiree had attended an Ivy League school during a bizarre time in history—one in which incoming freshmen were photographed nude as part of a questionable “study” on body types and intelligence. (Yes, this really happened. The OP even provided a Wikipedia link for the curious.)
Seizing this golden nugget of eccentric history, u/GovernmentEither3420 had a graphics wizard create a poster: the executive’s face Photoshopped onto the nearly nude body of a man in a tiny Speedo, striking a beach pose. The pièce de résistance? The poster was blown up for all to sign at the party. When the time came, it was presented to the retiree with the line, “We found your freshman photo!” The cafeteria erupted in laughter; the executive, not so much.
As one commenter, u/Tremenda-Carucha, put it: “That sounds like the kind of sendoff... that finally gives someone the satisfaction of watching them squirm in their own awkwardness and leaves everyone else laughing for weeks.” Another, u/CoderJoe1, perfectly captured the vibe: “It matched his small-dick energy.”
Office Karma: When Good Riddance Parties Replace Goodbyes
This story struck a chord with the Reddit community—because, let’s face it, everyone’s worked with someone whose departure felt less like a loss and more like an exorcism. The comments section quickly turned into a confessional of workplace revenge fantasies and tales of “good riddance” parties.
One top commenter, u/redditorial_comment, shared a classic: “My dad told me about when a snotty snitchy kind of fellow retired… coworkers bought him a body condom. When asked what that was they informed him he was the biggest prick they knew.” Others described parties where the retiree wasn’t even invited, like u/IndgoViolet’s “retirement celebration that the retiree wasn't invited to. Ouch! And chef’s kiss.”
Some, like u/Reaganson, recounted the ultimate cold shoulder: “When his retirement party arrived, not one of us rank and file attended. I heard he was very embarrassed. He had worked for the company almost 40 years.” As u/SignPractical2364 quipped, the only reason to show up was “for the free cake… Not for the A**hole!”
But not everyone thought it was harsh enough. As u/Independent_King_675 put it, “I'd call him out to his face at the event too. Karma.” And if you’re worried about bad juju, u/Commercial-Novel-786 offers this reminder: “That's the thing about karma. Sometimes it's immediate, sometimes it's seemingly delayed... but she will have her say.”
Why Petty Revenge Hits Different (and How to Keep It Classy)
So, what makes these stories so satisfying? Maybe it’s the idea that, in a world where office villains often get away with bad behavior, every so often, someone gets to see them squirm. As u/MommaD114 insightfully noted, “Karma is a mirror... eventually, you get what you give.”
But there’s a lesson here, too: the best petty revenge isn’t mean-spirited or cruel—it’s clever, memorable, and leaves everyone (except maybe the target) in stitches. As OP u/GovernmentEither3420 clarified, most attendees came for the cake, but “they enjoyed the entertainment.” It was public, but not malicious; a reminder that sometimes the best way to get even is to get creative—and wait for just the right moment.
Conclusion: Your Turn to Share
Whether you’ve dreamed of a legendary sendoff for a terrible boss or just enjoyed the vicarious thrill of this story, remember: sometimes, patience and a touch of humor are the ultimate weapons. Have you witnessed (or orchestrated) a retirement party with a twist? Do you believe in karma—or prefer your revenge petty and immediate? Share your best stories or thoughts in the comments below!
Because after all, as one wise commenter’s office sign once read: “Everyone brings joy to this office, some when they come and some when they go.”
Original Reddit Post: I Waited Years For My Chance