Machinist vs. Manager: When Malicious Compliance Is the Only Way Out
Ever worked for someone so catastrophically unqualified that you’re sure their biggest reference was a family tree? Meet "BH," the brother-in-law boss who not only failed upward, but once tried to micromanage his employee’s bathroom breaks. If you’ve ever been on the wrong end of a power trip, buckle up: this tale from Reddit’s r/MaliciousCompliance isn’t just relatable—it’s the holy grail of sticking it to the man, one meticulously documented toilet break at a time.
This isn’t just another “bad boss” story. It’s a masterclass in what happens when management crosses the line—and the workforce gets creative.
The Setup: Nepotism Meets Nonsense
Our protagonist, a veteran machinist with six years of proven results, found himself at the mercy of BH—a manager whose only apparent qualification was marrying into the right family. As u/Deanfuentes444 quipped, “This is all I need to know about this person: ‘Now that the review for the company is over this is stuff about you I have noticed.’” Unsurprisingly, BH’s management style was a buffet of incompetence: arbitrary rules, zero empathy, and a talent for ignoring actual productivity.
The story kicks off during review week, when a sales colleague drops a bombshell: since our machinist joined, profits have soared 400% and rework dropped. But before the compliments could settle in, BH shut down the praise—and the meeting took a sharp left turn. Out came a second “review”—a page of personal grievances, including the accusation that the machinist spent too much time socializing and, egregiously, too much time in the bathroom. (Yes, you read that right.)
Malicious Compliance: When the Rules Bite Back
Instead of storming out for good (though the temptation was real), our machinist chose a route beloved by the internet: malicious compliance. No more chit-chat. Earbuds in, Audible and YouTube on, and a wall of productivity so impenetrable that coworkers started to notice the change. As the OP later explained, “If someone came up to me and asked WTF, I would state my time at work is for working and not for talking.”
The bathroom situation? Handled with surgical precision. The machinist called the doctor, got a note stating bathroom use is “due to human nature”—and handed it directly to HR. Their baffled reply, according to the OP: “What’s this for... of course you’re allowed to poop at work.” HR promised to look into it. Spoiler: they never got back.
This silent protest drove BH up the wall. Now, instead of barking orders across the shop, he had to physically get the machinist’s attention—something that, as u/Linda_Lissen [OP] gleefully admitted, was only made more satisfying by pretending not to hear him half the time.
Community Weighs In: “BH Could Teach a Masterclass in Mismanagement”
Reddit’s reaction? Equal parts catharsis and commiseration. As u/Grant_Winner_Extra dryly observed, “BH could lead a masterclass in mismanagement,” while u/Sceptically shot back, “BH should be able to lead a masterclass in mismanagement, but is completely unable to do so due to incompetence.”
Others shared their own war stories. u/tofudisan recalled a hilariously similar HR fiasco, where an unqualified buddy tried to dock PTO even when overtime was through the roof—proving that creative compliance is the ultimate defense against arbitrary enforcement. And the international crowd weighed in, too: u/tseeling offered a glimpse of Germany’s robust labor laws (30 days vacation, paid sick leave), sparking a longing sigh from every American who’s ever had to ration their PTO between Christmas and the common cold.
The legal eagles and jokesters weren’t far behind. u/chuckaholic suggested donning an adult diaper to really drive the point home (“Make nice big poopies in it, get called into HR and show them the write-up”), while u/ShadowDragon868 reminded everyone that OSHA actually mandates restroom access—a fact HR departments tend to remember right around the time lawyers get involved.
The Aftermath: You Can’t Have It Both Ways
After weeks of radio silence and relentless productivity, BH cracked. He called the machinist in, complaining that people were asking why there was no more socializing—and that it was making him “uncomfortable.” The response? “It’s not making me uncomfortable, that they’re your orders, and I have noticed an increase in productivity so it’s working. Did he want me to be less productive? No? Ok BH, I’ll go back to work.”
For a full year, this silent rebellion continued. No small talk, just audiobooks and immaculate output. Then, just before the seven-year anniversary, our machinist put in notice and prepared for a well-earned revenge—a story for another day, but one the community is already clamoring for. As u/roscoe_e_roscoe put it simply: “Mooar!”
Conclusion: The Power of Knowing Your Worth (and Your Rights)
If there’s a moral here, it’s that a little malicious compliance goes a long way—especially when topped with a dash of documentation and a supportive Reddit comment section. Sometimes, the only way to deal with a bad boss is to give them exactly what they want… and let them realize, far too late, that it was the worst possible outcome.
Have you ever weaponized compliance at work—or witnessed management fumble their own rules? Share your story below, and don’t forget to check out the original Reddit thread for more tales of workplace revenge. And to u/Linda_Lissen: we’ll be waiting for those updates.
Original Reddit Post: You can't have it both ways.