Petty Revenge Served Cold: How One Office 'Rat' Got a Taste of Her Own Medicine
Ever had a coworker who made you look forward to Monday just so you could out-petty them? If so, you’ll love this delicious revenge tale from Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge—a story that proves sometimes the best way to deal with a workplace snitch is to keep them just as sleepless as they made you.
Our story starts in the dead of Canadian winter, with long, exhausting 12-hour night shifts, a close work friendship, and one “miserable boomer” (or at least, boomer in spirit) who made the job a lot less cozy. But when this tattletale tried to get a young coworker in trouble for a mid-shift nap, she didn’t expect a hilarious bit of comeuppance—one that had the whole Reddit community cheering.
The Office Rat and the Icy Night Shift
Picture it: You’re young, energetic, and on a 4-on, 4-off schedule that’s both a blessing and a curse. If you’ve ever worked nights—especially in the Canadian winter—you know that bone-deep exhaustion is part of the job. The author (u/therichauntie11) and a work “sister” had a system: if one was tired, the other watched the phones. No drama, no missed calls, just survival.
Enter the “office rat”—a coworker who, as OP (original poster) puts it, was “the most miserable boomer in the world.” She had a nasty streak, once bragging about tricking a Muslim colleague into eating pork (much to the horror of everyone else). As u/Hallelujah33 and others in the comments noted, the act itself isn’t a religious issue if it’s accidental, but the intent was “incredibly evil,” as OP put it—and the community agreed.
But this wasn’t just about religious insensitivity. The real story begins when OP, after a long, quiet night, dozed off for about 20 minutes. The phones started ringing, and OP snapped awake—only to see the office rat staring, ready to pounce.
Snitches Get... Late-Night Wake-Up Calls
True to form, the rat ran straight to management, reporting the nap with all the joy of a kid tattling about stolen cookies. But the supervisor and GM? Unimpressed. As OP recalls, the GM shrugged it off: “That happens. Their shift runs smoothly, I don’t care what they do as long as their work is done.” Sometimes, good management is about knowing when to let things go—and Reddit loved this detail. As u/jumbofrimpf shared, “My boss didn’t care because my work gets done.”
But OP wasn’t about to let the rat scurry away unscathed. That very night, when the tattletale herself started dozing and snoring, OP seized the moment. Cue the revenge: dialing the office phone from a private number, jarring the snitch awake—over and over, all night long. “She kept dozing off and I kept doing it. ALL NIGHT,” OP gleefully recounts.
The result? The rat never tattled again. Redditors were here for it. “Old snitches are bitches,” declared u/Acer018, earning upvotes and laughs. u/Universal_mammal added, “I’ve got a fast finger for redialing lmao!” Others compared similar experiences, with u/WeeceInTheTweece recalling a busybody coworker who’d “ring my phone the moment I stepped out for the bathroom.”
Generations, Intent, and the Office Petty Olympics
If there was one thing the Reddit comments couldn’t agree on, it was the “boomer” label. Was the rat really a boomer, or just a Gen X with boomer energy? “Sometimes ‘boomer’ is a state of mind, not an age,” quipped u/Kayceeelle67—a sentiment that resonated with many. u/CommonlyWitty chimed in, “There are people that fit the ‘Boomer’ stereotype born generations apart... we get way too caught up in trying to pigeonhole people.”
But the real consensus was clear: the rat’s behavior was the problem, not her birth year. As u/ratsta wisely noted, “There are nice and nasty in all age groups.” Still, OP confirmed in follow-up comments that the events took place over a decade ago, and the coworker was definitely “a few years younger than my late father,” who was born in 1956—so, close enough for government work.
The pork pizza incident sparked thoughtful discussion too. Many, like u/CenturyEggsAndRice, shared their own stories of accidental pork mishaps and the reassurance from Muslim friends that intent matters most in Islam. As u/Hallelujah33 put it, “That’s entirely on their soul, and they gain a whole nother layer of ignorance.” The office rat’s true crime wasn’t the act itself, but the malice behind it.
Petty Revenge: The Great Equalizer
Why did this story resonate so deeply? Because everyone’s worked with someone who made the job harder just for the sake of it. Whether it’s age, attitude, or just a fondness for stirring the pot, some people seem to thrive on misery. But as this story proves, a little harmless, well-timed pettiness can restore balance—and offer some much-needed catharsis.
And sometimes, the best revenge is simply letting someone know you’re onto them. As OP delightfully shared in the comments, “She never did rat on me or my friend ever again.” In fact, after quitting and returning to the job, she found herself with OP as her supervisor—“oh god was she pissed.”
So, the next time you’re tempted to snitch, remember: karma has a phone number, and it’s on speed dial.
Conclusion: Share Your Pettiest Office Tales!
What about you—ever had a coworker who just begged for a taste of their own medicine? Did you ever get your own petty revenge, or did you take the high road (and regret it)? Share your stories in the comments below, and let’s celebrate the little victories that make the workday bearable. After all, sometimes the pettiest acts make the best memories.
And remember: if you’re going to dish it out, you’d better be ready to answer the phone—especially at 2 a.m.
Original Reddit Post: An office rat isn’t sleeping either!!!