When Store Managers Make Up Sick Day Rules: A Tale of Malicious Compliance and Early Morning Calls
Picture this: you’ve just woken up—groggy, stomach churning, and you already know it’s going to be one of those days. The kind where your only plan is to stay within dashing distance of the bathroom. Now imagine, in this state, you have to not only inform your manager that you’ll be off sick, but you have to do it by phone, before the sun’s even up… because a text just isn’t good enough.
Welcome to the world of retail management “policies”—where rules are sometimes invented on the fly, and logic is as rare as same-day doctor’s appointments.
Let’s dive into the delightful tale posted by u/Dangerous_Ordinary11 on Reddit’s r/MaliciousCompliance, where one employee turns the tables on their rule-happy manager with a masterclass in outsmarting authority—one 6am phone call at a time.
When Policies Get Invented
Our protagonist works in a cozy telecommunications store, where management occasionally feels the need to assert their authority with “new policies.” The first? Sick notes must be obtained in person. Forget telehealth—apparently, only a doctor who’s close enough to smell your morning breath can confirm you’re under the weather. Naturally, this didn’t stick. After a chorus of “uh, that’s not going to work,” the rule quietly vanished, never to be spoken of again.
But the second policy was stickier: texting in sick is not allowed. No, you must call—no matter what time, no matter if the manager is in dreamland and won’t answer anyway. Because, you know, the ring of a missed call is so much more official than a written message.
Early Morning Games: Malicious Compliance 101
Our hero, a morning person only by necessity, played by the rules. Waking up at the crack of dawn, they dutifully dialed the manager—once, twice, even three times—only to be met with the sweet sound of voicemail. Then they’d send a text: “I’ll try again in an hour.” Rinse, repeat. Eventually, most of the management team realized that if you’re not going to answer your phone at 6am, maybe a text is just fine.
But there’s always That One Manager. The one who, fresh from a workplace disagreement, suddenly grows a spine and insists on full policy compliance. No more “just text me.” Now it’s “you must call every time, it’s the rule!”—complete with a not-so-subtle hint of “I’m the boss here.”
So our protagonist, feeling cheeky (and perhaps a little vengeful), did exactly as told. Day two of illness: up even earlier, five phone calls, back-to-back, straight to voicemail. A follow-up text: “I’ll call again in an hour.” Another round of calls—still no answer. Finally, the manager relents, texting back a resigned, “Okay, hope you feel better.”
Game, set, and match. The power trip ends, and the “policy” is quietly, conveniently ignored once more.
Why Do Workplaces Do This?
If you’ve ever worked retail, hospitality, or any job with a rotating cast of managers, you’ve probably seen this before: rules that appear and disappear based on managerial mood, or worse, as tools for petty power plays. It’s frustrating, but it also sets the stage for some deliciously petty compliance.
The real kicker in this story is how the so-called policy was only enforced after a disagreement with the manager. Suddenly, the rules matter—until they clearly don’t. When employees follow the letter of the law (to the annoyance of management), the spirit of the rule gets exposed for what it really is: a way to flex, not to function.
And let’s not forget the practical side. As our Redditor points out, same-day in-person doctor’s appointments are almost mythical in busy suburban areas. Insisting on in-person sick notes is as out-of-touch as expecting every employee to own a fax machine.
The Takeaway: Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes
There’s something deeply satisfying about watching an overzealous manager get hoisted by their own petard. When employees respond with “malicious compliance”—following the rules so literally it becomes absurd—they shine a spotlight on just how silly and arbitrary those rules can be.
So, next time your manager drops a new “policy” out of nowhere, remember: sometimes, the best way to fight nonsense is to give them exactly what they asked for—at 6am, five times in a row.
Have you ever had to comply with a ridiculous work policy? Or maybe you turned the tables with a bit of your own clever compliance? Share your stories in the comments below—let’s commiserate and celebrate the little victories!
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Original Reddit Post: Made up policy by the store managers