Think you’ve had a bad boss? The good folks at Ask Reddit are here to show you that things for you aren’t that bad, or that we’re all in this together. These stories span everything from getting pay docked for arriving late during a snowstorm, to getting fired for missing work to care for your newborn. Ain’t the American workplace grand?
Here are some of the most shocking stories, including the one that shows how much we need mandated maternity leave:
I got pregnant while working for a small subcontracting company. I told my boss (I was assistant to VP) and let them know I’d need to take a few weeks off after I gave birth. So the VP hired an “assistant” to cover my duties while I was gone.
I gave birth and took the week off and then an additional week with the baby for a total of 2 weeks of leave. I returned to work for a bit until my newborn son got sick. Very, very sick. He was hospitalized for almost a week.
I missed 3 days of work because of this and the day I returned, I was fired and guess who replaced me? The person who I basically trained to do my job, “my assistant”. Taught me a life lesson there, never train someone to do your job.
Here’s a story that shows if your bosses treat you badly, then find a better work environment:
I got another job offer for a position that paid about 50% more than what I was currently making. My supervisor made a counteroffer that more than matched it – I just had to jump through some paperwork formalities. That paperwork gets dragged out for about 2 months, when I’m told that the supervisor didn’t have the authority to make that kind of counteroffer. Instead I was told 10%, take it or leave it. I had the offer in writing but it wasn’t an official document – fighting it would have been a long uphill battle. I took the 10%, found another job, and left without helping train a replacement with no fucks given. New job was even higher than the original offer, so it all worked out.
We salute this guy for how he dealt with a boss who tried to screw him over:
Last job (I now run my own business). I quit and gave my boss 30 days notice. I timed this, politely, on the beginning of our pay cycle. Because I’m nice. Figured it was easier on everyone with the paper work.
He calls me up at 8am on the end of the first 2 weeks (payday). “I’m only paying you 50% for the next (last) 2 weeks”
Even though I had in email confirmation of my expectation to work and be paid for 30 days. “Okay” I said, “I’ll only work 50%”. He was shocked when I only worked 4 hours a day for the next two weeks.
Now who wants to go watch Office Space?
(via Ask Reddit, h/t BroBible)
