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Employee gets called out for agreeing to give a reference for former manager, then giving a bad yet honest review to the hiring manager: ‘You should have declined’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Are you always expected to say good things when giving a reference for someone?</h2><p>When interviewing for a new job, one of the most hated stages is when you're asked to provide references. This means that you either have to dig up numbers of old coworkers and bosses who would be willing to say nice things about you, or find someone in your current workplace who can talk you up and wouldn't tell anyone else about your search for a new job. It is generally a taxing mission.</p><p>We've never been asked to be a reference for someone else, but we imagine that if someone asked us, we would want to be as honest as possible, which is easier said than done. Of course, you want to <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46412293/relentless-coworker-demands-employee-move-out-of-her-seat-in-break-room-despite-knowing-there-are-no" target="_blank" rel="noopener">give your honest feedback</a> about what it was like to work with someone, but if your experience with that person was not positive, being honest about it can ruin their job prospects, and that is a heavy burden to carry.</p><p>But what should you do instead? Lie? Let a workplace hire someone based on a false recommendation? That doesn't sound very fair either.</p><p>The best solution to this issue is to simply not give the reference in the first place. If someone you didn't enjoy working with asks to put you down as a reference for a potential job, the kindest thing you can do for them is decline. You will obviously have to explain yourself and be honest with them about why you can't give a good reference, but it's better that they know and work on it than for you to hold it in.</p><p>Unfortunately, that is not the route <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AITAH/comments/1vm0o7b/aitah_for_giving_my_former_manager_a_bad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">u/sirthevinegar</a> took…</p></div>

2026/8/13

‘What is a dark or unethical industry secret that you can finally share?’: Ex-employees share all the industry secrets they learned during their time working somewhere they no longer work.

<div class="ck-content"><h2>All jobs teach you something, and some of those things can really change your perspective in life.</h2><p>Sometimes we think that <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45050629/former-employee-wipes-data-from-his-work-computer-after-discovering-his-replacement-was-offered-the" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the time we spent at a certain job was a waste of time</a>. We were there because we needed the money, and as soon as we could, we left. It happens. Almost everyone I know has had one of those jobs. I even had one of those. But, in reality, things aren't as linear as we think. We may believe that our time there was just for money and that leaving was the best decision, and there is no doubt in that, but maybe it wasn't a total waste of time. Maybe you learned something after all, something that will become really useful someday. Every experience is an opportunity to learn, and thinking that you are in the wrong place can be the biggest teach of all.</p><p>Over the years I've gone through different jobs, some I loved, some I hated. That's what happens<a href="https://cheezburger.com/45571589/the-hype-is-way-overblown-15-employees-quietly-changing-their-career-plans-because-of-ai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> when you are building a career</a>. You start in places that you hate and are always thinking about leaving, till someday you find the job you actually like. In my case, I remember I hated working in customer service. Everyone was so mean, and I always felt like people had no respect for me or my job. It was sad, and I had a really bad time working there. But that doesn't mean I didn't learn a thing. It actually taught me so much about communicating and dealing with people that it made me grow as a person. Nowadays, from a distance, I can really appreciate my time there and the impact it had on me.</p><p>I'm sure that a former job that you had, that maybe you hated, has taught you something you still put to use today. And that lesson could be shared with others. So, whether you want to share it or if you want to learn more about other people's experiences at previous jobs and what they learned about it, I would totally recommend that you check out <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1vjbkli/what_is_a_dark_or_unethical_industry_secret_that/?share_id=TjCye_W7lKFHNOPfdOu9w&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the thread below.</a> You will read secrets that former employees have gathered while working in different industries over the past years. </p></div>

2026/8/13

Employees reveal the wildest times a former employer didn't listen to their warnings: 'The company was reduced to 1/20th the size'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>There are times when the company does not know what's best, but that doesn't mean they will listen to other opinions.</h2><p>Not every role can be a winner, and every once in a while, an employee is going to take a job at a workplace that seems to be <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46202117/manager-ignores-employees-written-requests-then-blames-everyone-else-for-work-mistakes-leading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">going nowhere fast</a>. Quite a lot of companies are run in ways that are neither sustainable nor profitable in the long term, and not only are the workers some of the first to notice that, they are also the first to face the consequences when things get tough. Almost all employees are considered to be <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45859077/employee-gets-laid-off-during-a-company-restructuring-only-to-find-their-exact-job-reposted-online" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some level of replaceable</a>, after all.</p><p>When it is a role that they are invested in, or they simply do not want to quit that paycheck, it can be frustrating for those who work for a failing company to try to get their voice heard about the issues they are dealing with. More often than not, the bosses are more interested in what works for them than what may actually produce results and some level of employee satisfaction at the same time. There are a lot of people in management roles who probably shouldn't have that level of power.</p></div>

2026/8/13

Manager realizes his best employee has completely changed his attitude after RTO: ‘He has now become a strict 9-5 employee who does nothing that isn’t his written task from me’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Are we supposed to do anything other than what's written in our contracts?</h2><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/managers/comments/1vk8jku/best_employee_is_fighting_back_against_rto/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This story </a>came off as really peculiar to me. Of course, I'm not an alien, and I understand it's normal to sometimes go the extra mile in our jobs, and that's what pushes the quality of our work upward. I understand you can't go back and rewrite an employee's first contract for every minor deviation that comes up later, but I definitely don't think it's fair to judge an employee for anything other than<a href="https://cheezburger.com/44268037/boss-tells-employee-to-stick-to-his-job-description-then-complains-theyre-not-doing-extra-work-im" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> what he was hired to do</a>.</p><p>In short, I think the evaluation to be made here from the management's side is about what made the employee change his attitude towards his job. If he used to always go the extra mile, then something that happened pushed him in another direction. It could be that he has now returned to the office, or it could simply be that he finally got fed up after a long time of making extra, unrewarded efforts.</p><p>That's another thing: if you recognize an employee under your supervision who is always <a href="https://cheezburger.com/40955141/guy-generously-moving-giant-branch-out-of-the-road-after-a-large-storm-gets-honked-at-so-he-makes">making extra effort</a> and succeeding, you shouldn't take that for granted, no matter if he works from home or not. Management should always try to encourage that attitude by giving something in return.</p><p>I think this employee realized he would receive the same amount of money whether he was only available from <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45140741/25-silly-spongebob-memes-for-goofy-goobers-who-work-9-5s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9-5 </a>or made additional effort, and he chose the option everyone in his situation would've chosen.</p></div>

2026/8/13

80-year-old boss publicly scolds young bookstore employee over tiny mistakes: ‘He keeps publicly reprimanding me over increasingly ridiculous things’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>An old boss is publicly nitpicking a longtime bookstore employee over tiny mistakes, turning ordinary work into a weird little power show.</h2><p>Some managers run a shop like a workplace, and some run it like they're auditioning for the role of Smallest Possible Dictator. This one sounds like the second type. The actual book business is almost beside the point. The real product seems to be tension, public correction, and whatever strange pleasure comes from making a younger employee feel watched all day.</p></div>

2026/8/13

Employee Claims He ‘Can’t Trust’ New Coworker Because She Pushes Back on His Instructions

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Incorporating a new employee into the fold can be tricky work.</h2><p>When you're working a job, you probably want to get into the flow with your new coworkers. Building a team takes time, and too much turnover can be a bad thing <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46412293/relentless-coworker-demands-employee-move-out-of-her-seat-in-break-room-despite-knowing-there-are-no" target="_blank" rel="noopener">for teamwork</a>. You need a combination of people with different strengths and different weaknesses to complement each other. The best bosses and hiring managers know this and try to assemble teams of people who can work well together. It's a delicate balance though, and not always easy to get right. And when you add a new voice to the mix, things can go wrong pretty easily. It's not difficult to get stuck in your ways as an employee. You have your certain way of doing things, and when something comes along to disrupt that, you bristle at the change. But change can be a good thing. Maybe you're an employee who has really gotten used to the way things run. You're in your comfort zone, and you're in your flow state. But just because you're in your comfort zone doesn't mean it's the best way to do something. Sometimes it takes a fresh perspective to help change things up and get some new life force in <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46372869/what-is-a-secret-about-the-industry-that-you-work-in-that-customers-shouldnt-know-employees-share" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the organization</a>. </p></div>

2026/8/13

Employee gets asked by boss that his “team’s status” remains always available, so he complies, creating a system that did it for him: ‘And it simulated just enough activity to keep my status green.’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>These <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45497861/college-cafeteria-employee-gets-back-at-micromanaging-manager-with-just-a-2-gas-station-bought" target="_blank" rel="noopener">micromanaging tactics</a> are getting out of hand.</h2><p>Do bosses not have anything better to waste their time with? When I hear stories like <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1vhlzdz/boss_said_my_teams_shouldnt_go_away_during_work/?share_id=uEnxiDqxUo4Uc40fU76mX&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the one below,</a> where the bosses start to demand their employees' unimportant things, such as their Team's status always showing as available. I start thinking about how unimportant everything you do at work must be if you are focusing on the color that appears below the picture of each employee. Instead of making themselves be seen as people who are on top of everything, it seems as if they don't have anything else to do. When I hear these things, I can only compare how much work each employee does and how little the boss must be doing if they can check that.</p><p>Corporate is kind of a lie. We know that you don't need to work 9 to 5 to complete your work tasks. If you didn't stop for breaks or lunch and put effort into it, you may be able to finish everything in 4 or 6 hours. We all know that, and it's fine. But that's why most employees have mastered the act of appearing to be busy, when in reality they are done. That is the case of this user who has made everything so automated that now he doesn't have many things to spend his work time on. It means his extremely efficient, but if his boss knew he wouldn't take it that way. If he showed how quickly he does everything, he would probably be assigned a load more of work to do each day, which isn't really fair, to be honest.</p><p>So, the ultimate tactic to avoid getting more work when you do everything quickly is <a href="https://cheezburger.com/22722053/appear-busy-not-desperate-20-job-search-hacks-to-remember-when-brushing-up-your-resume" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to appear busy. Sometimes that is harder than actually doing the work</a>. With apps like Teams tracking you every second and showing you as "gone" every time you stop pressing the mouse for two minutes, you feel a little overwhelmed with all the pretending to be busy stuff. This employee was able to fix that, but what would you do to appear to be busy when you finished the work for today hours ago? Would you just click around to always be seen as "available"? Would you start a side project? Would you copy the tactics of this user with his invention? Sometimes appearing busy is a full-time job in itself! </p></div>

2026/8/12

Tutor works from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM, gets fired for refusing to come back to work at 7:30 PM: 'They expect to own my entire life for less than $2.50 an hour'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Not every employer believes in the work-life balance.</h2><p>In fact, one of the first things that every employee learns is that the vast majority of companies will gladly take<a href="https://cheezburger.com/21346053/my-boss-made-me-work-13-hours-without-a-break-employee-quits-job-without-giving-notice-then-drives-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> as much of your time</a> as they can get away with, and if that includes<a href="https://cheezburger.com/43529989/501-thats-my-new-nickname-boss-mocks-employee-for-always-leaving-right-at-the-end-of-the-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> unpaid overtime</a>, even better. More than anything, the average worker has to prove that they are good value for money, and some places take that to greater extremes than others.</p><p>Unfortunately, certain industries and businesses have a toxic work culture, and working crazy, non-contracted hours isn't just something that secretly happens—it is an open expectation of the role. What's worse is that some jobs can manage to hide this until they employ somebody, and then it comes as an unwelcome surprise.</p><p>We all know that more and more individuals these days feel that working around the clock is neither sustainable nor admirable, and as a result, they are more likely to try to set limits with employers who are demanding about working hours. The issue with this is that they can often expect them to ac out in response. If it costs them the job, it may be better in the long run anyway.  </p></div>

2026/8/12

Employee asks for tips on how to correctly receive feedback so he doesn’t lose his next job: ‘I’m a hard worker, but aside from that, I seriously struggle with interpersonal relationships in the workplace’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Tips on learning how to receive feedback</h2><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/careerguidance/comments/1vkglca/how_do_i_learn_to_shut_up_and_take_feedback_at/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The ability to receive feedback </a>doesn't come easily to everybody. Some people have learned the skill very early on, for example, in school or in any activity involving teamwork and a certain degree of hierarchy. Still, even if you have had those experiences, it's not an easy skill to master for many people.</p><p>It's desirable to be invested in our jobs, but sometimes, it's precisely that investment that clouds our vision when it comes to feedback. For example, one can notice that some things in the workplace are unfair, but one should be very mindful of one's own position in the company so as not to come off as 'difficult to work with'.</p><p>Our primordial task should be our top priority. After we excel at that, we can concentrate on making further contributions. The key to making those contributions in a healthy manner would be to communicate them in a positive way, not as complaints, but as ideas that you came up with, trying to make a positive impact on the company.</p><p>The thing is, once you've communicated those<a href="https://cheezburger.com/44754949/34-diy-project-ideas-to-do-when-your-feed-gets-boring" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> ideas</a>, there is nothing more you can really do, because your job is still being an employee, and you have no management responsibilities. So if some degree of injustice remains not being taken care of, sadly, you'll have to put up with it.</p><p>Of course, one can always look for another job if one's not aligned with the current company's values, but we all know how hard it is to find one that truly is aligned. In my opinion, we will always have to accept some things we don't like or don't agree with in our jobs.</p><p>Something that is, in fact, in our control is learning how to communicate those things in a way that causes no <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46287109/20-year-old-yells-at-64-year-old-assembly-line-coworker-for-disrespecting-her-on-the-job-she-told-my" target="_blank" rel="noopener">friction in the workplace</a>, and learning when not to communicate them at all.  If I had to help someone to learn to deal with feedback starting from scratch, I would suggest delaying the response.</p><p>The key is to remain silent when you're <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45655813/hr-accidentally-sends-entire-company-the-results-of-employees-engagement-survey-leading-all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">receiving feedback</a>, and then take your time to dissect it and process it on your own, so you'll be clearer when you give (or don't give) an answer.</p><p>What would you advise this employee to do?</p></div>

2026/8/12

New employee lets senior coworker take credit for his game-changing tool during his 90-day probation, watches him become the office "tech genius" and earn a 5% raise: ‘I haven't corrected anyone’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Doing the work and getting credit for it are, unfortunately, two very different things.</h2><p>Starting a new job is already stressful enough without watching someone else take credit for your work. One employee automated a painfully slow reporting process with a spreadsheet macro, only for the senior <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46355205/employee-refuses-to-cover-for-coworker-who-always-takes-long-lunches-coworker-blames-employee-when" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coworker </a>to train him to become the office "tech genius." Eight months later, that coworker has earned praise and a raise, and the real creator still hasn't said a word.</p><p>I was never a fan of those people who feel like they can do whatever they want with new <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45434885/coworker-continually-mispronounces-coworker-xaviers-name-refuses-to-learn-the-correct-pronounciation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">employees</a>. Yes, we all know that new members need training at first, and everything they do needs to be supervised. However, in this story we are talking about a guy who joined a distribution company, which some of their procedurees were long and not updated at all. Since he's good with computers, he invented a system that accelerates the process of how they would put data into an Excel spreadsheet every morning.</p><p>Marcus, the person who was assigned to his training, took full credit for this innovation and got praised by every management member of the company. Not only that, he got a raise and was invited to important meetings, where people were expecting to have his creative ideas for improving some other parts of the company. Since Marcus doesn't have any idea of how to do these things, he regularly asks the OP to solve the issues that come his way. </p><p>The OP has not corrected anyone nor spoken up about him being the one responsible for these advantages. Needless to say, I hope he ends up finding a way to get compensated for his good ideas and stop having Marcus be praised for things he doesn't know how to get done.</p></div>

2026/8/12

Company puts candidate through 9 interviews and a take-home assignment for a $120K-$160K job, then claims the salary was an "error" and offers $95K: ‘That number is insulting’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Nine interviews should lead to a job offer, not a surprise salary rewrite.</h2><p>Imagine clearing interview after interview, completing a major take-home assignment, and meeting roughly 25 people, only to discover the job you applied for apparently never existed as advertised. This <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45719301/hiring-managers-accidentally-send-post-interview-discussion-to-a-job-candidate-leading-candidate-to" target="_blank" rel="noopener">candidate </a>stuck through nine rounds for a role listed at $120K-$160K. After postponing the decision three times, the recruiter finally called with an "error": the real ceiling was just $95K.</p><p>We all know that the job market is crazy, and getting a <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45753861/interviewer-demands-candidate-arrive-for-the-job-interview-in-a-costume-forcing-candidate-to-pass-on" target="_blank" rel="noopener">well-paying job</a> nowadays seems like the most impossible thing ever. Companies know there're a lot of candidates out there, and not only take the time they need while assessing them, but they also play around with salary rates and benefits they can offer. This leaves every single interested candidate disappointed and very angry.</p><p>This exact thing happened to this OP, who decided that nine interviews with a potential company were going to get him a secure offer for sure. This position was not only right up his alley, but the salary rate was insane, and he was more than eager to land the job. However, things took and expected turn when, after the longest recruitment process ever, HR told him that the original $120K-$160K rate was going to be around $95K.</p><p>As we can all imagine, the candidate was absolutely angry and devastated, and confirmed how extreme the job market is right now. In other times, when people had more options as to where to find employment, companies were more respectful with time and were not as playful as they are now. We hope that this person can finally find a job that is willing to pay him what he deserves, and that he doesn't have to go through this process again without any more disappointment.</p></div>

2026/8/12

Employee considers leaving his job due to overly confident coworker’s attitude: ‘AI gives you generic answers based on patterns, and this guy takes those answers, shares them with us like they’re some groundbreaking strategy’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Some people really forgot what thinking is</h2><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/coworkerstories/comments/1vkicn5/anyone_else_have_that_one_coworker_who_makes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AI-generated ideas all sound the same</a>; it doesn't matter if they come from the free version of the LLM's or if they come from the most perfectly designed model to date, or whether you've prompted it to exhaustion. They sound bland and style-less, especially if you are looking for them to be creative.</p><p>AIs are really good at investigating or organizing your thoughts into outlines, for example, but even if you only use them for that, you still have to be very careful because they tend to make mistakes in sourcing, interpreting, and reasoning. You can totally use their output for a first draft, but you certainly have to check the sources and everything the AI has written, in search of errors and irregularities.</p><p>I've worked with design teams before, and when <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45774597/bride-refuses-to-play-mils-ai-generated-wedding-song-leaving-their-relationship-strained-days-before" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AI entered the picture</a>, things started getting a little more confusing. For example, yesterday, we were trying to develop a tagline for a campaign, and I noticed most of the ideas and copy were AI-generated, and the people who were pitching them really thought they were actively involved in the thought process with the LLM, when they actually only prompted it with a question for the model to solve.</p><p>So not only are people overusing AI, but they also think they are actively coming up with ideas when they are not. My point is that people can intuitively tell when an idea is generic and made by a bot, and that works to the disadvantage of what you want to communicate with the message you came up with by prompting the model. I believe people will naturally choose things they feel humane, no matter if they are a little bit more 'imperfect'.</p><p>At any rate, we've got a long way to go before most people catch up with that knowledge and stop favouring their <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45819397/30-year-old-woman-runs-out-of-the-headspace-she-needs-to-handle-the-jealousy-she-feels-towards-her" target="_blank" rel="noopener">'seemingly perfect' </a>bot's creations. If we have a job, we will most likely have at least one coworker we don't like, and we should consider ourselves lucky if it's just one, like it is for this employee.</p><p>Do you think he should leave in search of a <a href="https://cheezburger.com/44883973/main-character-coworker-tries-to-fit-into-new-work-environment-boss-calls-her-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">better work environment</a>?</p></div>

2026/8/12

Hotel guest complains to front desk employee that she wants to check in 11 hours early, the employee explained that’s not possible: ‘Girl, if you needed a room tonight then you should have booked tonight initially.’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Maybe book your room before you arrive at the destination.</h2><p>We always talk about <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46019589/entitled-guest-demands-a-room-after-being-kicked-out-of-another-hotel-by-the-police-for-pulling-the" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the entitlement that guests have</a> and the attitude they present towards the front desk employees who are just doing their job. As if they didn't care about how they are perceived by the people working there. It's fine if you don't care about what people think about you, but that isn't an excuse to behave poorly and to justify your lack of manners. Sometimes, with these stories, like <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk/comments/1vitknl/dont_tell_me_you_cant_wait_til_3pm_to_check_in/?share_id=nJ9kY95c-opQGu6TjxXF2&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the one below,</a> we concentrate too much on the entitlement. But there is something else that we can take away about situations like this one: the lack of thinking skills.</p><p>We usually think that the customer is demanding something outrageous or impossible because they believe they are entitled to an exception. And even though that may be the case, that isn't the only possibility. That customer could also not be thinking. That is why they are asking for the impossible: they think the impossible is actually possible. Let's take, as an example, this story. We have a woman demanding to check into a room before 3 pm.<a href="https://cheezburger.com/45950981/hotel-guest-accidentally-books-two-rooms-through-an-online-booking-site-then-blames-front-desk" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> The front desk employee </a>already explained that their policy says that check-ins are only available at 3, but the customer insists. We always assume they insist because they think they deserve the room anyway, and it may be true. But maybe she is demanding that room because her brain can't comprehend the fact that it is not possible.</p><p>The fact that customers aren't only entitled but also dumb would be a very rational explanation as to why employees keep getting involved in these kinds of situations. People don't think. They don't use their brains. That's why when they are denied what they want, they throw a temper tantrum. They think that is a way to solve their issue, when in reality, it is just making things worse over something that has no solution. So maybe we shouldn't be so hard on these types of customers. They may not be doing it on purpose. Maybe they just don't think. </p></div>

2026/8/12

Live-in caregiver is forced to give up her bedroom and cook for employer's unexpected guests as her duties suddenly expand: ‘This is more than what I agreed to’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Living where you work can make the line between employee and household member disappear dangerously fast.</h2><p>A live-in <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46165509/elderly-woman-fires-caregiver-for-using-her-washer-and-drying-to-do-her-personal-laundry-my-mother" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caregiver </a>moved far from home believing her job involved caring for one elderly woman, only to discover that unexpected houseguests apparently came with extra responsibilities. After being asked to surrender her bedroom, sleep elsewhere, and prepare meals for the visitors, she began wondering whether being accommodating had quietly turned into accepting duties she never agreed to perform.</p><p>I think live-in jobs can get complicated incredibly fast because your workplace is also the place where you're supposed to relax once you're done working. There's no commute home, no door to close behind you, and sometimes no obvious moment when you stop being an employee. That's exactly why having clear boundaries from the beginning seems even more important in situations like this.</p><p>What surprised me most here wasn't even that <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45995269/late-grandma-leaves-her-house-to-one-granddaughter-and-not-the-other-leading-to-a-dispute-between" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Grandma </a>had guests over. It's her home, so obviously she can invite people. The strange part was assuming that the caregiver's bedroom automatically became the guest room. She had moved far away specifically for this job, and that room was now where she kept her clothes, belongings, and basically her entire personal life. Asking her to suddenly relocate to a sofa feels like a pretty significant request.</p><p>Then there's the cooking situation. Making meals for the woman you're employed to care for is one thing; unexpectedly becoming responsible for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for additional adults is something completely different. One extra favor can easily become part of the routine when nobody says anything.</p><p>I probably would've agreed the first night too, simply because two strangers were already standing there with nowhere else to sleep. But night two? That's when I'd want my room back. Being flexible at work is great, but flexibility shouldn't mean discovering new responsibilities whenever someone rings the doorbell.</p></div>

2026/8/12

Is It Excessive for HR to Demand an Original Copy of a Job Candidate’s College Degree? Employees Discuss

<div class="ck-content"><h2>When you look for a job, you have to be prepared to answer some weird questions and comply with some weird requests.</h2><p>And if you really need a job, you might even agree to the weirdest ones. For some reason, hiring managers have no issue making their candidates jump through hoops for a simple job, all in the name of the excuse of wanting to find out who they are and how they would behave in a workplace.</p><p>Most requests actually make sense. As much as we hate it, we get why most job candidates have to complete an assignment as part of the hiring process, or even take a test. We can even excuse the 5 rounds of interviews if the role is something truly important. An honest conversation is not the worst thing someone can do to get a job.</p><p>But there are some requests <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46392837/boss-demands-full-return-to-office-resulting-in-his-best-employee-refusing-to-do-more-than-the" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that are simply red flags</a>, a big flashing sign that says "warning, you do not want to work with these people." When that happens, the last thing you should do is comply with this request. You are better off without a job than working for people who feel comfortable coming to you with these unreasonable asks.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/ManagedByNarcissists/comments/1vg2ujf/is_hr_demand_for_an_original_copy_of_my_degree/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The HR here</a>, for example, asked a job candidate to bring her the original copy of their college degree, which many agree is not something commonly asked as part of a hiring process. If a hiring manager wants to verify a candidate's education, there are ways to do that, but asking for the original copy is not one of them.</p><p>Since the request sounded off for the job candidate, they decided to do some digging and see if they should simply comply or give up on the job altogether. When people found out that the job is a minimum wage job, they agreed that something is fishy. Eventually, the candidate confronted HR about it, which led to the whole deal crumbling to the ground…</p></div>

2026/8/12

Frustrated Ex-Remote Worker, Who Was Forced to Work From the Office 3 Days a Week in Return-to-Office Mandate, Demands Their Employer Cover Their Cost of Commuting—Employer’s Response Offers Little to Help: ‘It Costs Me 90 Minutes a Day and $190 a Month'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Culturally, a commute was something that we had come to accept as a part of our working lives. But now, does the workforce accept commuting as a "requirement"? Or do we take exception to that idea?</h2><p><i>This employee shared how they went to HR and demanded they be compensated for their time and cost of commuting into the office after their employer pushed a Return to Office mandate that forced them into the office 3 days a week, where they had previously been employed as full-time remote.</i></p><p> </p><p>It's funny that commuting started off as a positive thing for workers who, in the 1880s after the first wave of the Industrial Revolution, were finally able to separate their lives from the dismal, soot-covered industrial sectors where they worked. This must have been, literally, a breath of fresh air for them and their families, as they were now able to take a horse-drawn streetcar and, later, a steam train or cable car, to their work and then home again. They didn't have to spend their entire lives among the pollution, now only their working hours. And their families no longer had to go to these areas at all, making a better future for their children.</p><p>We now know worker mass transit today simply as "commuting." And while commuting from a comfortable suburb into the city still presents a lifestyle choice, we now bear the cost of that choice begrudgingly and with frustration. </p><p>We now associate commuting, not with the opportunity to be further away from our work and where we do it, but as a major inconvenience. All that time you could be at home with your family, instead spent cramped on a bus or subway full of complete strangeers doing our best not to make eye contact, or sitting in gridlocked traffic as all the drivers around us lay into their horns like a scream into the void, while also trying not to make eye conactFor years, the workforce, namely those with jobs on laptops, shifting cells in spreadsheets and flinging emails onto the next person's inbox.</p><p>But parents will make the sacrifice this time and sanity for the quiet, boring, predictable security of the suburbs for their families.</p></div>

2026/8/12

Boss tells employee that they need to cut the amount of PTO they take even though, according to his contract, he is allowed however much he wants: ‘I’ve taken 8.5 PTO days- one of the lowest on my team.’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Why would they say they offer <a href="https://cheezburger.com/44539653/disgruntled-employees-discuss-the-fallacy-that-is-unlimited-pto-its-only-unlimited-pto-on-paper" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unlimited PTO</a> if they are going to make a fuss over 8 days?</h2><p>Why would someone <a href="https://cheezburger.com/39216389/worker-calls-out-due-to-daughters-meltdown-boss-replies-no-with-no-further-explanation-my-job-offers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offer as a job perk</a> the fact that the employee would have the pleasure of enjoying as much PTO as they want as long as they have left everything in order before leaving, only to then call out the employee who uses it? This is either some horrible organization on the company's part, or some problem between coworkers. I could think of only three possible explanations for what happened in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/corporate/comments/1vevl1r/was_told_i_was_using_too_much_pto/?share_id=3rYugC8gxnQbbiS3ivMxG&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the story below</a>.</p><p>Firstly, an employee complained that this employee was taking too much time off and leaving projects incomplete, which, according to the same employee, is not true, as he has been taking care of everything before leaving every time. Secondly, it could be something from upper management because they are using this perk an extreme amount, forbidding other employees from taking time off as they are always leaving. Which, according to this employee, is also not possible, as he has only taken 8.5 days off. Lastly, it could be performance-wise. Basically, the employee is not excelling at his job, so there is no value in keeping him if he's not bringing great value and is also taking this much time off.</p><p>Truth is, the last option is the only one the employee didn't explain. So I would believe that is probably the reason why he's getting called out. He just took a couple of days, and he may be making sure that he has completed everything before leaving. But maybe, and just maybe, he's not great, or at least not great enough, to be taking PTO time off every chance he has. Sometimes we get great benefits in a job, but that doesn't mean that we can always enjoy them. If we are not core employees, we are probably going to get called out about things that others aren't. That's how corporate works. In this case, I would advise this employee to make sure that he proves his value at his job before requesting any other time off. </p></div>

2026/8/12

64-year-old baby boomer loses job after refusing to learn new software that his company gave him 3 months to learn: 'He’s telling people he’s retiring early.'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>What did he think was going to happen? </h2><p>We become much <a href="https://cheezburger.com/19925509/wholesome-old-people-facebook-posts-that-prove-not-all-boomers-are-bad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less adaptable</a> as we age. We not only don't want to learn new things, but we also get worse at learning them because our brains have less elasticity. If someone has worked hard for their whole career, they might feel they don't need to learn any new skills once they're a couple of years out from retirement, because they don't think their company will fire someone about to retire. If you're a valuable member of your team who provides services that nobody else could do better, you might be right. But if you're just some <a href="https://cheezburger.com/35353349/bring-back-laptops-with-dvd-players-millennials-gen-xers-and-gen-zers-share-their-most-boomer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bitter old boomer</a> who doesn't do what you're supposed to do at your job, you shouldn't be surprised when your boss slips you a pink slip. </p><p>The boomer dad in this story was shocked to be fired, but he really shouldn't have been. He refused to learn the new software, despite having a coworker teaching him exactly what to do. </p></div>

2026/8/12

Ohio firm sues a former employee for $3,000 over a training repayment clause tied to basic onboarding videos and PDFs: ‘This cannot be how the system is supposed to work’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Workplaces love acting like they're offering "development" when what they really mean is a mildly expensive obstacle course</h2><p>That's the scheme here. Companies hand over a stack of onboarding nonsense, bury one ugly little clause inside it, and later act like they loaned out a private tutor from the Harvard of printer maintenance. It's the same energy as a sketchy gym charging a cancellation fee because someone walked past the treadmill and read the sign. The paper trail is the product. The training is just the excuse.</p><p>This lucky employee was fortunate enough to lay eyes on a few stale videos, a PDF nobody would choose to read for fun, and maybe a slideshow with the charisma of a DMV chair. Then, somehow, that gets dressed up as specialized instruction worth real money. Sure. Everything makes sense here.</p></div>

2026/8/12

Father's ex-wife ignores property for 42 years, then resurfaces when his child tries to sell and demands half: ‘She’s never paid taxes on it’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>When 42 years of silence suddenly comes with a price tag.</h2><p>Selling an inherited <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46183685/neighbor-costs-landowner-the-sale-of-his-15-acre-north-alabama-property-when-he-confronts-buyers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">property </a>should have been the final step after probate, but an old name on the deed changed everything. The owner's ex-wife, absent from the property since their 1984 divorce, was contacted during a quiet title action and quickly demanded half its value. Now, a decades-old technicality could stand between the heir and the sale altogether.</p><p>There is something uniquely frustrating about discovering that paperwork from decades ago can suddenly become today's problem. You can inherit a property, complete probate, find a willing buyer, and assume the complicated part is behind you. Then one forgotten name on a deed turns what seemed like a straightforward sale into a legal headache with roots dating back to 1984.</p><p>What makes this situation particularly interesting is the timing. According to the heir, his father's ex-wife hadn't lived there, paid the <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45954565/neighbor-demands-homeowners-delay-fence-construction-after-learning-part-of-his-sprinkler-system-is" target="_blank" rel="noopener">property </a>taxes, or otherwise shown any interest in the land for 42 years. Yet once she was contacted because of the quiet title action, she allegedly wanted half the property's value. That's one dramatic way for an old relationship to make a comeback.</p><p>Of course, feeling that someone doesn't deserve money and determining whether they legally own part of a property are two very different questions. Her absence alone doesn't necessarily settle what her name on the deed means, which is exactly why having an attorney involved matters here.</p><p>Still, from the heir's perspective, the whole thing must feel surreal. His father passed away, he went through probate, and he finally arranged a sale. Instead of closing, he ended up dealing with someone from his father's marriage more than four decades ago. Some family history apparently comes with very persistent paperwork.</p></div>

2026/8/12

Boss demands full return to office, resulting in his best employee refusing to do more than the minimum 9-5: ‘Flexibility works both ways'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Why do bosses expect the maximum out of employees when they refuse to give the maximum in return?</h2><p>In case someone forgot, employment works both ways. The need for a job to be done comes from the employee and the employer alike. Sure, an employee needs the job because they need the money, but no one would have been willing to pay money if they didn't need someone to actually do the job. So why do employers <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46377733/boss-demands-employee-alter-clients-invoices-to-falsely-overcharge-them-employee-refuses-reports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">act like they don't need good employees</a> as much as good employees need them?</p><p>Once employers started looking at employment as a two-way street, they might realise that if they expect their workers to care about the job, they should show the same amount of care to their workers. Think about it: the only employees who truly go above and beyond in their job are the ones who really like their workplace, and how can one like a workplace when it does not treat you right?</p><p>That is the major reason for the shift that <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/managers/comments/1vk8jku/best_employee_is_fighting_back_against_rto/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">happened in this workplace. </a>Up until now, employees were shown full trust, never having their hours recorded, and granted the option to work from home for two days a week. Then, a new director showed up, who decided to institute many changes in the company, including a demand for a full return to the office 5 days a week.</p><p>No more flexibility for the employees led the star worker to show no flexibility on his side too. This meant that he went from being the guy who always showed initiative, stayed late, was always the one his boss could count on, to the guy who arrives every day at exactly 9 AM and leaves at exactly 5 PM, and never does anything that's beyond his job description. Why should he give his above and beyond when the company doesn't do the same for him?</p><p>Since he isn't doing anything wrong, his boss can't blame him for anything, but that doesn't mean that he will be around for much longer. What does that mean? Keep reading to find out.</p></div>

2026/8/11

Aunt refuses to co-sign on her niece’s student loans after her parents were denied for their over 100K debt and awful credit score: ‘I don't think that her education costs are our responsibility.’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Money issues between family members sound like a horrible idea.</h2><p>Why would <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45268741/mother-in-law-dumps-7-year-old-dog-with-daughter-in-law-because-of-financial-problems-then-buys-a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">someone's financial problems</a> be another person's responsibility? The idea of a student loan is to manage the burden that it would cause to the family by delaying the payment of education till the student starts working a full-time job and can actually afford it. Of course, it would be better not to have to depend on something like this. But the truth is that as tuition has become more and more expensive, most students nowadays need them. They are the thing that defines whether or not they attend university and receive the education they want. They have become so valuable that the idea of not receiving that support terrifies families and causes severe anxiety.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/1vhe4kc/aita_for_not_cosigning_my_nieces_student_loans/?share_id=MHGPy36CxJ64MdZjJt2V3&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In the story below</a>, we encounter a student whose parents not only cannot afford tuition at all, but they are also unable to get approved as cosigners for student loans due to their poor credit score and their high debt. This causes them to resort to their families for some support. They aren't asking them for any financial help, such as direct money or deposits. But they are trying to convince a family member to be the cosigner, as they are unfit. In the agreement of someone lies the educational future of their daughter.</p><p>When this aunt gets asked to do this, she starts to feel pressure because the reality of all this is that, even though they aren't asking her to give them money directly, they are expecting her to <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46248197/18-year-old-teenager-with-a-14-an-hour-salary-has-to-take-care-of-the-car-payment-their-parents-got" target="_blank" rel="noopener">make a financial commitment</a> that, if it goes wrong, she would have to pay for. Is an immense risk, and she isn't sure she wants to commit to something like this. The position she is in right now is uncomfortable, as she said no, and now her family is mad at her. But what would you do? It's an incredible risk that I wouldn't dare to take part in at all. She would have her finances depending on the responsibility of a teenager who was never taught by her parents how to manage her finances. It seems like more of a risk than a way of helping out her niece. </p></div>

2026/8/11

Employee asks for tips to overcome the bad feeling from a soul-sucking 9-5 job: ‘I end up rotting away in bed, doom scrolling on TikTok and Instagram reels because I finally feel let go from the chains of an 8-hour office day.’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Tips on how to unsuck your soul</h2><p>Having <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45140741/25-silly-spongebob-memes-for-goofy-goobers-who-work-9-5s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a 9-5 </a>can drain you if you don't know how to handle it; you can spend your entire life stuck inside that loop, so it's mandatory to search for alternatives to make your life enjoyable again.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/office/comments/1vhm6b5/mondayfriday_830am430pm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Some jobs are too tiring</a>, and the only alternative is to change, but other jobs are ok, and what needs changing is our routine or our attitude for the rest of the day.</p><p>For example, if I get out of work and take a nap, I'll run out of energy and mess up my entire schedule; I have to control myself, so I don't do it. And if I don't keep my house tidy or my plates clean, I also run out of energy, so aside from work, it's good to get those things out of the way quickly, so I have energy to do something else after work.</p><p>Ideally, <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45705221/sisters-boyfriend-refuses-to-help-with-household-chores-even-though-he-sleeps-in-the-house-7-days-a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">household chores</a> shouldn't keep you from enjoying your free time. The solution to this problem, for me, is to get them done very quickly, at a specific moment of the day, so they don't take up much of your time. I put on a podcast and try to have fun while I clean or cook, so that when I get off work, I can focus on things I actually enjoy.</p></div>

2026/8/11

Business Owner Threatens to Assign Volunteers to Work His Private Event on a Saturday if His Employees Don't Willingly Volunteer: 'We Don't Work Saturdays.'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Would you volunteer to work on your day off if it meant you got paid more? </h2><p>Every employee has different priorities. Some employees would work every single day if it meant they were <a href="https://cheezburger.com/44981253/21-payday-memes-that-will-make-you-feel-like-a-millionaire-for-five-minutes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">getting paid more</a>, because they're trying to save as much money as humanly possible to achieve their life goals. Other employees will only do the bare minimum required of them because they value their time outside of work more than making as much money as possible. Any normal employer understands that most of their employees will be in the latter category. They do their work, they go home, and they don't do extra work until they're back in the office the next day. Unless you're paying your employees an exorbitant amount of money, you really cannot expect much more from them than that. Unless you tell them from the beginning that they'll have to work nights and weekends, you shouldn't expect them to do so for little or no extra money. </p><p>The employee in this story is annoyed that he is <a href="https://cheezburger.com/43098373/i-am-not-free-labor-data-analyst-gets-voluntold-to-be-the-new-unpaid-morale-lead-for-hrs-offices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">being voluntold</a> to work on a Saturday. It would be different if he had a shift at his company on Saturday, but he doesn't. His boss wants him to work a private event at the office. Because none of the employees are volunteering to do it, the boss is threatening to assign the volunteers himself. This sounds like a great place to work at…not!</p></div>

2026/8/11

'It all started when...': Pour a dash of these laughs into your morning coffee for extra energy (August 11, 2026)

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Do you have your memes in a row for the workweek ahead?</h2><p>Or wait, is the saying with ducks? Ducks, memes, whatever- are you ready? I sure am. I always have my memes in a row before the start of my workweek. I wouldn't be able to survive the capitalist wheel if I didn't! Your boss doesn't want you to know this one trick: Meme on the company dime. Why send a regular 'ole "circling back" email when you can send a meme of a dog chasing its tail? It basically means the same thing. And it makes you seem like a chill af coworker. Who doesn't want to be the chill coworker? Even if you're a manager, in fact, even more important for a manager! You have to meme to be understood and respected. </p><p>Then again, I work for and about the <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46332677/it-all-started-when-pour-a-dash-of-these-laughs-into-your-morning-coffee-for-extra-energy-august-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memes</a>, so maybe my office dynamics are different than most… You might as well try it though! Even if it just gets your office bestie to LOL during the 9am meeting, it's worth the meme. Memes are like a little bit of PTO during your day. You can't take another week off because you used all of your PTO, and sickdays… But your boss can't stop you from scrolling on your computer as you go about your day. How do they even know what you're scrolling through? Maybe it's through the email chain with Karen from marketing or something. </p><p>Whatever kind of office dynamic you have every day, may it be filled with memes. Here is a whole quarterly report's worth of them for you and your coworker to LOL to. </p></div>

2026/8/11

Coworker calls out colleague for wearing the same outfit every day: 'She's mentally still stuck in middle school'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Is it wrong to wear the same thing to work every day?</h2><p>Some people value simplicity in their lives. If they can automate something, they will. There are lots of ways to do this in your day-to-day life. Maybe you have a go-to breakfast that you eat every day during the week. You don't change it up, and it's one less decision you have to make in the course of a day. Maybe you have a specific schedule that you keep for exercising. You know if you deviate from it, everything will <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46369541/employee-loses-new-job-after-4-days-when-they-complain-about-their-pto-policy-they-were-unwilling-to" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fall apart</a>, and you'll be completely thrown off of your rhythm. Sometimes it's easier just to make a decision in advance, so you simplify your life in the moment. Another great way to do this is through your choice of wardrobe. Sometimes, when you wake up in the morning, the last thing you want to do is pick out an outfit. You're feeling uninspired, and like you don't own anything that you want to wear. But you know that certain things just look good on you. You can't usually go wrong with a button-down and jeans. If you choose to wear this every day of your life, then that's one less decision you have to make in<a href="https://cheezburger.com/46362373/employee-is-laid-off-with-no-severance-then-asked-to-complete-a-work-project-for-free-i-had-asked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> the morning</a>. Plus it gives you an air of eccentricity. Some of our most ingenious leaders have done this. It certainly isn't something that you have to make fun of somebody for.</p></div>

2026/8/11

Relentless coworker demands employee move out of “her seat” in break room, despite knowing there are no assigned seats, employee firmly refuses: ‘You don't own it’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>"Just because you usually sit somewhere doesn't mean you own the chair, Jasmine."</h2><p>Everywhere you go, there are seats, and people who use those seats. In school, every student had a chair and desk in the classroom, and a place to sit at lunch. In cafes, restaurants, and libraries, people find a comfortable place to sit and do whatever it is they came to do. There are chairs everywhere, and we all share them. </p><p>There isn't a single place we can think of, other than someone's home, that grants someone the option to claim a seat as their own. The world isn't divided into assigned seats, and unless you bought the chair, you have no claim to it, and should expect others to abide by rules you made up in your head.</p><p>That is what we would have said to the coworker below, called Jasmine, who for some reason thought she owed 2 of the 5 chairs in her workplace's break room. </p><p>It is one thing to claim ownership of a work desk and chair, which we can understand why some people prefer to assign. But the seating in a break room is open for all; no one can claim they have a bigger right to sit in one of them than someone else. The fact that Jasmine decided she owns not one, but two seats in the office she worked at is truly baffling, and we were even more baffled to learn that she actually came up to one employee and demanded they move.</p><p>The first time she did it, the employee decided it was not worth the argument and moved. But when she came up to the same employee for the second time and asked them to move out of a completely different seat, the employee decided enough is enough. She doesn't own the seat; she has no right to demand it, and it's time she knows it.</p></div>

2026/8/11

‘What is a secret about the industry that you work in that customers shouldn’t know?’: Employees share the secrets that nobody knows about the industry they work in, and that would change the customer experience completely.

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Industry secrets? I'm always in for this gossip…</h2><p>When you start <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46249989/these-are-the-industries-and-professions-that-are-struggling-more-than-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">working in an industry</a>, you end up discovering things you never expected to know in the first place. It happened to me. I remember when I started working with <a href="https://cheezburger.com/10646857728/the-insurance-is-paid-up" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an insurance company,</a> an industry I knew absolutely nothing about. I started with some training that gave me a general idea of what insurance was and how it worked, especially what payments were attached to it. But when I started to actually work, I ended up discovering so much more. How it was managed, how people were paying for it, what it covered. I even learned about state laws and permits. I went from 0 to 100 in almost no time. It was insane.<br><br>This wasn't particularly useful for me per se, but I realized that because of reading insurance documents all the time, I now knew how to read other relevant documents and how to look for the information I needed in no time. I also learned how to get to a real person when calling other insurance companies in no time, which was the most useful thing of all. Nowadays, I can call whatever company number and go through their IVR system in two seconds to get to the real person. I also practiced so much math that I can do calculations quicker.</p><p>I believe you learn useful stuff at every job, and when I say everyone, I mean it. You may think that being a server you will just learn how to deal with people, but the truth is you will probably also learn about food, cooking methods, and even etiquette. So if you want to learn more about other industries, especially the secrets they hold that can make your experience as a customer a 100 times better, then read <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1vh8ty0/what_is_a_secret_about_the_industry_you_work_in/?share_id=Bcanyh8pHpXI44POVf9fK&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the thread below</a> for some juicy gossip. </p></div>

2026/8/11

Woman teaches instant karma after returning $500 worth of goods on the spot when she was wrongfully accused of stealing: 'That's the consequence…'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Do you answer when karma calls?</h2><p>There is a reason John Lennon wrote a song called "Instant Karma." Receiving the consequences of your actions immediately isn't a bad thing, even though it might feel like it in the moment. It is a valuable life lesson. Sometimes you are the one helping the universe to give out karma, and other times you are the one getting the lesson. It's nothing to squander! </p><p>Take <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1vknya8/empty_my_shopping_bag_sure_thing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this shopper</a>, for instance; she went out to do some much-needed shopping. A day to herself to get all of the things she's been putting off on her shopping list. Finally, she's made it to the store. However, she notices a young employee following her around. She was curious about it, but didn't pay too much mind to it. She even tried to ask them for some assistance while shopping, but they sheepishly avoided her. Again, she paid it no mind and continued her shopping. </p><p>She checked out, spent around $500, and started to leave. That is when she was stopped. The employee who had been following her around demanded she empty out her purse. She was wearing a tiny purse at the time, so she thought they were kidding at first, but nope. The situation escalated, and she decided to empty her bag. Of course, no stolen goods were in there, and the employee tried to walk away from the <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46388997/live-in-caregiver-is-forced-to-give-up-her-bedroom-and-cook-for-employers-unexpected-guests-as-her" target="_blank" rel="noopener">situation</a>. </p><p>However, she was not about to let this judgmental employee get away without any consequences. </p></div>

2026/8/11

24-year-old woman discovers her 60-year-old neighbor has been running an extension cord to her outlet to power her own air conditioning units amid the latest heatwave: 'She runs 2 ACs in her trailer, a large industrial fan, all her lights are always on'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>After repeated electrical overloads prevented her from properly cooling her bedroom, a 24-year-old tenant disconnected her neighbor's unsafe extension cord and locked access to her assigned outlet. But the move left he wondering whether or not she had done the right thing since it left her 60-year-old neighbor effectively without power.</h2><p>Heat waves make people do some pretty crazy things. And are well known for bringing simmering neighborly tensions to a boiling point. </p><p>A 24-year-old tenant discovered that her neighbor, a woman over 60, had been using an extension cord. The neighbor was running two air conditioners and an industrial fan, along with her indoor and outdoor lighting. The additional power demand on her own circuit left the tenant with too little power to cool more than a small section of her bedroom during this latest round of hot weather. She wanted to help the 60-year-old woman out and asked the neighbor several times to reduce her electricity use and only keep necessary devices to keep the circuit from overloading.</p><p>When I first read her account of events, I thought there was something wrong with the neighbor's utility connection, but after rereading the original post, it appears that the issue with the neighbor's own utility connection only came AFTER the tenant had locked her out of her own utility box. So this really just leads me to believe that the whole thing was really just about stealing her power in the first place and tricking the tenant into playing for her power, or just hoping that she would be too much of a pushover to say or do anything about, as she had until this point. </p><p>Dealing with extreme temperatures within your home and not being able to do anything to escape it becomes a concern. But I don't think that <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45984773/careless-guy-wastes-energy-by-leaving-the-window-open-and-the-ac-on-during-a-heatwave-his-roommate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the hot weather was the</a> neighbor's primary concern. While it's important to be neighborly and help people when you can, this has well-past escalated to the point where it's the landlord's responsibility to do something about this. </p><p>I think it's pretty safe to say the tenant, the woman who shared <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AITAH/comments/1vjbl3y/aitah_for_shutting_off_my_neighbors_electricity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this story</a> with an online community, isn't in the wrong. But by no means does that make anything about this situation acceptable.  </p></div>

2026/8/11

Woman decides to opt out of a 40-year-old friend's birthday as it's camping, the birthday girl then wanted to do a dinner at a restaurant to celebrate, but the woman already had plans: 'She’s upset that I’m prioritizing my “ex-boyfriend” over her.'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>You only turn 40 once, or that's the saying, I guess…</h2><p>I find it a little weird when people plan a birthday trip or weekend. It gives a little bit of <a href="https://cheezburger.com/44066565/15-main-characters-who-got-instant-karma-she-thought-management-would-beg-her-to-stay-she-thought" target="_blank" rel="noopener">main character syndrome</a>. But I guess it could be a nice thing to do with a group of friends and use it as an excuse to travel or do something fun, like camping. But when you organize something like this, you have to be conscious that some people may not go either because they can't take a full weekend off, because it's expensive, or even because they don't want to spend such a long time with your friends who aren't them. In the case of <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AITAH/comments/1vgbrl0/aitah_for_making_other_plans_on_my_close_friends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the story below</a>, it had a little of everything. This user didn't like the idea of camping at all, so when she got the invitation, she thanked her friend but advised her she wasn't attending.</p><p>That was always a possibility: <a href="https://cheezburger.com/40481029/27-year-old-new-mom-refuses-to-miss-out-on-her-first-mothers-day-refuses-to-attend-husbands-birthday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">people not attending</a>, and when you plan something like this, you have to take it into account and understand it. It's a part of it. But then the story goes on. This birthday girl decided to add a new plan, going out to dinner with her two friends who aren't attending the camping trip. It sounds nice, but in reality, it became kind of a last-minute compromise they were obliged to attend because of denying the camping invitation. Truth is, this restaurant is quite expensive, and this user already had plans of going to it that same day with her boyfriend –they are on a little break, but they are still going to dinner for his birthday.</p><p>All this started a whole drama. The birthday girl was mad for different reasons. Firstly, her friends weren't coming to the camping trip, and it bothered her. Secondly, she wanted to have dinner to compensate, and one of her friends is opting out because she has plans with her "ex-boyfriend". And lastly, that same friend isn't accepting of coming to the camping trip so they can at least celebrate together. In this case, I won't tell you which side you should be, is up to you, reader. What would you do? Cancel the boyfriend's dinner and do the friend's one? Go on the camping trip? Don't go anyway and celebrate later on? </p></div>

2026/8/11

Return-To-Office Mandate Forces Employees Into the Office 4 Days a Week for “Collaboration” Following Years of Remote Work, But All Meetings Are Still Online Anyways—Then the Company Fires Half the Team and Remaining Employees Get 2 Times the Workload

<div class="ck-content"><h2>A company forced employees back into the office, laid off half of the department, and then doubled the survivors' workloads without raising their pay.</h2><p>Since the Return to Office (RTO) mandate trend started to pick up steam in late 2022, it has long been theorized that these were just thinly veiled layoffs, designed to single out those who wouldn't (or couldn't) return to the office before assessing what other cuts needed to be made. Over time, as more companies adopted this new "trend," more and more employees who had been enjoying the benefits of working from home for years were suddenly faced with an unpleasant awakening.</p><p>The employee in this story shared how their company ordered remote employees back to the office four days per week, claiming that in-person work would improve collaboration and help teams work faster. Employees faced long commutes while daily meetings continued on Teams anyway because staff were spread between multiple offices. One month later, the company laid off roughly half of the employees' department with little warning.</p><p>We'll take a look at this original story that an employee shared about their company's RTO mandate that was then followed by layoffs, then we'll talk about the trends that influenced this before ending by looking at some of the advice that was shared in the original thread. </p></div>

2026/8/11

21-year-old woman throws away the stuff her roommate brought to the house without asking: ‘She started bringing home straight-up trash, for lack of better words. It felt like the apartment was the thrift store.’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>When cohabitation is too hard</h2><p>Having roommates must be one of the most <a href="https://cheezburger.com/9784530944/looks-challenging" target="_blank" rel="noopener">challenging experiences</a> one can have. I've had many roommate experiences, and whether the person is your best friend, a random stranger, a coworker, or whoever you can imagine, living together is tough. It doesn't matter if you are both organized or clean; maybe you fold laundry in a way that makes your roommate mad. You can't escape making the other person uncomfortable, somehow, with something you might deem normal.</p><p>Of course, real virtue lies in being fair, patient, and forgiving even when we're annoyed, but many things that happen in roommates' experiences are far from virtuous. That said, throwing away other people's things, even if we don't like them or consider them trash, is never ok. What struck me the most was that when<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AITAH_unfiltered/comments/1vhoj8a/aitah_for_throwing_away_my_roommates_stuff/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> this roomie</a> described the objects the other woman brought home, she wasn't describing actual trash.</p><p>She wasn't throwing away plastic wraps, napkins, receipts, or dirt; she was throwing away wall art, knick-knacks, and vases. You are allowed not to like them, but you definitely shouldn't throw them away without her permission. I wonder what she would do if her roomie threw away her decoration elements.</p><p>I understand that extreme times require extreme measures; I've done ridiculous things myself in roommate situations, but I believe she has now unlocked the door to more chaos, and things are probably going to get worse. Do you think she has a chance to fix things, or is it already <a href="https://cheezburger.com/10589644544/too-late" target="_blank" rel="noopener">too late</a>?</p></div>

2026/8/11

HR reprimands warehouse workers for talking while forcing them to do pointless team-building games: ‘Hooray. I can't wait to have my numbers dip because of bean bag toss day, then get asked why’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>HR has turned a chill warehouse into a bizarre mix of punishment and summer camp, with daily scoldings for talking and mandatory parking-lot games on the clock</h2><p>Workplace nonsense like this makes you wonder whether management is trying to improve morale or just invent new ways to waste it. The job itself sounds monotonous but survivable: pack goofy little products, keep your head down, and let the day move. That worked fine when the place had a "just do your work, and nobody bothers you" vibe. Then the expansion hit, and suddenly someone decided a warehouse needed both a pep rally and a boot camp.</p><p>Even for me,  a guy looking for comedy anywhere, that's where the comedy here turns sour. HR keeps bringing in people who don't stick, the aisles get packed, the mistakes pile up, and then everyone gets lectured like they personally engineered the chaos. Nothing kills team spirit faster than being blamed for the consequences of bad hiring. It's like getting yelled at because someone invited thirty cousins to a one-bedroom apartment and then acted shocked there was no room to breathe.</p></div>

2026/8/11

Remote employee making $75K considers rejecting a senior job offer where he'd make $105K: 'It's 5 days in the office, a 45-minute commute, and obviously comes with a lot more responsibility.'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Which would you choose?</h2><p style="margin-left:0px;">A few short years ago, I thought that <a href="https://cheezburger.com/44435205/company-allows-high-performing-employees-to-work-from-home-forces-everyone-to-return-to-office-when" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u>remote work</u></a> was here to stay. Nearly every white-collar employee in the world got a taste of one of the perks usually reserved for the upper crust, and I didn't think they'd let it go easily. Companies only allowed remote work for all their employees because they had no other choice, given the state of the world at the time. These days, remote work has returned to being a luxury. Many employees are holding onto their remote positions for dear life because they know they won't be able to find a new one in 2026. Unfortunately, if you're not independently wealthy and have to work a job for a living, you still have to do what your boss says. If your boss wants you to come into the office, there's really not much you can do about it. </p><p style="margin-left:0px;">For some employees, a return to the office makes more sense. Some people work much better when they have to be accountable for showing up at an office every day of the week. If their entire team is in the office and needs to talk to each other throughout the day in a series of meetings, being in the same room helps <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45377797/100-remote-worker-forced-to-return-to-office-3x-per-week-considers-switching-jobs-i-genuinely-dont" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u>build rapport</u></a>, making the work easier and better. If you're starting in your career, you will get more out of being around your coworkers and mentors than someone who is going to retire in the next ten years. The young guy in this story has the chance to make a big career change, but he is hesitating because he's nervous about letting go of his WFH position. </p></div>

2026/8/10

Hotel guest mistreats front desk employee after he incorrectly booked a room with a 3rd-party website and treated badly every employee who tried to help him: ‘You people keep saying 3rd-party, what is that? What’s the other 2 parties?’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>It's one thing to pick a fight with a front desk employee, but picking a fight with the entire staff seems a bit excessive.</h2><p>Sometimes people are just insanely lost. When you are <a href="https://cheezburger.com/43898885/customer-service-employee-figures-out-the-perfect-way-to-handle-entitled-customers-simply-by-echoing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">working in customer service</a>, you are aware of the fact that not every customer is going to be nice. You even know that they aren't always going to have manners either. It's something that you either accept from the beginning or learn to accept over time. You even stop expecting it from customers, and when they do act kindly and correctly, it's the highlight of your day. Is usual to encounter people who are angry about something that you don't even know about, and they will expect you to fix it and blame you for it. That is the norm, so you accept it.</p><p>When you get a customer who acts like the one in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk/comments/1vdzjhg/what_is_the_1st_2nd_and_3rd_party/?share_id=lfiMVHq1uXkahUwv_-cWS&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the story below</a>, you aren't surprised about it. You kinda accept it and try to de-escalate the situation as much as you can so we can avoid having to involve managers. When you see something like a previous communication the customer had to the place in the system where they describe them as unable to be helped or too angry to listen. Internally, you panic a bit. As if it was already setting you up for disappointment. You already knew the customer was going to be hard to manage, but the fact that the previous person had to give up is too much. The original problem escalated a ton. But there isn't much you can do. You still have to deal with them and do your best to not only help them but also calm them.</p><p>The hardest thing is when you realize that you've been talking for a long time and the conversation has stopped being useful. You are just two people discussing (one obviously shouting and sometimes even<a href="https://cheezburger.com/45411077/boomer-throws-temper-tantrum-at-retail-store-after-fellow-shopper-tells-her-hes-not-an-employee" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> throwing a temper tantrum</a>), going exactly nowhere. This person is not going to accept that the reason he's mad is his fault and that you cannot help him. So that's when you have to give up. The fight is lost. You either call security, refuse service, or call a manager. But you are done. And it's hard to accept, but you can't deal forever with a stubborn customer who couldn't even express himself nicely. <br> </p></div>

2026/8/10

Married couple of 8 years get offended when their single friend refuses to ask them for dating advice and goes to another single friend instead: ‘Their relationship is not one that I would want for myself’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Do you ask your married friends or single friends for dating advice? </h2><p>Either of them can help in different circumstances, so it depends on who you trust the most, and if your friends' marriage is actually successful.</p><p>A young woman shared on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AITAH/comments/1vbitll/aitah_for_telling_a_married_couple_that_i_dont/"><u>r/AITAH</u></a> that she doesn't really trust her married friends to ask them for dating advice. The couple has been together for eight years. They met in high school and never dated anyone else. That is not a bad thing in and of itself, but they don't seem to have the healthiest of relationships. Besides, they've been together since they were teenagers and have no idea what it's like to date when you're an adult. That was this woman's reasoning, but she didn't want to say it to their face because she thought it might be hurtful. Instead, she went ahead and asked a different friend. When the couple found out, they felt offended and insisted that she tell them why she hadn't asked them. She finally did, and they got <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46321669/woman-travelling-to-another-country-gets-offended-after-college-friend-refuses-to-let-her-stay-at" target="_blank" rel="noopener">even more offended. </a></p><p>The thing is, each and every one of us has the right to ask for advice from whomever we deem worthy of giving it. A person who hasn't been on a date since the early to mid 2000s has no idea what the dating world has become now and what it has to offer. Besides, if one wants to get married and enjoy a healthy relationship with a spouse, we most likely won't take advice from people who don't seem to be happy together or even respect one another. </p><p>No one should give unwanted advice over a matter that is none of their business and haven't been consulted about. Even between friends, there are boundaries we all respect and that allow us to maintain a nice, healthy bond with the people we love. When we are asked for advice, we give it happily. When a friend chooses to go to somebody else, <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46294789/tattoo-shop-disrespects-a-customers-time-by-scheduling-an-appointment-then-making-them-wait-two-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener">we respect </a>their decision and support them the best we can.</p></div>

2026/8/10

Boss faces dilemma when bad employee asks for reference: 'They do the bare minimum'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Being a manager can sometimes be uncomfortable.</h2><p>Most jobs have elements to them that people don't enjoy, and that is especially true for management roles. With more power comes <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46133253/your-job-is-not-to-coach-people-boss-tells-front-desk-employee-to-stop-helping-customers-with-their" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more responsibility</a>, and even the most hands-off and incompetent bosses have to deal with annoying or unpleasant tasks like enforcing dumb ideas from executives, mitigating coworker disputes, and <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46364165/employee-leaves-job-of-4-years-for-new-role-the-position-gets-eliminated-3-days-before-his-start" target="_blank" rel="noopener">handling layoffs</a>. Few companies are going to hand out that marginally bigger paycheck for nothing.</p><p>At its core, being a decent manager involves a willingness to take responsibility. They should try to understand, to the best of their ability, how to work with their team and how they can get the most out of them. Sometimes, this also means admitting to their limits; not all employees are going to be the best fit for the roles that they work in, no matter what they do. That's just the way it goes.</p><p>At the same time, one of the core responsibilities of those in management is to provide references to those who leave their employment. Although some may argue this is one of the easier parts of the job, it can be a real challenge when there doesn't seem to be much that is positive to say. Just because somebody didn't fit in their previous role doesn't mean the same will happen with the next one.</p></div>

2026/8/10

Roommate repeatedly "borrows" tenant's clothes without asking, gets caught wearing a deeply personal item from her bedroom: ‘My privacy feels completely invaded’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Some boundaries only become obvious once someone crosses them.</h2><p>Sharing an apartment with a close friend seemed to be working perfectly until one roommate developed a habit of helping herself to clothes without permission. What began with hoodies and jackets escalated into something far more personal, leaving the other woman feeling that her privacy had been completely violated and wondering how to confront the issue without destroying their living situation.</p><p>I live with a <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46272773/bad-roommate-installs-alarm-on-pantry-door-to-track-how-much-his-roommate-eats-he-questioned-why-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener">roommate</a>, and I have the best relationship with her. Although we're from different places, we've found a way to get along really well, and our experience has been nothing but awesome. That being said, we're super respectful of each other's belongings and time, since this is fundamental when living together. So, when I read this story, I remembered some situations some of my friends had with their own roommates, and I couldn't help but laugh.</p><p>In this story, these girls are not only <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45945093/roommate-turns-living-room-into-a-paid-study-space-refuses-to-share-the-money-she-made-with-her" target="_blank" rel="noopener">roommates</a>: they are friends from college, meaning they had a relationship before living together that sets the tone for something completely different from mine, for example. Because of that, I wouldn't think it's outrageous that the girl is borrowing clothes without asking; maybe she felt that the other girl wouldn't mind. Now, I'm not justifying her behavior at all: I'm trying to understand her way of thinking when doing this.</p><p>I would suggest that the Original Poster talk to her and to set clear boundaries. Although they are good friends and I'm sure they get along very well, it's important to have those limits not be crossed so they can all have a good experience when being roommates. This doesn't mean that something wrong needs to happen, or that the relationship has to change: is only a matter of being respectful and understanding.</p></div>

2026/8/10

Employee befriends new manager and starts ignoring her coworkers, manager gets fired for bad performance, so she tries to go back to her old friends: ‘She started acting like she was untouchable’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Bootlickers are everywhere; there's one in every office. </h2><p>Some people can't seem to function unless they are trying to be friends with the bosses to get some kind of benefit. An employee shared on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/TwoHotTakes/comments/1vhojca/my_coworker_switched_up_after_the_person/"><u>r/TwoHotTakes</u></a> that she has a coworker who does exactly that. There was a new head of sales assigned to their department to help them with performance. This woman befriended her quickly and started ignoring and being impolite with the rest of her coworkers. She even eavesdropped on their conversations to go and report to the manager what they were talking about. All her coworkers started distrusting her and stopped talking the minute she entered the room. Unfortunately for her, the manager was later fired because of her, ironically, bad performance. Now, the coworker is behaving nicely and is friendly with everybody again, trying to get on their good side. </p><p>We have to admit that not all of our coworkers can be our friends. There are decent people out there, but it's not all of them, and even less inside an office. We don't know what these people do for a living, but some companies promote competition between their employees, making it harder for workers to be nice and helpful towards one another. Seems like it could be the case around here, although we can't know for sure. </p><p>What we can know for sure is that it is better to avoid contact with that kind of <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46346757/niece-refuses-to-invite-estranged-aunt-to-her-wedding-after-aunt-tried-to-steal-the-family" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opportunistic people</a>, who will step on anybody for the chance of a promotion. In this case, her attitude ended up being counterproductive. She treated everyone like trash, became a snitch, and her manager-bestie was fired; she got no benefit from it, and now her coworkers don't want to get close to her again, since they've seen her true colors for once and for all. That's what happens when you're a <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46329861/friend-refuses-to-keep-paying-rent-all-by-herself-after-her-roommate-gets-behind-on-payments-for-the" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bad friend </a>and a bad coworker: people stay away from you, no matter how hard you try to fix it afterwards. Once someone sees you for who you really are, there are two options: either they stay with you because they like what they see, or they leave you if you turn out to be bad. </p><p>What would you do if you were her coworker? Would you pretend that nothing happened, or would you give her the cold shoulder? </p></div>

2026/8/10

Entitled little sister expects her mom-of-four sister to wake four sleeping kids for a ride to work, explodes when told no: 'She decided to treat me like a servant for too long'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>After years of helping, one late-night emergency finally pushed her to draw the line.</h2><p>For years, a mother of four regularly drove her younger <a href="https://cheezburger.com/44816389/update-37-year-old-brother-sends-anonymous-flowers-to-35-year-old-sister-leading-sister-to-divorce" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sister </a>to and from work, often sacrificing her own time and gas money. But when her sister demanded a last-minute ride that meant waking four sleeping children, she refused. Instead of finding another solution, the younger <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45442565/youngest-sister-of-6-siblings-tries-to-blame-her-own-drama-on-30-year-old-middle-sister-gets-laughed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sister </a>blamed her for "ruining" her future and risking her job.</p><p>This story is right up my alley since I'm the oldest sister of three. And I do have an entitled little sister as well, who is nine years younger. So, as you can imagine, she does whatever she wants around the house, and my whole family (including myself) do evetyhing she wants without question. That being said, I admire the position the OP took in this conflict and stopped being her servant and her personal chauffeur.</p><p>When it comes to family dynamics, problems often arise when certain roles become the norm. After years of helping each other, people can start expecting things you never really agreed to, simply because "that's how the family has always worked." In this case, the older sister had spent years helping her younger sister in different ways, and once she became a mom and started working, those rides to and from work gradually turned from a favor into an expectation.</p><p>But life happens, and things change, so it's totally okay for the older sister to refuse to drive the other one, because now she has four little kids that need her complete attention and cannot leave in the middle of the night to drive her sister to work. She will need to find a new way of getting to work if she wants to keep this job she has. And needless to say, this is not the older sister's fault at all.</p></div>

2026/8/10

Core employee wants to leave the company as he was pursuing the COO position, but they said he wasn't qualified. Now, other employees want to leave as well: 'I even offered him another raise, but he told me his decision is firm and non-negotiable.'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Maybe just give the employee what he is working for if he deserves it</h2><p>If you have<a href="https://cheezburger.com/46222341/core-employee-resigns-at-the-job-he-has-had-for-13-years-and-his-boss-doesnt-seem-to-care-even" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> a core employee</a>, you do everything in your power to make them stay at the company for as long as you can. Core employees get perks that most wouldn't. They can arrive 5 minutes late, take too many coffee breaks, and get chatty. All because when they work, they do a better job than any other employee and in less time. So when you have the luck of encountering someone like that, as a manager, your main priority is for them to choose to stay at the company for as long as possible. They bring great value, and they are the best at their job. Yes, they can be a little lazy sometimes, but what they bring to the table is so important that you have to look past it.</p><p>If they one day decide that they want to leave, you do ANYTHING to convince them otherwise. The one in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/askmanagers/comments/1vghe6o/can_an_80_employee_company_go_down_the_drain_just/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the story below</a> thought that a raise would be enough. Well no. This employee wanted to be COO. If he had offered that, we wouldn't be in this situation. After all, what this employee is looking for is <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46146309/20-year-old-gets-promoted-to-retail-manager-has-to-reapply-when-older-coworker-complains-she-was" target="_blank" rel="noopener">career growth</a> and nothing else. There is no reason for him to stay after all, if what he's looking for, he's not going to get. That is how building your career works: if you can't grow anymore in some place, you need to change your direction, change companies, look for somewhere where you are appreciated, and you can gain the experience that you need and want.  </p><p>Finally, risking this employee is not only the loss of a great employee, but it is also more work for the others. Someone who brings so much to the table and does so much more than anyone else leaves a space that is bigger than you would imagine. His resignation doesn't only mean that HE is not going to be there anymore. It also means more work accumulating because he cared for more than what he had to. It also means that the excellent work will not continue to be excellent, and most likely will be deemed just fine. As a place that does sales, you need customers to be very happy with the work employees perform in their job, not just alright. So maybe, in this case, they should give this employee what he deserves, even if he isn't exactly qualified. </p></div>

2026/8/10

Boss scolds IT worker for Teams status changing to “Away,” so the worker automates it to stay green forever, and spends afternoons hiking while getting praised for dedication

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Malicious compliance is an art form. It requires patience, precision, and a complete lack of regard for corporate dignity, and this IT worker? Well, he's an artist</h2><p>For some managers, the green status dot is a productivity meter. Gray means slacking. Green means working. The actual output does not matter and the dot is the job. Exceptional managerial capabilities, you guys, just exceptional.</p></div>

2026/8/10

Are generations divided around job seeking?—Unemployed man with 13 years of IT experience faces pressure and demands from his parents and their unrealistic understanding of the job market: 'Most people apply for a job and have it in a few days except you'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>After more than a decade preparing for an IT career, a struggling job seeker faces contradictory demands from his parents who can't comprehend the modern hiring process and the state of the job market.</h2><p>A lot of the older generations just don't realize how different things are, and just how painfully bad the job market is at the moment. This generational gap brings constant judgment around expectations that are wholly unrealistic. They'll tell you to "Take any job," when there are no jobs to take. To hand your CV to employers who aren't hiring. </p><p>Sure, this is worsened by living situations where adult children in their late 20s, 30s, and sometimes 40s are forced to move back in with their aging parents after being laid off or fired and unable to find work. The parents recognize that there is a problem, but they fall short of recognizing what the problem is and how bad things are. </p><p>Meanwhile you're completing dozens of applications a day to jobs that you strongly suspect mostly don't actually exist. Feeling less and less confident that you're going to find a job, and more burned out every day.</p><p>It might not help you find a job in this moment. But it's important to remember that we have too much of a tendency to attach our current employment to our worth. Just because you can't find work in your career or field right now, it doesn't mean that you have to give up on it completely. </p><p>You can apply to a broader range of jobs, even entry-level ones in completely different fields that are available to you locally. Take things as they come, don't get too down on yourself, ignore the judgement of others, and suspend your own judgement of yourself for now.  </p><p>Heck, that's how I ended up working in a bike shop for a few years. I had just finished studying biology but had been working as a writer, social media manager, and editor. And, well, working in a bike shop had nothing to do with either of those things. I eventually went on to manage the shop, and I consider that experience to be invaluable despite the fact that it was a side step of my two possible career pathways at the time.</p><p>Take up some extra studies with online classes, get some extra experience by volunteering in your spare time if you need to pad out your resume, treat applying to jobs like a second job. But, by all means, keep your options open even when you land that temporary job. Don't get too lost or invested in that job once you find it. </p><p>It might be exhausting, but it will get you to a better place where you can finally look back, relax your shoulders, and take a deep breath knowing that you have a brighter future. </p></div>

2026/8/10

Trailer park tenant shuts off neighbor's electricity after neighbor attempts to plug her amenities into tenant's outlet box: 'She runs two ACs, a large fan, lights are always on…’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>What makes a neighbor a "good" neighbor?</h2><p>We used to think that having a good neighbor meant someone who becomes an actual friend of ours, someone who we felt comfortable knocking on their door, hanging out together, having shared dinners, and enjoying life together. We imagined our relationship with our neighbors like an episode of <i>Friends,</i> where the door is always open, and the love you have for each other is that of a family member.</p><p>We couldn't have been more wrong.</p><p>As you grow older and actually start living next to other people, you realize there is a huge difference between a neighbor and an actual friend. Expecting your neighbors to become your friends is truly a fantasy not many people get to live. Instead, you learn to appreciate what it really means to have a "good" neighbor, who is someone you never see, never hear, and never talk to.</p><p>So here is the bitter truth: the less interaction you have with your neighbor, the better. Any resident will agree that neighbors are not easy people to deal with, and <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46355461/neighbor-cuts-down-homeowners-grape-vines-from-their-private-fence-for-no-reason-forcing-homeowner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">they can cause a lot of trouble. </a>They can be noisy, entitled, and even destructive to your property. Usually, the more interactions you have with them, the worse it gets. That is why most people don't wish for "friendly" neighbors; they wish for quiet ones, the kind you don't even notice if they are there or not.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AITAH/comments/1vjbl3y/aitah_for_shutting_off_my_neighbors_electricity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The neighbor below </a>is definitely not a good one, considering she feels entitled enough to "steal" other people's electricity. Since they are all living in trailers with the same landlord, this neighbor thought she could plug her amenities into someone else's outlet box. This resulted in her running countless electric products in her trailer, while her neighbor couldn't even turn on their AC.</p><p>When they realized she was responsible for the issue, they immediately took action, which resulted in her having no electricity at all. The only question is, whose fault was it?</p></div>

2026/8/10

Detached manager shocked employees fear they would lose their jobs after temps got axed, pay raises got denied, and AI started replacing people: ‘She was stunned I swear, managers live in another world’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Some managers live in a parallel universe where layoffs are a rumor and job security is a given. The rest of us live in the real world where every paycheck can be your last</h2><p>A floor manager calls a meeting. Panic spreads instantly. One person blurts out a plea for clarity before the meeting even starts. The manager looks genuinely shocked that anyone thought this was about firings. The explanation lands like a reality check delivered by someone who has been paying attention.</p></div>

2026/8/10

Employee realizes her boss is taking credit for her work when he repeatedly refuses to promote her—she starts working to her job description, and company sales plummet: 'Took 3 months off and got another job at a 35% salary increase'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Managers often share credit for the success of their teams, but when does this go too far? And what should employees do about it?</h2><h3><strong>When ego takes precedence over common sense… especially for those at the top, the organization is doomed. And managers who don't share credit for the success of their teams are setting their companies up for a massive backslide. Like this one who drove a top performer to go back to doing the bare minimum, which caused sales to tank and eventually led to layoffs.</strong></h3><p>In this story, shared with Reddit's r/MaliciousCompliance community, a tech startup refused to promote an employee to a Director's role, a level that she had already been contributing at. She began to put two and two together and realized that the reason she wasn't being promoted was that her boss was concealing her level of contribution and distancing her from her work and success. Their boss basically admitted that he was doing this intentionally so that he could <a href="https://cheezburger.com/42859013/boss-takes-credit-for-teams-work-on-a-big-presentation-only-to-be-publicly-reprimanded-by-his-own" target="_blank" rel="noopener">take credit for her achievements. </a></p><p>She stopped doing the work, making it clear she was going to work to the job description of her current role. The effect was evident almost immediately when her pulling back to her defined role saw sales targets and other KPIs missed as sales tanked.</p><p>She took the extra time and energy to work on herself and her own certifications, preparing her for her future. So, when she was eventually laid off from the now-struggling company, she was well prepared to make the next step, landing a job that was a perfect next step in her career and a solid bump up in pay.</p><p>Keep reading to see <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/MaliciousCompliance/comments/1k0231f/boss_took_credit_for_my_work_malicious_compliance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">her account of events,</a> and then we'll unpack the <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45616389/empathetic-manager-pushes-back-against-leadership-who-refuse-to-give-employees-raises-i-went-to-my" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leadership</a> and employment issues that are on display in this story.</p></div>

2026/8/10

Woman spends 3 months covering up to $450 a month in groceries for a friend supporting 2 kids and an unemployed boyfriend, cuts her off after the latest list includes ribeyes and prime rib: 'Never again'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Helping a friend buy groceries is a meaningful way to support a struggling family, especially when two children are involved. But a friend's generosity has its limits. And a shopping list including ribeyes and prime rib is one of them. </h2><p>A 26-year-old <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46322181/pet-store-employee-starts-locking-her-work-locker-after-one-coworker-helps-herself-to-her-perfume" target="_blank" rel="noopener">woman</a> in today's story has helped her friend with groceries for three months, until she began noticing that her friend was making choices she would never make with her own money. It felt like taking a friend to dinner and watching them order the most expensive dish on the menu. She felt she was being taken advantage of, so she decided to cut her off respectfully. Or at least that's what she tried. </p><p>The <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46318597/mother-includes-her-married-son-in-new-family-portraits-but-excludes-his-wife-then-hangs-the" target="_blank" rel="noopener">friend</a> is a working mom who supports two children and an unemployed boyfriend, so the woman offered her financial help with groceries, hoping to relieve some pressure and help them catch up. The woman began spending between $150 and $350 on their groceries each month. Forgotten items added another $50 to $100 too. However, it was all going well until the latest Walmart order, which cost $250. While reviewing the shopping list, the woman noticed convenience foods, frozen meals, chips, and snacks that were unlikely to last very long. Those choices caused some concern, but the expensive meat was the real breaking point. </p><p>She had offered financial help, not an opportunity to upgrade the family's shopping habits while an unemployed boyfriend benefited from her generosity. And more importantly, her covering the groceries wouldn't solve the household's larger financial problems. It's reasonable that she felt uncomfortable when her money wasn't used as she expected, so she decided to end the <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46329605/your-weekly-delivery-of-25-soft-and-silly-kitten-memes-for-a-midweek-mood-boost-august-5-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrangement.</a> </p></div>

2026/8/9

27-year-old got out of the debt he had because of college, so now his parents are asking him to contribute $700 a month to pay for his brother's tuition: 'I want to start saving for my own future instead of taking on another big financial commitment.'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Just because you aren't in debt doesn't mean that money is just growing in your pocket.</h2><p><a href="https://cheezburger.com/35632389/i-wont-pay-his-student-loans-mother-demands-daughter-cosign-for-her-brothers-student-loans-daughter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Student loans are such a complex matter</a> because they are incredibly useful to pay for college without having to work many hours at a time, but they are still debt and have all the negative parts of it. Being able to pay for university because your parents saved in a college fund is extremely privileged. Not many have that kind of luck, and if they do, it doesn't necessarily mean that the school tuition for the whole time you spend studying in it is going to be covered. Thousands of young adults rely on student loans to pay for education, and some even have financial aid or a part-time job.</p><p>After you finish your education, it can take you several years to<a href="https://cheezburger.com/43613445/30-year-old-pays-off-student-loans-by-spending-47000-and-emptying-401k-im-starting-at-0-again" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> fully eliminate the student debt</a> you took when you were 18. Like the case of this student in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/1vh2rmf/aita_for_refusing_to_help_pay_for_my_younger/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the story below</a>. He is 27 years old, and he just finished paying off his. That is such a long time, and it makes the whole process stressful, as you start believing you will never get rid of that debt. So, knowing how hard it was for him, his parents asked him if he wanted to help them out with paying off his brother's tuition.</p><p>Now, it was really hard for this user to get rid of the debt. He has been living a cheap lifestyle for years and working since he was studying. He just got free. Now he has other plans for his money. At least he wants to save it. Now, with his parents offering, he feels in an awkward position. He loves his brother, but getting into a commitment this big when he just got free from another one seems not only a risk but also uncomfortable. He wants to save for his future, not be spending more money on somebody else's education. Would you do that kind of thing for a sibling? Or would you focus on building better financials for yourself and your future? <br> </p></div>

2026/8/9

Self-centered aunt ruins her nephew’s eighth birthday party, never apologizes, and gets offended when she’s not ‘the fun aunt’ anymore

<div class="ck-content"><h2>What is it with people so full of themselves who do what they want without caring how it affects others?</h2><p>The issue with self-centered people is that they won't admit when they are wrong. That's what happened with this aunt and her 8-year-old nephew. The boy's mom shared on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AITH/comments/1vi46n0/aita_for_telling_my_sister_she_cant_keep/"><u>r/AITH</u></a> that her boy was organizing his own party, since he has a taste for organization. His aunt is usually referred to as "the fun aunt." She stepped in and said she would make things more interesting and that all children like surprises. The mother wasn't sure, but she let it go. The day of the party, the aunt disappeared for 20 minutes and came back with a guy disguised as a dinosaur. The birthday boy was afraid of that kind of costume, so he ran off and locked himself in his mom's room.<a href="https://cheezburger.com/46346757/niece-refuses-to-invite-estranged-aunt-to-her-wedding-after-aunt-tried-to-steal-the-family" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> The aunt</a> never apologized, and her sister is not happy with calling her "the fun aunt" anymore. </p><p>Some adults who don't have children sometimes have issues empathizing with them. They think they know best because they are adults, and children still don't know what they like or want. This kind of thought is the one that usually leads children to keep a distance from their family later in life. It sends the message that they don't really care about their opinions, wishes, or needs, and they should just agree with everything because they are kids. </p><p>What they don't realize is that, even though they are young, many kids have a strong personality and already have an established sense of what they like and what they don't. While it is not possible or healthy for them if adults give them everything they want, some exceptions can be made under special circumstances, like the kids' birthday. If a kid is excited over planning their birthday the way they want, and what they ask for is doable for the family, there's no reason to suddenly change the plans and do something that, from the adults' perspective, is better. The child will be stuck with a party they don't like. If the aunt had been<a href="https://cheezburger.com/46321669/woman-travelling-to-another-country-gets-offended-after-college-friend-refuses-to-let-her-stay-at" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> a little less self-centered</a> and acknowledged her nephews' plan, her sister wouldn't be mad at her, and she would still be called "the fun aunt."</p></div>

2026/8/9

Daughter demands parents cancel their dream Europe vacation to fund grandchild's college, threatens to withhold access to grandkid: ‘You might as well not see them’

<div class="ck-content"><h2>After paying for their own children's college, do grandparents owe the same financial support to the next generation?</h2><p>One couple thought they had finally reached the stage of life where they could enjoy the rewards of decades of hard work. But after announcing a long-awaited trip to Europe, their <a href="https://cheezburger.com/46298117/daughter-refuses-to-let-her-mother-move-in-with-her-because-shes-tired-of-living-with-her-other" target="_blank" rel="noopener">daughter </a>argued that the money should go toward her child's future instead. The disagreement escalated into an ultimatum involving access to their grandchild.</p><p>What an awful attitude the daughter had. There's a point in life when people need to understand they don't have to receive things from their parents anymore. We all end up being grown adults who have to find a way of living on our own, and forget that our parents once helped us. In this case, this daughter needs to understand this point and move on with her life.</p><p>Her parents were super nice and gave every kid a fund for college, which is more than other parents can afford, and they all used it for that and other things. But once this is used and the kids started getting married and having a life, they cannot pretend the <a href="https://cheezburger.com/42996229/rare-photos-of-celebrities-grandparents-reveal-their-roots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grandparents </a>are going to be there to fund their own kids' colleges and other stuff, and should not get mad about this. </p><p>I also don't like when the daughter threatens the parents with not letting them see the baby, which is so bad and wrong in so many ways. I hope that the parents are strong and don't give her money for her kids' college fund because they are scared of not seeing the kid. This is not going to happen anyway. I don't think the girl is immature enough to prevent their own parents from being with the kid; it doesn't make sense.</p></div>

2026/8/9

Property manager loses it when renter buys a house, attempting to withhold the deposit and push pre-move-out inspections before getting blocked by lease terms and a small claims threat

<div class="ck-content"><h2>Landlords who treat tenants like temporary guests who should be grateful for the privilege of living in their moldy shoebox are truly fascinating. And this one just became even more fascinating when the tenant buys a house, and the whole power dynamic flipped like a pancake.</h2><p>So, A renter pays 850 for a 500-square-foot apartment in a major city. Four years of stacking cash while tolerating slumlord conditions. The goal was always to leave for good. A baby arrives. A three-bedroom townhome gets purchased in a quiet part of town. The lease ends September 30. The property manager loses his mind.</p></div>

2026/8/9

Sister makes a cake for her sibling's birthday, they wanted a lemon cake, but the sister insisted it needed an extra ingredient they disliked: 'I cut into the cake, and I can immediately tell she’s added the ingredient that I asked her not to.'

<div class="ck-content"><h2>If you offer to do something nice for someone, do it as they like. They never asked you to do it in the first place.</h2><p>Why would someone <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45773061/wealthy-parents-offer-to-buy-a-house-for-son-and-girlfriend-tell-him-to-make-an-offer-then-back-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offer to do something nice </a>for someone else's birthday, only to do what they like instead of what the birthday person asked for? If you offer, you need to comply with the demand. Some people see the offering to do something as a way to do what they like. As if it were an opportunity to benefit themselves rather than the person they are making the offering for. That's exactly what happened in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AITAH/comments/1vga16s/aitah_for_disliking_the_cake_my_sister_made_for/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the story below.</a></p><p>If a friend told you they were going to help you paint your house, you accepted and told them it needed to be purple, but when you came home is green. How would you react? Would you be happy they did you the favor of painting your house? Or would you be mad they painted the color THEY liked instead of the one you asked for? Would you regret accepting their offering? Well, you probably would, especially if green was the color you hated the most. That is just another way of putting the situation of this story. The sister wanted a lemon birthday cake she was going to get for herself. Her sister offered to do it for her as some kind of gift. She agreed, but it had to be the lemon cake she liked. All that just to get a cake <a href="https://cheezburger.com/45394693/30-year-old-birthday-girl-refuses-to-chauffeur-her-friends-around-during-her-own-birthday-trip-they" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the birthday girl </a>couldn't eat because it had the only ingredient she had told her sister not to add into the mix.</p><p>We can obviously anticipate how the birthday girl felt. Her sister had asked her multiple times if she could add the extra ingredient, and every single time she said no. Then why do it? Easy, she thought she knew best. Instead of doing what her sister wanted and actually liked, she did what she trusted was going to be the best. She couldn't admit that she was wrong by doing that, ruining the birthday cake for the one person it was important for. <br> </p></div>

2026/8/9