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The original was posted on /r/maliciouscompliance by /u/TheMurderedGirdle on 2024-09-10 13:45:40+00:00.

This MC was five years in the making.

While my job employs many people, there are only two people whose roles affect me: PERSON-A and PERSON-B.

I can cover for PERSON-A and PERSON-B, and either of them can cover for me, but I’m the only person at my company’s many locations who can cover both roles when they are off at the same time. This usually happens 3-5 shifts a year during emergencies, so I’m happy to help.

During a meeting for a pay raise, I mention I’m the only person in the company who can cover PERSON-A and PERSON-B at the same time, and how this has been helpful in a pinch.

In their infinite wisdom, my boss tells me I am to no longer cover PERSONS-A-and-B, and to focus on my core responsibilities.

ASIDE: I still got a pay raise, but I think they wanted to prevent my argument from resurfacing again in the future, in the event I wanted to leverage another raise.

I knew this policy would bite boss in the ass, as a matter of “when,” not “if.”

Fast forward five years, the boss double-booked vacation for PERSON-A and PERSON-B. Boss asks me to cover both shifts for one day, as there is nobody else to cover.

“As per your instructions five years ago, I am not to cover the responsibilities of PERSON-A and PERSON-B during a shift.”

The most chefs-kiss part of this interaction was something I learned from Reddit: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.

When they instructed me five years ago to never again cover PERSON-A and PERSON-B, I asked for confirmation via e-mail. I keep these e-mails in the event I’m seen as uncooperative.

During a minute-by-minute emergency, I forwarded boss’ own e-mail back to them, mentioning that I would focus on my “core responsibilities.”

Thankfully, they were able to provide coverage that day (someone came in on their day off), and boss and I had a frank conversation about their rule-making several weeks later.