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The original was posted on /r/maliciouscompliance by /u/alicewills0n on 2025-08-26 00:06:53+00:00.

I (18F) work part-time at a small retail store. On busy days I usually help unpack boxes and restock without being told, just to keep things moving.

But one shift, my manager snapped at me: “Don’t touch anything unless I specifically tell you. Got it?”

Alright then.

So I stood behind the counter while boxes piled up in the back. Customers asked where items were, and I smiled and said, “I’ll have to ask my manager - I wasn’t told I could move stock.”

After about an hour of chaos, my manager stormed over and said, “Why isn’t anything getting done?” I just said, “I was waiting for you to tell me what to touch.”

The rule disappeared after that shift.