English isn’t my first language, and this is my first post here, so bear with me if it feels a bit off.
I used to work in Media Intelligence, a niche field in my country. I started as an assistant after switching from the hospitality industry (a huge leap, I know). Eager to learn, I worked hard to pick up everything from scratch, hoping it would help me transition into media.
After six months, I became really good at my job. I was part of a three-person team with an amazing boss and a fantastic colleague, both veterans in the field. They taught me everything. Unfortunately, upper management was a disaster—there were four leadership changes in just one year, which drove my teammates to leave. They even encouraged me to join them, but I was young, naïve, and eager to prove myself, so I stayed.
The Story
After my boss and colleague left, I was the only person in my team, handling several markets and being on-call for technical support without any additional compensation. Despite working 13-hour days for months, my manager refused to hire help, claiming there was “no budget.” Desperate, I gave up asking and buried myself in work.
One evening, the CEO invited me to dinner. He had grown close to me because I was the only one who knew how to run both the old and new systems. During dinner, he asked what I would change about the company. I suggested hiring two new team members, but he gave the same budget excuse. I then asked for a raise or promotion, only to hear, “You don’t have the necessary experience yet.”
Things came to a head when I tried to take some PTO. After working nonstop for months, I needed a break. I had three weeks of PTO saved, but my manager threatened to fire me if I took it, saying no one else could do my job. I took the time off anyway.
When I returned, I was shocked to find two new interns at my desk. My manager told me they were my replacements, and I was given a two-month notice to train them before I left. They needed me to train the interns because I was the only one who understood the systems.
Malicious Compliance
My manager specifically instructed me to train the interns on the legacy systems so they could understand the company’s foundation. I did exactly that. She was adamant I focus only on the legacy systems, leaving the new system training to her.
By my final week, chaos ensued. The interns didn’t know how to operate the system needed for daily tasks because I hadn’t shared my notes or provided training on it. My manager, furious, called a meeting with the CEO and Managing Director to accuse me of sabotaging the training. I calmly forwarded them her email that explicitly outlined her instructions to focus on the legacy system. The meeting ended abruptly.
After I left, my manager called me, claiming the firing was “just a prank” and begged me to return. I told her I’d consider it—if they paid me triple my salary. She called me crazy and hung up.
It’s been two months, and a friend from another department says my old manager is drowning in the chaos I left behind.
TL;DR
My manager fired me for taking PTO and asked me to train my replacements. I followed her instructions to the letter, focusing only on outdated systems. Now, the company is in shambles without me.
Edit: Thanks for all the kind comments! To those claiming this is made up—you’re entitled to your opinion, but screw you.
