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Malicious compliance, a phenomenon observed across various workplaces, manifests when individuals meticulously adhere to rules or directives, exploiting any vulnerabilities or unintended consequences in their favour, albeit leading to unfavourable outcomes. This conduct typically arises in response to perceived organizational policies or directives injustices. Whether it’s exploiting ambiguities in regulations or adhering rigidly to the letter of the law, malicious compliance often reflects an interplay between individuals and institutional norms, highlighting the complex dynamics at play within organizational contexts.
In today’s story, the OP finds themselves in a situation where they’re asked to handle a non-business laptop by the CEO but face potential repercussions when a middle manager demands they take action.
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Source: Reddit
1. The manager instructed OP to contact the owner of the computer he was servicing, so he promptly followed through with the directive.
2. One slow day, the CEO handed over a non-business laptop to OP, asking for urgent assistance to retrieve important data.
3. When approached by a middle manager, OP indicated his priority was fixing the non-corporate laptop, signalling they were second in line for tasks.
4. Upon being instructed by the manager to contact the relevant individual regarding the personal equipment, the OP complied.
5. The manager overheard only one side of the conversation, including OP informing Tom about the situation.
6. The manager began by expressing disapproval, but his demeanour quickly changed upon realizing it was the CEO’s laptop.
Now that you have read the story, it’s time for you to see what Redditors had to say about this. Read till the end to see what are other people’s opinions on this.
7. It’s acceptable to seek clarification from IT. However, jumping to conclusions may prolong the resolution process.
8. OP ensured that the manager would never question him again by attributing all actions to the authority figure’s demands.
9. The manager had the option to inquire about the responsible party if necessary.
10. Asking IT politely for assistance usually yields better results than making demands.
11. Be cautious of the hasty “Okay” accompanied by a smirk and a brief nod.
12. Pro tip for life: Building rapport with IT can be a strategic advantage, establishing a beneficial relationship.
13. Beware of interfering in the matters of wizards, for they possess cunning and are easily provoked!!!
14. “Don’t attempt to assert authority here. I answer to someone else. Be cautious.”
15. Be kind to three: Secretary, IT, and Janitor. The rest, are treated as disposable if it serves your ambition.
16. Experiencing undermining after enforcing norms is quite frustrating!!
17. It would have been reasonable to provide context before making the call.
18. OP did offer an opportunity for clarification on whose laptop it was, but the manager chose a confrontational approach instead.
19. A Redditor shared that in his previous workplace, a colleague handled IT tasks for the president, which was interesting to hear about.
20. Fortunately, the manager refrained from saying, “I’m sorry, the technician failed to inform me it was your laptop,” which could have been a challenging situation.
Malicious compliance involves following orders despite knowing it may lead to unintended consequences. It often involves strict adherence to instructions, regardless of their original intent. Share your thoughts on this tale in the comments and discuss it with others to gather diverse perspectives.
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