Karma Stories

In this episode of Karma Stories, host Rob shares some outrageous tales from the Malicious Compliance subreddit. From a train yard story where a manager insists on following an ineffective safety manual, to an employee's petty war over 'corporate-approved' uniforms, and a military tale of cleaning a van under extreme heat conditions—these stories highlight the humorous yet maddening extremes of following rules to the le...

Four different acts of malicious compliance underscore what happens when authority figures make poorly considered demands. Across these stories, employees and customers alike challenge ill-informed instructions, whether by weaponizing labor laws against a new IT manager's rigid work schedule or by using a "null encryption" scheme to literally wipe a scam company's payment data. Other cases involve a manager gettin...

This episode features five tales of malicious compliance where people follow ill-conceived rules or demands to the letter, much to the chagrin of the person who made them. You'll hear about a graphic designer who overwhelms a micromanaging boss by delivering exactly what was asked for, a student who takes the nuclear option on a group project to punish lazy teammates, and an IT worker who crashes the system after a manager insi...

This episode features several tales of malicious compliance where employees follow poor directives to the letter. You'll hear from a remote worker who stops working entirely after their manager repeatedly blocks their tasks, leaving them with paid time off. Another story involves a retail worker who takes a sarcastic challenge seriously, calling the Fire Department on their own store to address serious safety hazards. The episo...

This episode of Karma Stories serves up four unforgettable tales from the world of retail. You'll hear about a few hilarious customer encounters, from a demanding customer to a woman trying to return a bag of very old food. The episode also features a touching moment between two strangers and a satisfying tale of karma that's years in the making. It's a mix of laughs, heart, and sweet revenge that shows how our actions ...

In this episode of Karma Stories, we dive into two separate dilemmas that explore the complexities of loyalty, honesty, and relationships. First, we tackle the thorny question: should you tell a friend's partner they cheated, even if it means losing the friendship forever? Then, we examine the fallout when a long-term partner discovers their significant other hid a crucial part of their past, their "best friend" was a...

A mild-mannered man with a clipboard and a business suit finds himself in the middle of a bizarre confrontation at a convenience store. But that’s just the beginning. This episode is packed with stories of mistaken identity, from a man confused for a bouncer at a bar to a shopper accused of “confusing everyone” with her keys. The episode also features a wife mistaken for a nurse and a phone number mix-up with a hotel. Tune in for t...

This episode features several tales of employees turning the tables on unreasonable bosses through malicious compliance. Hear how a liquor store employee handles a lazy coworker's demands and how a veteran railroad worker uses a new "no overtime" rule to his advantage. You’ll also learn about a pharmacy employee who is paid for two years after being fired for following her manager's instructions exactly. From a te...

In this episode, three different hosts share stories about encounters with entitled individuals. The first story involves a young person whose aunt believes she's entitled to her nephew's college tuition money. The second is about a "gluten mom" who attends a party and causes a scene after being told her daughter can't have a s'more. Lastly, a mom goes ballistic over a 10-minute car pickup delay, revealing...

In this episode, we hear from three different front desk employees who all faced off against a series of difficult hotel guests. From an audit-defying Karen to a self-proclaimed "Dr. Schmuck," the nightly shifts are anything but quiet. The stories include a bizarre saga of a salmonella-infected guest with an army of bags and a late check-in gone sideways that ends with a surprising connection between the guests. It’s a wi...

Sometimes a job interview can tell you more about a company than a resume ever could. In this episode, we hear about an applicant who discovered a company's shady practices before taking the job, a designer who pushed through her anxiety to find a dream job, and a tech veteran who learned that a bad interview is a reflection of the interviewer, not you. We also hear some wild stories about public defenders, including one about ...

This episode dives into a series of real-life tech support stories, each one a head-scratcher with a surprisingly simple solution. From a Wi-Fi network that vanishes at the same time every night to a computer that won't turn on, these tales showcase the most common and often humorous challenges faced by IT professionals. It's a reminder that sometimes the most complex-seeming problems have the most obvious fixes, if only so...

You know those people who seem to have all the power and none of the sense? Today, we're diving into three stories of Malicious Compliance that hilariously turn the tables on authority figures. From a new manager who earns a fitting nickname to a webmaster who exposes a government's lack of foresight, we'll explore what happens when people in charge get exactly what they ask for. Get ready to laugh as we prove that some...

What happens when you go against a boss's bad rule? You win. This episode features three stories of employees who stood their ground against unreasonable managers. A high school student openly defies his tyrannical band director, a recruiter exposes her micromanaging boss's poor grammar, and a theme park employee gets the last laugh after being blamed for a ride incident. It's a testament to the power of malicious compl...