Work can be tough enough without having to deal with toxic people. It's even worse when the toxic people think they're in the right! These Redditors dealt with the worst of the worst and lived to tell the tale. Some stories have been edited for clarity.
This Is Why Teachers Quit
“When I was teaching, I had a student I adored who had some behavior problems. I did everything I could to support him. One day, we were taking a test and he was talking. I reminded him several times that talking during a test is not allowed, and I would have him go in the hallway if he continued. He continued talking, so I told him to go into the hall. He called me autistic on his way out (his favorite insult) and so I wrote him a referral.
I called his parents and they didn’t answer, so I sent an e mail explaining what happened, that he got a referral, and that I hope we can work together to help him manage his reactions. His mother responded saying that MY behavior is UNACCEPTABLE and that she is done speaking with me and I will hear from her lawyer. She went all the way up to the district level to complain about me, telling all sorts of lies and making me look like a horrible person. I don’t teach anymore.”
Why Are You Yelling At Me
“I work at a big box retail store that charges people a membership fee in order to shop at our store. Due to this fee, some customers act very entitled, which is to be expected I guess. Here is an interaction I had last week with an entitled brat aka EB.
I get a call on the walkie saying that there is a problem in one of our healthy food isles. I quickly make my way there and hear EB yelling at a fellow employee who I will refer to as Ryan.
EB: ‘WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T HAVE ANY MORE QUINOA!!??!’
Ryan: ‘Sorry ma’am, I’ve checked the computer and it’s showing we do not have any more in stock.’
EB: ‘You people are so useless. What’s the point of paying to shop here if you people are good for nothing?’
This is where I cut in.
Me: ‘Hi there. As Ryan already told you, there is no more quinoa. Is there anything else I can help you with?’
EB: ‘Yes, get me some freakin quinoa.’
Me: ‘Sorry ma’am, there isn’t any in the aisle and someone’s already checked to see if it’s in stock. If you come back tomo…’
EB: ‘I OWN YOU. I DEMAND THAT YOU BRING ME QUINOA NOW. I DON’T CARE IF YOU NEED TO GO TO ANOTHER STORE TO GET IT! I WANT MY QUINOA AND I WANT IT NOW. I PAY THE PRICE, YOU’RE NO MORE THAN MY MAID!’
The amount of anger going through me was incredible. I’ve never dealt with someone this hostile and ridiculous in my life. I’m usually a pretty calm person but after being mistreated like this something inside me snapped.
Me: ‘Just because you pay to shop here does not give you the right to act like a stuck up brat.’
She was stunned. Her jaw dropped and she turned completely white. This didn’t last more than 5 seconds because she immediately started to turn bright red.
EB: ‘I’M GOING TO HAVE YOU FIRED. I’M GOING TO FIRE YOU. YOU CAN’T TALK TO ME LIKE THAT!!!’
I walked away and expected to be fired. But I didn’t care, I felt so relieved. About 15 minutes later, I find out my manager had heard the whole thing, revoked her membership and banned her from the store. Ah, sweet justice.”
You’re Stealing From Me
“I quit my job and set up my own competing business with my ex-employer after he failed to pay me for 2 months claiming non payment from the clients. He had a massive go at me after I confronted him with receipts from the clients to show payment and he accused me of making him look bad in front of his clients and that he didn’t owe me the money because ‘some people are bosses and some people are employees,’ hence why I quit the job and set up for myself because last time I checked, slavery is illegal in the UK.
I warned a few of my ex coworkers to be careful and not let him rack up debt with them because of what he did to me (they are nice people with young families and don’t deserve to be taken advantage of, like he did to me). I take him to court to try to recoup the money he owed me for the work I completed and the judge ruled in my favor for the full amount of just over £4,000. He then plays the victim card with everyone he knows and says that I made him and his family homeless despite the fact that he never paid me a penny of the money owed. £4,000 is like 5-6 months rent in a decent neighborhood in my city. Honestly blows my mind every time I think about it.”
He Needed To Go
“An employee was being fired for a multitude of infractions at a coffee shop. He had been caught by management calling customers things like ‘dumb’ and ‘stupid’ under his breath and several customers had also reported the behavior. He was constantly late or would leave early or beg others to cover his shift. Instead of restocking or cleaning the area during down times, he would take out his drumsticks and ‘practice,’ which annoyed the other employees and customers. During inventory counts, we noticed whole pallets of sandwiches or baked goods were ‘missing’ as well as bottled drinks, etc… We were mysteriously out of huge 5 lbs bags of the espresso roast. The numbers were not adding up.
Us employees stopped inviting him out because at bars he would order drinks and tell the bartender one of us was covering and skip out or leave rapidly before check was presented to us. He would also walk around tables when people got up to dance or talk in a group and guzzle down their drinks. He was an all over terrible person.
He was subsequently fired after being caught bad mouthing a customer while a visiting manager was also in the cafe (the guy didn’t know it). All this dude’s problems were blamed on everyone else and all his issues and situation in life was blamed on everyone else:
Calling customers names turned into ‘they misunderstood me.’ Management said, ‘What part of calling a customer dumb is a misunderstanding?’ This was followed by the excuse, ‘It’s not my fault they’re so sensitive.’
Food missing turned into, ‘I didn’t have money to eat and it’s the companies responsibility to ensure I’m fed while on the clock.’
Leaving early turned into, ‘Well, I got a call for a gig/there was a concert I wanted to see.’
Late to work turned into, ‘I missed the bus,’ or ‘My roommate forgot to wake me up in time.’
Found out after he was fired from our store he was hired by a Starbucks in the mall – who failed to call for a reference or check even though our store was listed as previous place of employment. He was caught stealing money and food from there too.”
We Know You Can Afford It Sir
“A doctor came in to get some ice cream, as he checks out, he says ‘I left my wallet in the car’, I’m assuming he’s just gonna go get it, but nope.
Doc – ‘Can I just get the ice cream?’
Me – ‘Yeah, total is $7.’
Doc – ‘I left my wallet in the car.’
Me – ‘I can grab you a new ice cream when you get your wallet.’
Doc – ‘I’m not going back to my car, coming back, and going back. I’M A DOCTOR, I’M TIRED, I WANT ICE CREAM.’
He was pretty loud and clearly frustrated, but I don’t care. You’re a doctor, you probably make more money than me, you can afford ice cream, and you can walk 2 minutes.
Me – ‘When you pay for it.’ I said this in a snarky voice.
Doc – ‘I WORK HARD, I’M TIRED I DON’T WANT TO WALK.’
Me – ‘THEN YOU DON’T GET THE ICE CREAM.’
He goes to the service desk to try again and get free ice cream, doesn’t get it, and is visually red and angered. This whole scenario was 10 minutes, plenty of time to go get your wallet. I’m not saying doctors are not hard workers or they don’t get tired, but you pay like everyone else, you’re not special.”
Glad You Set Them Straight
“I manage an outpatient illicit substance education/treatment center. We’re licensed with the state so that anyone who gets a driving under the influence has to go through an evaluation process and complete some form of the education/treatment program dependent on that evaluation in order to get their license reinstated or satisfy a probation requirement. Every state has its own version of this for substance related driving offenses. Everyone has to do it and no one is exempt or special, regardless of whether they won or lost their criminal case in court.
There are those who very obviously made the mistake of driving after a couple glasses, had a BAC just over the legal limit, they realize they messed up and they usually end up in the lowest level. They get it done, no complaints. But every single day, I come across at least one person who blames the state for having to do the program. They call it a racket, a money scheme, a waste of their time, complain about having to go through it, etc. And they treat me like garbage in the process as if I make the rules. Without fail, these are always the people who’ve had multiple offenses, have addictions, and many of them have concurrent charges of vehicular manslaughter or accidents with injuries. These degenerates who walk through my doors who’ve literally killed or injured someone because of inebriated driving, avoided jail, and have to go through 6 weeks of outpatient treatment, COMPLAINING about having to do it, annoy me to no end.
I used to keep my mouth shut. But I’ve experienced so many of these perpetual victim types that when they start their whining, I remind them of the real reason they’re in my office.”
How Is That My Fault?
“I’m a nurse. The nurse I gave my shift report to was later seen in a contact isolation room without a gown or gloves on. She claimed she had no idea because I did not tell her in report that it was an isolation room and she needed to wear isolation gowns. I was called and woken up and yelled at by my boss…. because the other nurse was in the room. Not me. Her. So I got in trouble and was told to ‘think of her kids, she has two little kids at home who you could have contaminated by not telling her to put gowns on!!!’ There is literally a giant colorful poster in front of every isolation room that tells you to put a gown on before going in. Like, you have to push this poster out of the way to even go into the room. If that’s not the biggest load of ridiculous point-the-finger, then I don’t know what is. And that was the moment I learned I couldn’t trust my boss because she was the head of that clique.”
I Can’t Help You Commit A Crime
“I work at a bottle shop. The drinking age in Australia is 18+ and both the offender and the vendor can be fined if found selling or supplying to and underage person in public.
The other night a car pulled up and an older man and a younger man, father and son, came inside; the older man goes to buy some drinks and the younger man buys Cruisiers. The younger man gets to the counter and I ask him for ID to which he responds, ‘Oh sorry, it’s in the car,’ and leaves to get it. I see him get half way to the car 180 and come back in and says, ‘I don’t have one.’ I tell the young man that I’m unable to sell him anything, to which made him a go full deer in headlights.
The father arrives and says, ‘Don’t worry, they’re not for him. I’ll purchase them.’ I then inform him that due to our store policy, I can’t sell to either of them since I have reason to believe that the sale could end in second hand supply. In other words, I believe you’re buying drinks for someone underage.
HOWEVER, there is no law against those under 18 drinking at a private residence in Australia under permission of a parent or guardian. So I ATTEMPT to inform the two that theres a second bottle shop literally in the same building right around the corner and that the older man can just go in and buy what the younger man wanted without revealing his presence (therefore removing reason to believe secondhand sale). And they would be on their merry way.
INSTEAD, the two double down on their efforts. The older man begins the flaring up and refuses to give me a moment to breath, let alone explain the second hand sale law. Constantly trying to poke holes in my case and abusing me. Which then opens up the second reason to refuse service, due to the abuse/aggressive behavior. They finally leave saying the most classic line: ‘UNBELIEVABLE.’ Then they storm out.
As a last ditch effort to help, as I like to try to be above emotional provocation, I try to catch the teen’s attention as quickly explain how they can get drinks without refusal of service. He flips me off and shouts mid way through my explanation, ‘WILL THIS RESOLVE THE PROBLEM?’
I just rolled my eyes and told him to get out.”
What An Awful Human
“Former flight attendant here.
I remember flying into SFO and going through the final walkthrough-asking everyone to wake up, buckle up, headrests forward, tray tables up, and collect trash. Halfway through, the pilot said ‘Flight attendants, be seated immediately’ which indicates a lot of upcoming turbulence. So I quickly started to trot through with my trash bag bag to my jump seat when a man yelled, ‘HEY!’ I was a few rows past him and he had his cup and wetnap in his hand. I quickly said, ‘I have to sit down,’ and turned back towards the back galley.
I then felt something hit me. I looked back and he had thrown his trash at me and was staring at me like the little brat he was. I heard a few people gasp and everyone in the last eight rows or so was tuned in to the drama. I pick up the trash, walked over to his row, and said, ‘I am sorry, I cannot take trash right now. The pilot has indicated that I need to sit down,’ and tossed the trash back on his lap.
He just kind of stared at me with a defiant look in his face and held out the trash again as if I was going to take it. I turned and left and I heard him yell a few more times but he didn’t throw anything.
I have had a lot of terrible passengers before but for some reason, that one sticks out.”
It’s Because You Assaulted Him
“At my old job we had a guy whose wife worked for the same company but in a different department. She was always coming around and meddling in his business. She always had an opinion of what was going on and was perpetually displeased by everything we did. Everything was a perceived attack on her husband and she was constantly criticizing us for things that she had no idea about. Even sending him to break five minutes late because we got busy would be enough to be put on her target list. She was frequently late to her own area because she’d just hang around and watch us from a distance. She was taken to HR several times for this behavior.
A couple years ago, they were eating lunch together in the employee break area. She got all worked up over something and hit him. Several people saw it and reported it. Later that day, she was pulled aside by security and HR about it. She not only denied it (despite there being several dozen witnesses) but she gave them a false name for herself thinking they wouldn’t know any better. She was fired on the spot.
Now she goes around posting all over social media and review sites claiming that she was fired for having a disability. I’ve seen so many weird, completely fabricated stories from her all over Facebook about why she was fired. She goes on and on about how the company actively discriminates against employees with disabilities.
She eventually convinced her husband to quit. He had a severe limp at the time and now he’s in a wheelchair. I have a feeling she has something to do with that and she probably still plays the victim.”
The Best Revenge
“I once got stranded at Newark for 22 hours(!) after our flight had an unfixable fault and was cancelled late at night. We got put up in a hotel but understandably by the time the new flight rolled around (earliest they could fit in a new flight) everyone was quite tired and agitated.
As we are waiting to board the new flight the flight attendant announces they would be boarding people with additional needs and families with young children first, followed by first class, then premium economy etc etc. All pretty standard stuff, obviously it can take a bit longer for people in wheelchairs to board so makes sense for them to go on first – it’s common on most airlines I believe.
Anyway this business dude races to the front of the crowd and starts yelling at the attendant, saying it was already DISGUSTING that he had lost a day due to their INCOMPETENCE and now he had to WAIT even longer despite being a first class passenger and paying $$$$ every year to fly with them!!
The worst part is he’s looking at others in the crowd to back him up, like it’s perfectly reasonable to scream at this woman who like us had also been stranded and had most likely had very little sleep, and was doing her best to do her job in this difficult situation.
But she was awesome, without missing a beat she smiled and nodded and said ok sir, then made a big point of leaning into her mic and telling the waiting line of people in wheelchairs and mothers with babies that this gentleman needed to board before them and could they please wait.
Literally every single person at the gate is looking at this guy with disgust as he tries to backtrack and say he doesn’t mind waiting for the first group, but the attendant says no no you made yourself quite clear – let’s get you boarded, the others will have to wait. He is humiliated as he sheepishly walks by. She handled it perfectly.”
What A Crazy Woman
“I was a cashier at a local grocery chain. I had the misfortune of working Christmas Eve. Luckily, I worked in the morning and was out by noon.
I’m working the till and that Christmas Eve morning, it was actually raining and cold. (No snow. It doesn’t snow where I live)
I was near the exit so would constantly get a breeze of cold, wet air. I had been working the past 4 days so I could get the following week off and be able to hang out New Year’s Eve.
Things were going smooth until I had my first difficult customer of the day. ‘Snobby Lady,’ we will call her.
Me: ‘Hello, find everything alright?’
Snobby Lady: ‘Yes. Yes I did. It’s nice and cold outside but I’m not liking the rain.’
Me: ‘Yes it is. And me either. Hopefully it doesn’t rain tomorrow on Christmas Day.’
Snobby Lady: ‘I know. I’m going to come early to get some more things for lunch and dinner for my family tomorrow.’
Now just a note. We are closed Christmas Day. We always have been. We have signs on every single cash register stating we are closed and will open the next day.
Me: ‘Oh, well you should get those items right now or later today. We are going to be closed tomorrow. It’s Christmas Day.’
Snobby Lady: ‘Oh no, I’ll just come tomorrow.’
Me: ‘Ma’am. We are closed tomorrow.’
Snobby Lady: ‘What do you mean you’re closed tomorrow?! It’s Christmas Day! I have things I need to buy!’
Me: ‘…and I have a family I’d like to be at home with and spend my day with. If you have things you need to buy, do so now.’
Snobby Lady: ‘I need to speak to your manager, now!
At this point I was like, ‘Great. I shouldn’t have said that.’ My manager shows up to speak to her.
Manager: ‘Yes ma’am. How can I help you?’
Snobby Lady: ‘Your employee (while looking at my name tag) said you are closed tomorrow. I demand this store be open. I have things to buy and I am the customer.’
Manager: ‘I’m sorry ma’am, but we have signs posted all over the store stating we are closed and the signs have been up for over 2 weeks now. I suggest you buy what you need now.’
She was quite taken back at this response.
Snobby Lady: ‘I know (insert main store manager’s name here) and I will make sure you and your employee will get fired for turning away a customer!’
Manager: ‘If you would like to speak to him he is actually right there.’
Snobby Lady: ‘I will! Enjoy being jobless on Christmas!’
She left and went immediately to speak to him. He paid little to no attention to her and asked her to leave his store if she was going to continue to harass him and his employees.”