Manager scolded an employee for skipping an outdated checklist — then watched malicious compliance backfire on everyone
The employee did what they were told to do but unknowingly ended up changing the old checklist
A corporation is a living, breathing organism with a rhythm of its own. Like any other thing that is alive, a corporation requires consistent change and flexibility to adapt to new trends, and a healthy environment for workers to flourish. However, when the changes come at the cost of employee well-being, things become more chaotic than ever. In an April 28 post, one employee (u/k3ndall_m00rstone) shared how they became an unsuspecting medium of change after being handed a new version of their "warehouse closing checklist.”
Manager said to follow the checklist exactly, so I did. Every single line.
by u/k3ndall_m00rstone in MaliciousCompliance
Is the list important?
A “warehouse closing checklist,” per Safety Culture, is a structured, standardized, end-of-day protocol used by staff to ensure the factory or premises remain prepared, secured, and safe for the workers of the next shift. According to the employee, the “daily closing checklist” of their warehouse was compiled years ago, and not many workers took it seriously. Since it was never updated, employees stopped following its obsolete rules. On most days, they would just tick off the important tasks and sign out for the evening.
A new 'accountability' manager
Something changed when the corporation hired a new manager, who was supposedly high on “accountability.” He insisted that all procedures must be followed exactly as written, with no shortcuts. He even called out the abovementioned employee for skipping a few items on the checklist. These were the kind of items that were not applicable any longer. Nevertheless, the worker felt embarrassed and, instead of bringing it up, decided to follow their manager’s orders.
Forced to stay late
One of the tasks in the checklist was to “inspect all emergency exits,” which required the employee to walk across the entire building and check the doors, including those that were not in use. Another item was “testing backup lighting,” which involved turning off the main lights in certain sections and testing whether the backup lights worked. The process took way longer than the usual working time, approximately an hour past the closing time, since the task depended on when the rest of the team wrapped up their work.
Much-needed relief
When the manager noticed that the working time was being dragged on, he expressed annoyance. When the employee truthfully narrated the whole scenario, he walked away. The following week, the checklist got “mysteriously updated,” as the employee described in the post. They had become an unwitting medium through which the long-held list of stubborn rules was finally updated. “Some coworkers said I was being petty, but I just did what I was told, right?" the employee concluded.
A 'slow' office
According to a Perceptyx study titled "Breaking the Bureaucracy Curse," 48% of the employees in a corporation feel trapped when the administration is slow-moving or working on rigid rules. Rigid, unapproachable leadership often leaves employees frustrated and unproductive. One of the ways to overcome the snail's pace and stagnant rules is to rebuild trust in the senior leadership and minimize the red tape culture. In this case, the readers are also appreciating the manager for taking quick action after knowing the backstory.
“Appreciate your manager, policy needs to be followed, and changes need to be updated. Because there is such a thing called ‘Audit,’” wrote u/Rayl24. u/Beachfern said, “I don't think you were being petty; you were simply doing what you'd been told to do.”
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