Bosses Tried To Keep Her Down By Denying Her An Office, But Her Sweet Revenge Was Epic

When you’re new to a company and everyone else seems to be playing petty games, how do you handle being stuck in a mail room when you deserve an office? One employee knew exactly how to play the system to her advantage.

Despite being told there was no space for her office, she played the long game, never raising her voice, but always complying with what they asked. When the company president walked into the situation, the outcome was nothing short of glorious.

The result? A massive office upgrade, some serious awkwardness for the bosses, and an opportunity to prove that sometimes, being quiet and compliant is the best way to win. Keep reading to find out how this employee pulled it off and got her revenge.

A worker denied an office uses compliance to expose the petty sabotage, causing drama

Starting your first professional job while finishing your bachelor’s degree is a big milestone, and for OP, it was both exciting and daunting. Entering a highly technical and emerging field meant stepping into uncharted territory, especially since not many were doing the kind of work OP had been hired for.

Despite not having full credentials yet, OP had an obvious aptitude for the work, which likely made them a valuable hire. The department they joined had a lot of potential to generate new business and even take customers away from other departments.

Interestingly, these other departments had been offered the chance to start a similar service but had refused, even trying to block its development.

The tension started when the department heads, feeling threatened by this new service, conspired to prevent OP from getting an office.

At first, OP didn’t understand what was happening; they were new to the professional world and didn’t expect colleagues to act in such a petty way. However, when OP realized the issue, they decided to handle it calmly.

Rather than confront the situation head-on, OP chose to comply and worked wherever they could, often in the highly visible mailroom. OP hoped that the department heads would either feel guilty or get caught by their superiors for their actions.

Surprisingly, OP’s compliance paid off in ways they didn’t expect. OP became well-liked by other leaders in the company, especially for their tech skills, helping colleagues with their computers.

But there was one leader, Mr. So&So, who still seemed to have it out for OP. He would often claim that OP didn’t need an office and even went so far as to say OP wasn’t “the level of a secretary.”

This was likely a jab at OP’s lack of a formal degree. OP heard about these comments through a friend who had overheard the conversation.

The turning point came when the President of the company walked through the mailroom and stopped when she saw OP working there. She was clearly annoyed and asked why OP didn’t have an office.

OP, still complying with the situation, simply responded, “I don’t have an office.” When asked why, OP explained that “there was no space available” according to Mr. So&So.

The President, visibly upset, stormed upstairs to confront the department heads. Moments later, she returned with a key to the conference room and told OP, “This is your office. It’s the largest office on campus, even bigger than mine. Enjoy!”

This dramatic turn of events was a game-changer for OP. Mr. So&So and the other leaders were left stunned as OP was awarded the conference room office without ever having directly fought for it.

Over time, OP built stronger relationships with most of the department heads, except for Mr. So&So. But even that relationship began to improve after some time.

Six months later, OP had another encounter with Mr. So&So. While leaving for the day, OP exchanged a simple “good morning” with him. OP thought nothing of it until later that day when the President stormed into OP’s office, furious. She demanded to know what had happened between OP and Mr. So&So. OP was initially confused, but the President explained that OP’s sibling had overheard Mr. So&So making a highly inappropriate remark about OP. Mr. So&So had assumed that everyone shared his negative opinion of OP, but OP’s sibling, not knowing this, walked straight into the President’s office and reported what had been said.

The President confronted Mr. So&So, and after some heated exchanges, he apologized to OP. Over time, OP and Mr. So&So were able to work together on projects, and the tension between them eventually eased. Their relationship shifted from hostility to a more professional one.

This story is a perfect example of how strategic compliance can turn a challenging situation into an opportunity. Instead of confronting the petty office politics directly, OP chose to comply and let the system expose the issue.

Psychologically, this is a form of passive resistance, following the rules, even when they’re unfair, and letting the situation work itself out.

In Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Dr. Robert Cialdini, a renowned psychologist, explains that “compliance, when done with quiet persistence, can lead to powerful, unexpected outcomes.”

Ultimately, OP’s experience teaches us about the power of patience and the strategic use of compliance in the workplace. Sometimes, direct confrontation only fuels the fire, but compliance can expose issues and lead to better results.

See what others had to share with OP:

These commenters expressed shock at the unprofessionalism in the workplace

This group sympathized with jealous coworkers and highlighted the importance of kindness and how politeness can help build rapport

This group expressed concern about the lack of professionalism

Was OP right for playing it cool and complying with the office politics, letting the pettiness explode in the faces of the managers? Reddit thinks so! By showing patience and letting the workplace system self-destruct, OP not only got the ultimate revenge but also ended up with the best office on campus.

But what would you have done in her shoes? Would you have stood up for yourself sooner, or let the system fail on its own? Share your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget, sometimes the best revenge is just working smarter, not harder.