A senior barista took revenge on a creepy, rude chef by serving him decaf coffee for five months, leaving him yawning through 12-hour shifts.
After management ignored complaints about the chef’s harassment of young staff, OP and other baristas hatched a sly plan to mess with his energy.
This cheeky tale begs the question: Was decaf sabotage too much? Let’s dive into the details and see what the online community thinks of this caffeinated clapback.
This Reddit saga blends workplace harassment, management inaction, and a caffeine-fueled vendetta.
This story is a masterclass in petty revenge and workplace justice. The chef’s harassment of young staff, especially teens, was egregious, and management’s inaction created a toxic environment.
OP’s decaf scheme, while hilarious and satisfying, was a passive-aggressive response to a serious issue. Social media, like praxios, loves the creativity, but it sidesteps the root problem: unchecked harassment.
Organizational psychologist Dr. Robert Sutton notes, “Toxic workplaces thrive when leaders ignore bad behavior” (The No Asshole Rule). OP’s lack of support from management left him with few options, making his decaf plot understandable.
Still, as Awesomekidsmom’s story shows, such schemes risk discovery and consequences. A bolder move, like documenting the chef’s behavior for HR or authorities, could’ve forced accountability.
The community’s enthusiasm, with ideas like Toddw1968’s caffeine switch, highlights the appeal of sneaky justice. But long-term, addressing harassment head-on is the better path to a safe workplace.
Here’s the advice: If still at the restaurant, document the chef’s behavior and escalate to higher management or labor authorities. If you’ve left, share your experience with former colleagues to empower them.
In future jobs, seek workplaces with clear anti-harassment policies. Decaf revenge is fun, but professional solutions protect your reputation and drive real change.
See what others had to share with OP:
The online community rallied behind OP, hailing the decaf plot as brilliant justice for the chef’s awful behavior. They split into three camps: praising the creativity, sharing similar revenge tales, and slamming the chef’s harassment.
Many cheered OP’s clever, low-risk retaliation.
Some shared their own decaf or petty revenge stories.
A few condemned the chef’s predatory behavior.
![[Reddit User] − Many years ago, my wife and I stayed at a beautiful B&B run by a male couple. The coffee was excellent, Union Roasters.](https://dailyhighlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/wp-editor-1758882446160-55.webp "Barista Serves Decaf To Creepy Chef For Five Months As Revenge")
OP wasn’t wrong to serve a harassing chef decaf for five months, especially after management ignored his behavior. The online community loves the petty justice but suggests bolder moves to tackle harassment.
This story raises questions about handling toxic coworkers and ineffective bosses. Have you pulled off a sneaky workplace revenge? How did it go? Share your tales below!
