A high-powered attorney, newly appointed as board Chair, cultivated a frustrating quirk: despite constantly needing to sign documents in meetings, he never carried a pen, instead wordlessly extending his open hand for others to supply one on demand.
Irritation grew for one dedicated member who often sat nearby and bore the brunt. At the following session, they executed a masterful act of subtle payback. Leveraging the group’s commitment to accommodating members with disabilities, the member carefully orchestrated the seating, placing the Chair squarely between an individual unable to readily handle a pen and a sign language interpreter.
A clever seating revenge exposed a leader’s pen entitlement at a board meeting.
This tale highlights a classic case of professional entitlement, where someone in authority assumes others will pick up the slack without a word.
The Chair’s habit of silently demanding a pen speaks to a sense of superiority, perhaps rooted in status or habit, making subordinates feel like invisible helpers.
On the flip side, the Redditor’s seating arrangement flips the script cleverly, forcing a moment of self-reliance without direct confrontation. It’s a light-hearted nudge that says, “Hey, we’re all in this together.”
Such dynamics tie into broader workplace incivility, those low-key slights that chip away at morale. According to organizational psychologist Dr. Alex Alonso from the Society for Human Resource Management, pettiness involves “caring about or reacting disproportionately to trivial or inconsequential matters.”
These minor oversights accumulate quietly, turning routine interactions into sources of irritation. The extended palm waiting for a pen becomes a symbol of unspoken hierarchy, where preparedness falls solely on others. Subordinates scan pockets or bags, interrupting their focus, while the leader proceeds unfazed.
Over meetings, this pattern fosters subtle division. Team members feel diminished, their efforts taken for granted amid the agenda. Frustration simmers beneath polite smiles, eroding the easy camaraderie that makes collaborative work enjoyable.
Small entitlements like this show how unexamined habits can strain relationships, leaving everyone a bit more guarded in the conference room.
A 2019 SHRM survey revealed that 99% of participants had witnessed petty behavior at work, yet over three-quarters reported nothing was done about it. These small acts, left unchecked, breed resentment and lower productivity.
The story also touches on inclusion thoughtfully. The Redditor used existing accommodations to make a point, without exploiting anyone. It reminds us that thoughtful setups can highlight oversights in preparedness.
Petty revenge often stems from perceived unfairness, offering short-term glee but rarely long-term fixes. So next time, a gentle act like bringing an extra pen and saying, “Thought you might need this!” could spark change.
Or chat openly: “I’ve noticed pens are handy for signings, want me to keep extras around?” It invites self-awareness without drama.
Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:
Some people express delight and admiration at the clever, petty revenge of handing an empty hand.
Some people suggest alternative humorous or escalating pen-related revenges.
Some people share personal stories of similar petty pen revenge or related workplace anecdotes.
Some people relate to the satisfaction of weaponizing a minor inconvenience or disability in a humorous way.
This pen saga wraps up with a cheeky lesson in accountability: A little clever planning turned entitlement into a hilarious wake-up call, leaving everyone (except maybe the Chair) grinning.
Was the Redditor’s seating strategy spot-on for highlighting the issue without fuss, or could a direct chat have worked better? How would you handle a boss who skips the basics while expecting backup? Drop your thoughts and stories below, we’d love to hear!
