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The original was posted on /r/maliciouscompliance by /u/Elfarica on 2024-03-10 06:23:03.
Obligatory "this is my first time posting", "I don't live in America", "no, I'm not using real names", "no, I don't consent for you to use my story in a reading video anywhere", and "English is not my first language, not even my second or third, but I do use it in professional capacity" opening statements.
I was on the other end of a small malicious compliance lately, and I though I'd share. For background: I'm one of two managers for the engineering division in a small consulting company owned by a much bigger state-owned company. The companies are currently in the process of transferring some of the parent company's business lines toward my company, and I am the lead in my company to execute those businesses on the "working level" (read: not a C-level or a Vice President/VP).
It just happened that last week had a lot of meetings scheduled for our team. On the particular day, I had a personal meeting scheduled with the parent company (for an different reason than what's stated above) and, within 30 minutes of that meeting, another big business meeting which includes 4 VPs from different divisions and directorates, my company's C-level, and my team. All were online meeting.
I prepped the talking points already, but my C-level haven't confirmed whether he's gonna join or not. The protocol is usually that I lead the talks when it comes to my company's POV, but as I've mentioned before, I'm in another meeting right now, and it's running a bit late. As a result, I joined the meeting room from my phone.
Phew. It was only me and one of my engineers (and a junior from my uni, so we are quite close) Alex.
I told Alex that, "I think this meeting's gonna end soon. Until I do, please tell me if anyone enters the meeting room. I might have to greet the Parent Company VPs until our C-level enters the room."
Half a minute later, that *ding dong* from Zoom chimes. Alex told me, "Yeah, Jane from our team joined." I looked at him incredulously, and he just shot me with a mischievous grin. He knew what he was doing.
*ding dong* "Oh, Dave from our team joined."
*ding dong* "Oh, Melissa from our team joined."
"Alright, I get it. What I meant was, if someone from the Parent Company joined."
"Okay, will do."
And then 5 minutes later my current meeting ended, I transferred the meeting to my laptop, and then...
*ding dong* Alex headed to my desk, saw my computer, and then said, "That's Emma from Parent Company."
"Yes Alex. I can see it. Now you don't need to report any entrance to this meeting," I said with an annoyed smile, because we knew what he was doing.
"If that's what you want." Still with the widest grin on his face, like he's proud with himself.
The meeting went well, I lead my team well, and we discussed a lot of jargony business jargons. But that malicious compliance from my junior did lighten the mood in my office.