Worker Applauded For Response To Boss Who Told Him To 'Smile More'

A disgruntled employee has been lauded for finding a way to get revenge on his boss after being instructed to "smile more" in the workplace.

In a Pew Research Center survey of workers who quit their jobs in 2021 as part of an unprecedented shift that became known as "The Great Resignation," 57 percent of respondents cited feeling disrespected at work as a major contributing factor.

A classic example of the kind of disrespect employees can face came to the fore in a Reddit post from Mr-Mando, which has been upvoted over 12,000 times.

In an all-too-familiar tale of workforce woe, he detailed an alleged incident that unfolded after his boss informed him he needed to "smile more."

But while his employer's request was undoubtedly a source of frustration, the worker's response left plenty on social media thoroughly entertained.

According to the poster, his manager, who was relatively new in the role, informed him in an employee review meeting that there had been complaints from customers about him "not smiling enough."

The worker said he found this "very odd" as he's always considered himself a "likable" presence at work, known for "joking" with customers and employees alike. To make matters worse, he said his boss then proceeded to show him "how to smile" at work.

But rather than kick up a fuss, the employee decided to follow his boss's request to the letter of the law.

He said he proceeded to give the "most forced, creepy smile humanly possible" every time he dealt with a customer. When anyone asked what he was doing, he said he responded: "Following an employee review I was instructed to smile more, so I'm smiling."

After a few days of doing this, his employer's Human Resources department got wind of his unusual smiling style and, after hearing the explanation behind it, one HR worker decided to speak to his boss about it. Eventually he was called into a meeting and told he did not have to smile anymore.

A classic case of malicious compliance, the story drew a favorable response from those following along online, with many sharing similar stories.

"I had a lady say to me while I was waiting for my dad one day that I don't need to look so miserable, life isn't that bad," BbyAngeleyez1226 said. "I looked at her and was like 'I work nights, I haven't had caffeine to make me a better person, and this is my face.'"

"I had to be back at work three days after my husband's death from a 10 year battle with cancer. I was a complete emotional wreck," Pyewacket62 said. "Customer tells me to smile, I look like someone just died. I replied yes, my husband three days ago. I got written up!"

Elsewhere, Bobobokeh commented: "I never understand why complete strangers feel the need to tell other complete strangers that they should smile more" with FlourChild1036 adding: "People who try to police other people's facial expressions are psychotic."

Fritter_rabbit, meanwhile, concluded: "Anyone who tells another human being 'you should smile more' needs to learn to stay in their own lane. You just know they have multiple boundary issues."

Newsweek has contacted Mr-Mando for comment.