Date: April 22, 2025
Author: Lily Hayes
I’ve worked at this restaurant for about a year and a half now, and let me tell you, I’ve met all sorts of people. But there’s one coworker who has been a constant thorn in my side, and I just need to share this with someone because I don’t think I’ve ever gotten over it.
He’s the kind of guy who thinks he’s the manager, though he isn’t. He’s one of those people who likes to give orders and constantly points out everyone else’s mistakes, even when he’s the one who can’t seem to get his own work together. He’s always breathing down people’s necks, complaining about the tiniest things, and offering unsolicited advice on how we should do our job. I mean, come on, you’re barely doing your job right yourself, so how about focusing on that?
But what really gets under my skin is that he’s in his mid-30s and yet he still acts like a 16-year-old who’s never been taught boundaries. This guy flirts with every new girl that comes through the door, and I’m talking about every girl—sometimes even the teenagers. It’s honestly disgusting. I don’t know if anyone has called him out on it, but I know that everyone around him just lets him do it because no one wants to deal with the confrontation. He’s that intimidating, that annoying, and honestly, kind of sleazy.
So, a few days ago, I had had enough. We were both in the dishwashing area, putting away dirty glasses, and he started on his usual rant about how I should just wait for him to finish first before I do anything. He was bossing me around like he was in charge, just because the managers weren’t around to keep him in check. It was the last straw for me. I didn’t even think about it—I just did it. I grabbed the water bottle I had been using, and as casually as I could, I spilled some water on him.
It wasn’t like I doused him completely, but enough to make him pause and realize something was off. His reaction was priceless. He stood there for a second, completely stunned, before he tried to brush it off like it wasn’t a big deal. But I could see it in his eyes. He knew I had done it on purpose. I’m sure he didn’t expect me to stand up to him like that, but honestly, it felt like the most satisfying thing I’ve done in months.
I didn’t make a big scene about it, and I didn’t say anything to anyone afterwards. I just let it be. Sometimes, you don’t need to fight back with words or escalate things to a bigger issue. A small, subtle act like that can send a message without needing any explanation. And in that moment, it was enough for me to feel a little less powerless.
I know it wasn’t the most professional thing to do, and it probably won’t make much of a difference in the long run, but for that one moment, I felt like I had control. I’m sure he won’t change, and I’m probably going to continue avoiding confrontation with him because, let’s face it, no one enjoys that. But I think it’s safe to say that he won’t be quite as arrogant next time he tries to tell me what to do.
Sometimes, it’s the smallest acts of rebellion that can make a person feel just a little bit better about their day.
