Boss Gives 16-Year-Old List Of "Life Is Not Fair" Rules On Her First Day Of Work And Has The Internet Debating About It
He might have meant well, but those were just harsh.
Some bosses try to make an impression on day one, but this one may have gone a little too far. A 16-year-old girl reportedly got handed an 11-point list of "life is not fair" rules on her first day at work, and her dad was not impressed.
The list, which was later shared online, quickly set off a debate about tough love, workplace culture, and whether a teenager really needs that kind of message from a manager. Some people saw it as blunt but realistic, while others thought it was wildly out of touch.
Either way, the internet had plenty to say about it. Read on.
The kid's dad shared the list of rules his 16-year-old's boss gave her, which he thought was horrendous
essjaxThe list of rules to live by according to the girl's boss
SupermanPrimeOneMillHere's a clearer list of the rules
SupermanPrimeOneMill
SupermanPrimeOneMill
"Just wait..."
SupermanPrimeOneMill
SupermanPrimeOneMill
Is it really unlikely they were always boring? ;)
SupermanPrimeOneMill
SupermanPrimeOneMill
Find yourself on your OWN time, lol
SupermanPrimeOneMill
SupermanPrimeOneMill
This is actually probably a good one.
SupermanPrimeOneMill
Imagine receiving this set of rules while you're still a teenager
Ben White (not the actual photo)
The dad only shared the list of rules after his daughter left the job to ensure that sharing wouldn't reflect badly on her. He also mentioned that the local retailer she used to work for mostly employs teenagers at pay rates well below the minimum wage.
The reactions the list received from the internet were quite mixed. Some people thought it was well out of touch with modern reality and far from inspirational.
Others pointed out that some of the points were drearily presented but had a realistic view of the tough and harsh realities of life. Then there were others, on the other hand, who shared some of their positive experiences with their first bosses.
Here are some of the best responses.
This one did not land well with a lot of people.
A lot of people thought the list was just plain ridiculous
garlic_cookie
This also echoes how OP weighed confronting her sister’s secret-revealing dad over strict rules and family fallout.
Okay, boomer.
unspeakable_delights
First & Last
WanderingGreybush
Mr. Jeff Bezos
BlackKhajiit
Somebody doesn't know what it pays to be a VP, and it shows
[deleted]
Do they even know what dignity is?
GamehengeRanger
W O W
wdjm
Right?
kewfresh22
OOF
PathComplex
Eleven??
PharmDeezNuts_
High on their own supply
feelybear
"I don't coddle my kids, but this? Dis too much."
maimee78
That probably wasn't the manager's goal.
fullmetalmerlin
"I'd make them quit."
laced-and-dangerous
However, some people had very different opinions about it, and some actually agree with the list
passionlessDrone
Okay, boomer.
Tony_Damiano
"Truth" must be subjective
3xtra_basic
Okay, boomer...
bonerwithlegs
Officially Old
Donclat
Ask me about my participation trophy.
xxNone
That was the part many readers pushed back on the most.
They're also empathetic, humble, and genuinely concerned about their employees. Weak bosses, on the other hand, aim to do things that only make them popular.
“The notion of servant leadership is gaining attention in the workplace. Although it is associated with many of the strong leadership traits such as empathy, selflessness, and humility, the focus is on the leader’s propensity to serve (or support) their followers.
“Employees can manage that relationship to achieve work satisfaction. In this instance, employees need to communicate what they need (tools) or work conditions (autonomy) in order for them to perform optimally when working with a controlling boss. Employees need to convey what they can and are able to perform,” he added.
Still, the bigger question is whether a teenager needed that kind of first-day lesson at all.
While the world is harsh and the workplace can be pretty tough, we believe the boss could have shared these lessons with his young workers in a better way that wouldn't actually disappoint them more about life or rip out whatever hope they still had left in their bodies. Yes, the world is a tough place, but we think it's better to help kids gain the confidence to deal with this world rather than scare them into it.
What do you think about this?
Some first-day lessons are harder to swallow than others.
Now picture your own breaking point, like the OP who stormed out after a hurtful family comment.
