Karma Stories

A GameStop assistant manager gets passed over for a promotion, then has to train the guy who got the job. Funny how the new boss never seems to work weekends, but always knows who to call when there’s a shipment coming in.

Today on Karma Stories, we’re trying something new. One question in r/ToxicWorkplace asked people what happened when someone quit and left their workplace in chaos. Rob reads nine replies, from a bank employee who keeps getting calls on her days off to someone who already works 50 hours a week when the boss decides they need to talk about attendance.

Who was the one person holding your workplace together, and what happened when they finally left? Let me know in the comments.

Have a story of your own? Send it to storysubmissions@karmastoriespodcast.com for a chance to be featured!
Chapters:00:00 Welcome to Karma Stories00:20 The Question00:43 The Birthday Suit05:01 Read The Manual10:25 About Your Hours12:24 Half Up Front14:16 The Bank Safe Code15:33 The Promised Interview17:20 Copying The Boss18:28 Retiring A Year Early19:48 The Open Door

Her husband’s best friend missed their wedding. Three years later, she still hasn’t had a real conversation with him. She’s always figured he travels a lot for work, so when they finally get a chance to talk at a barbecue, she goes over to say hello. A few sentences in, he cuts the conversation short. Would you chalk it up to an awkward first impression, or ask your husband what that was about?
In today’s Karma Stories episode, Rob follows one relationship story from r/BestofRedditorUpdates through three updates, including one that came eight months later.
Have a story of your own? Send it to storysubmissions@karmastoriespodcast.com for a chance to be featured!

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Karma Stories
00:28 The Missing Best Friend
09:18 A Conversation With Dylan
10:56 Setting The Record Straight
13:42 Eight Months Later

A dentist recommends $11,500 worth of treatment, but his assistant’s reaction gives the patient a reason to hesitate. Then the office starts asking for a review. In today’s Karma Stories episode, eight stories from r/MaliciousCompliance bring unreasonable bosses, ridiculous workplace rules, family power trips, and people who insist their instructions must be followed exactly. How long do you keep arguing before you give someone precisely what they asked for? Settle in for some very questionable demands and people who are finally done making exceptions.

Have a story of your own? Send it to storysubmissions@karmastoriespodcast.com for a chance to be featured!

Chapters:00:00
Welcome to Karma Stories
01:00 Story 1 A Second Opinion
04:08 Story 2 No Breaks Allowed
07:31 Story 3 Move It Yourself
09:37 Story 4 No Exceptions Boss
14:09 Story 5 Keep The Change
15:41 Story 6 Safety First Apparently
18:16 Story 7 Just A Little Trim
19:53 Story 8 You Have NO Say

How much should a friendship cost when someone’s getting married? One wedding guest discovers an extra $1,000 charged to her card without permission, while another longtime friend learns that helping plan the big day doesn’t guarantee a place beside the bride. In today’s Karma Stories episode, two Reddit stories with updates bring entitled brides, wedding drama, and friendships pushed to the limit. Apparently, “it’s my special day” comes with some very expensive fine print.

Have a story of your own? Submit it to storysubmissions@karmastoriespodcast.com for a chance to be featured!

Chapters:00:00 Welcome to Karma Stories00:26 Story 111:06 Story 1 Update12:52 Story 218:26 Story 2 Update

What happens when you keep asking for work and your boss finally snaps at you to stop asking? You get that instruction in writing, of course. Today's Karma Stories episode follows an employee whose attempts to get things moving run straight into a wall of management approvals, unanswered requests, and one very clear order: wait for feedback. With two updates spanning three years, this malicious compliance saga takes corporate nonsense to a whole new level. Would you keep pushing to do your job, or sit back and follow orders?
Have a story of your own? Send it to storysubmissions@karmastoriespodcast.com!