Overachieving employee raises KPI averages higher just so their boss misses a promotion: 'The entire sector didn't get raises that year'

They say the best revenge in life is success… That teacher who said you'd never make it? That bully in high school? Anyone who doubted you or tried to keep you down. Well, the best thing you can do is go on to prove that you're not as weak or insignificant as they're telling you you are. Of course, although not as often discussed, going on to leave a peaceable existence of mediocrity is also an acceptable option if that's what you prefer, though decidedly less exciting of a story.

This employee had their life turned upside down when their new supervisor decided to change their schedule on a whim to bring it in line with the rest of the team. The employee had been working an adjusted schedule where they came in and left an hour earlier than "normal" in order to properly manage the care of their son. "That's what babysitters are for," their new supervisor declared when he asked her about his previous arrangement.  Already a top performer, the employee decided to get back at their boss the best way they could… See, their workgroup KPIs were based on average performance, so by excessively exceeding their own performance; they could raise the group averages to a point where the group as a whole wouldn't ever be able to meet it… When their boss missed out on a KPI target, it would put them permanently behind on the pay scale.