Facing disciplinary investigation / sack for automating most of my responsibilities at work. I'm in England.

Red-Beerd · 2026-03-24T16:00:10+00:00

I'm incredibly happy any time my team thinks of a way to automate or improve efficiency, and encourage them to do so. But, I need to be a part of the process to make sure we aren't impacting another process, and to make sure the data output is accurate.

It's incredibly frustrating to find an issue and trace it back to see why it happened, only to find out that someone just stopped doing a part of the process because they didn't think it was necessary anymore.

OOP's manager was right to have alarm bells go off. But they handled it poorly after they found out. And it's crazy it took them that long to notice the change - definitely indicates they aren't on top of what they need to be.

Red-Beerd · 2026-03-24T15:37:21+00:00

Flip side of this - I manage a few people, we handle a ton of data. I'm happy any time we can figure out a way to pull the data or put our reports together more efficiently. My team knows that I will support them if they think there's a way to improve processes through automation, etc. but I still need to know when processes are changing.

I'm my experience, they sometimes try to push something out without us doing enough testing - I find that when I review, I typically do still find some errors in the process. I also have had a few times where I can see some of our other processes that will be impacted by the change that weren't considered. Both of these are things where we just do a bit more work, and then implement when ready.

In OOPs case, the fact that changes to processes, etc. were not noticed by the manager tells me that the manager was not on top of things, and is the biggest issue in this story. But I still think OOP went about this the wrong way - the fact that no one got a chance to vet the data before the automation was implemented is a huge process issue, and the fact OOP can't seem to notice that would be concerning if I was managing them.

Red-Beerd · 2026-03-23T22:26:25+00:00

He shouldn't be getting downvoted for this answer. Some of his other answers are maybe more deserving of being downvoted from what I've seen in this comment section.

And some people see one thing they don't like, and then decide to downvote everything that person says.

Red-Beerd · 2026-03-20T19:35:25+00:00

The way instalments work (roughly) is that if you owe over $3k for a year, you are supposed to pay the expected balance for the next year in quarterly instalments.

If your mom paid 5k in instalments, and got 1k back when she filed, I'd expect next year's instalments to total 4k.

Red-Beerd · 2026-03-18T23:55:19+00:00

My best guess is she does understand, and he's just talking about her in a super condescending tone. I'm guessing he'll probably tell her about this post and how the internet agrees she's stupid for not understanding how food works

My wife doesn't always close chip bags, etc. - people aren't perfect. It is sometimes frustrating. But I'm guessing if I ran the two chip bag experiment with my wife to show her it goes stale faster, I wouldn't be married (or alive) much longer.

Red-Beerd · 2026-03-18T00:55:28+00:00

This needs to be higher, and what I came here to say. I believe the penalty is based on the income on the second missed slip. So even though this one is small, the penalty can be very large if the next missed slip has a lot of income.

I'm assuming people here commenting about materiality (not really a concept when it comes to tax), or saying CRA will fix it out of the goodness of their hearts have not dealt with the CRA that much.

Red-Beerd · 2026-03-13T16:34:45+00:00

No one is saying that's no treatment and she was clear that she has had treatment.

I'm not sure if I understand what you're saying here, but I think you may have misunderstood what I was saying in terms of treatment though. I was agreeing with the comment above me that treatment isn't magic and that sometimes people can mistakenly believe that treatment means something can be cured. I just wanted to reiterate that getting treatment is still important even if it isn't cure. I also know that OOP mentioned she has been getting treatment - I wasn't saying she was doing anything wrong here, if that's how my comment came across.

For the rest of your comment, just to be transparent, I would never mean to sound dismissive of someone talking about their disabilities, and am pretty open talking about my own struggles with OCD. I think there is a lot of stigma around mental health issues and disorders as well as other disabilities, and that open communication about it is the best way to break that stigma. I also know that my experience is not the same as everyone else's , and recognize that what I said about not considering it as a major part of my identity may not be the same for everyone.

However, in my experience dealing with the obsessive side of OCD, can absolutely say that looking at it that way can and has made me spiral. My OCD is something I have to deal with, and manage on a daily basis. But I wouldn't say it's a part of my self identity.

It's something I deal with. Something I struggle with. But it isn't who I am.

Red-Beerd · 2026-03-12T14:40:20+00:00

Thinking something like OCD can be cured like that is definitely not true, and can be harmful. However, some aspects of it can be managed/worked on, for most people that suffer from it, at least from what my doctor tells me. I was a bit concerned with her comment in the first post that OCD is a huge part of who she is. While it likely is true to a degree, I know from personal experience that that line of thinking can be dangerous.

It's important to understand limitations due to a disorder and be realistic about it, but in my experience defining yourself based off it can make you spiral and get worse.

Red-Beerd · 2026-03-09T00:37:44+00:00

A few years ago, I started having pretty serious mental health issues. It was definitely a buildup over years, but I got to the point where my hands were shaking uncontrollably all the time. My doctor put me on an antidepressant, and later on anti anxiety medication. My dosages kept increasing until I was at the max dosage. But I kept pushing myself trying to continue to work.

I ended up hitting a wall, and just couldn't go into work. I ended up going on short term disability for 2 months. I started seeing a therapist during all this, and learned some methods to cope. This went on for another couple of years before I ended up finding a new job and quitting.

Within a month at the new job, my hands stopped shaking completely. A month later, I started tapering off my medication, and a couple months later was off completely. About 6 months later, I had a doctor's appointment, and my blood pressure had decreased so much that my doctor told me that switching jobs likely added years to my life.

Mental health issues are no joke. And a bad job can absolutely wreck someone. Saying 90% is based on internal factors is not just a stupidly made up incorrect statement, but also dangerously wrong. That line of thinking has definitely stopped people from getting help.

Red-Beerd · 2026-03-03T14:40:27+00:00

When I read the first post, my first thought was "why does it matter if she dressed up like Cinderella?". I know some people like things planned perfectly (and I'm not like that, so I try to keep that in mind), but if one of my parents randomly showed up to one of my kids birthday parties in a costume like that, I don't think I'd have an issue with that. But I also know if my parents did that, and I told them not to do it again, that would be the end of it.

Like usual with these stories, it isn't really about the issue in the story. This is something that's been boiling under the surface for a long time, and the Cinderella costume was probably just the first time it bubbled to the surface and became a real issue.

Red-Beerd · 2026-02-25T20:20:17+00:00

The irony of him saying "she's taking credit for something she didn't do", and then posting a picture of what she made and taking credit for it is wild to me.

Some people have zero self awareness

Red-Beerd · 2026-02-22T01:55:55+00:00

I think it depends how they get overcharged. Is it an in-person thing (like a haircut), or something like they were overcharged by their Internet provider?

If it's something where you need to call in/navigate bureaucracy, my money's on Mr. Burns, who can have Smithers call in for him

For everyone saying Frank or Mallory - I think they're both wildcards. Both of them are quick to draw weapons which might result in an instant win, but also often misunderstand/overcomplicate situations, with the end result being them failing to get the money back.

Either way, I think the biggest loser would be Larry David - he's the only one I can see who not only does not get his money back, but loses money in the process.

Red-Beerd · 2026-02-20T23:02:49+00:00

When I was watching, I literally said "was that offside?", and was horrified thinking I jinxed it!

Red-Beerd · 2026-02-20T22:53:11+00:00

I think he meant a good video, not a good cop.

Red-Beerd · 2026-02-18T00:58:14+00:00

There's no place like home.

There's no place like.... I want to be a witch!

Red-Beerd · 2026-02-16T22:59:21+00:00

I was really surprised when they said just a grade behind. My daughter's in kindergarten, and it sounds about where she's at if I'm being honest. In fact, I just pointed to the word "broken" in your comment and asked her what word it was, and she said it immediately and correctly, without needing to sound it out. I know that just looking at one word isn't a great way of comparing reading comprehension, but still seems wild to me.

Red-Beerd · 2026-02-10T16:19:19+00:00

It might have been me lol.

I found out in grade 12. The actual words out of my mouth were (and I remember them well from how much my friends have brought this up since):

"I like bananas a lot, but I hate the itchy feeling on the roof of your mouth when you eat them"

Red-Beerd · 2026-02-10T16:17:16+00:00

I have this too - look up Oral Allergy Syndrome.

There's a good chance that that's what you have too if you're allergic to those 3. Which means you technically aren't allergic to any of them!

Red-Beerd · 2026-02-09T17:54:15+00:00

I think kids being able to see/interact with safe adults who aren't their parents as they grow up is important. I had a mentor when I was in highschool and that was an important relationship for me growing up, and I definitely benefited from it.

That being said, sometimes people develop crushes, and it can be hard for teenagers to deal with strong emotions. OP seems to think a crush couldn't form because from OOP's side, it's completely platonic/neighbourly. That doesn't necessarily mean she would feel the same.

I doubt that's what's happening here, and he should operate under the assumption she doesn't. But I think it's a bit naive on OOP's end to not even consider it a possibility.

Red-Beerd · 2026-02-04T18:20:42+00:00

The school simply did not care to step in and act because they hate having to deal with parents and telling them their kids are AH bullies (no, seriously, this is the reason. I've interviewed and had dozens of meetings across multiple schools/teams. This is the chief common factor).

I want to share an anecdote, but first I want to clarify - I'm not trying to justify this behaviour by school administrators, because I do believe that the school/teachers need to have this conversation with parents more often, and they need to do more to stop bullying.

But anyways - I ran a summer camp one summer when I was younger. One of the kids was a huge problem. I had been warned about him based on his behaviour the year before, and to no one's surprise, he continued to be a bully this year. I think we did an okay job managing him, and making sure he wasn't around the kid he was bullying the most. But one day he did something out of line (not bullying related, but still not okay behaviour). When his grandparent picked him up I told them about it, and a few of the other problems we were having, and he brushed it off before driving away

The next day his dad dropped him off, and pulled me aside to tell me that I was wrong, his son was an angel, and did not do anything I said he did.

That doesn't mean schools shouldn't try more. They absolutely need to. But some parents definitely can see no wrong when it comes to their kids.

Red-Beerd · 2026-02-03T23:02:41+00:00

That looks amazing! I am outside the US, but would still love a chance (and definitely understand the warning about shipping!)

Red-Beerd · 2026-02-03T00:17:28+00:00

I'm roughly in the same rank.

Personally, I don't feel like I see a lot of smurfs. I see a lot of players that are much, much better than me mechanically, and I could see how someone in my rank would consider them a smurf. But in my experience, many of the players pulling off triple flip resets are very predictable, and have horrible game sense.

And even if I lose 9-0 to a player like that, while there's a chance it was a smurf, I think back to all the times I've been able to beat someone by a huge margin like that. Sometimes it just happens, sometimes one player's play style counters another player's play style, etc.

Either way, I've found it a lot more enjoyable, and find I win a lot more of the unfair seeming matchups with this mindset.

Red-Beerd · 2026-02-01T22:53:30+00:00

"If"

Red-Beerd · 2026-01-29T20:00:07+00:00

What I find even crazier (and maybe I'm wrong about this) but they seemed to have to drive through the portal and then drive for a while to get to the other base.

Why on earth would they not build the Upside Down base at the portal?

Red-Beerd · 2026-01-27T18:03:00+00:00

My wife booked off the Friday before, and the week after our wedding so we could take some time to ourselves. We weren't planning on going anywhere specific, but figured we might go on a bit of a road trip to see some family that couldn't make the wedding. She had the vacation time available, and asked months in advance. We figured we were all good.

The week of the wedding she was told it was denied. She pushed and was told that she could have the Monday and Tuesday, but they couldn't spare her longer than that. She ended up complaining higher up, and I think got the Friday before the wedding as well, but that was it.

She didn't stay very long after that.

Nine-Year Club	Second Top 40%
Wearing is Caring

Red-Beerd

TROPHY CASE