Malicious compliance

Malicious compliance (also known as malicious obedience) is the behaviour of intentionally inflicting harm by strictly following the orders of a superior while knowing or intending that compliance with the orders will have an unintended or negative result. The term usually implies the following of an order in such a way that ignores or otherwise undermines the order's intent but follows it to the letter. It is a form of passive-aggressive behavior that is often associated with poor management-labor relationships, micromanagement, a generalized lack of confidence in leadership, and resistance to changes perceived as pointless, duplicative, dangerous, or otherwise undesirable. It is common in organizations with top-down management structures with poor morale, leadership, or mutual trust.

Managers can avoid this by not making excessive or incomprehensible demands from employees.

Examples

As an example of malicious compliance, a group of U.S. firefighters was required to wear self-contained breathing apparatus for safety reasons. In response, they took to wearing the equipment on their backs but not using it. This made their work less efficient than if they had not been wearing the breathing apparatus at all. A further instruction was required that ordered them to wear and use the apparatus.

In many of the German folk tales about Eulenspiegel, some of them incorporated into Charles De Coster's The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak (1867), Eulenspiegel is depicted as serving as an apprentice to various craftsman, each apprenticeship lasting only a short time and cut off when Eulenspiegel obeys the literal meaning of a master's orders – causing the master material damage, social shame or both, and being promptly dismissed.

See also

• Counterproductive work behavior
• Gaming the system
• The Good Soldier Švejk
• Washington Monument Syndrome
• White mutiny
• Work-to-rule