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 that compliance with the orders will not have the intended result. The term usually implies the following of an order in such a way that ignores the order's intent but follows it to the letter.[1][2] It is a form of passive-aggressive behavior.

One example would be a child who, on the day of the fall equinox, is told to “stay out of the pool for the rest of the summer” for continued horseplay, then consults his phone, finds that the equinox is in two minutes, and gets back in the pool exactly two minutes later.

For example, when a group of firefighters was ordered by management to wear a self-contained breathing apparatus for safety reasons, they took to wearing the equipment on their backs while ignoring it and breathing normally. This made their work less efficient than if they had not been wearing the breathing apparatus at all. A further instruction was required ordering them to wear and use the apparatus.[3]