History PlayingWith / VetinariJobSecurity

** Bob's boss absolutely refuses to give him any position of power that he could exploit to become indispensable. If Bob is actually given some promotion, it's always because he is being KickedUpstairs.

** Bob uses a custom-made program or computer to do his accounting with high speed and efficiency. However, no one is capable of using the program except him.
* '''Inverted''':

** Bob might be irreplaceable within his company, but the company isn't irreplaceable within the local economy. If it goes bankrupt, he will be unemployed.
** The steps Bob has taken to become indispensable are such that, in the event shit just happens, [[ThereAreNoCoincidences everybody else just immediately assumes]] that it's one of Bob's schemes and tell him to cut it off [[CassandraTruth even as Bob tells him it's not his fault and he can't fix it]].

** Bob is a horrifyingly psychotic kingpin who terrorizes the town constantly, but the local underworld behaves like a well-trained (and whipped) dog to every one of his commands. His [[TheRival chief rival]], Alice, is either more incompetent or more indiscriminate in her violence, possibly both. YouDoNotWantToKnow what will happen if he leaves -- the casualty projections for the opening MobWar alone make most people decide to leave Bob alone and protect him from the other half who want him gone no matter what, a decision that they can only bear with [[INeedAFreakingDrink a lot of liquid courage]].
** Bob is a BenevolentDictator. He is not only loved enough by his people that [[TheHero Hiro]] will not find any allies within his realm, [[LesCollaborateurs they will turn him over to Bob]] and Bob will demonstrate to Hiro [[ColdBloodedTorture why that trope has the word "dictator" on it]], which [[CruelAndUnusualDeath won't end well]]. Furthermore, one of the reasons why Bob is loved by his subjects is because [[TheCaligula compared to all of his rivals]], he definitely is the lesser evil.

* '''Played for Horror''': Bob is a horrifyingly psychotic kingpin who terrorizes the town constantly, but the local underworld behaves like a well-trained (and whipped) dog to every one of his commands. His [[TheRival chief rival]], Alice, is either more incompetent or more indiscriminate in her violence, possibly both. YouDoNotWantToKnow what will happen if he leaves -- the casualty projections for the opening MobWar alone make most people decide to leave Bob alone and protect him from the other half who want him gone no matter what, a decision that they can only bear with [[INeedAFreakingDrink a lot of liquid courage]].

* '''Downplayed''': The accounting department is thrown into chaos for a week, but the problems are fixed once Alice figures a few things out.

* '''Justified''': Bob is very good at his job, and it is harder than the new VP was expecting.

*** Alternatively, Bob takes Defied #1 further and manages Alice and a couple of other competent staff to run the jobs with him. Alice learns Bob's old jobs, while Bob learns new management skills, leading to both being promoted without ThePeterPrinciple in effect.

* '''Inverted''': Bob was incompetent, and when Alice takes over she fixes most of the problems he created or exacerbated and helps the company greatly.

** Alice's job is incredibly important, but the rest of the employees either don't know that or don't care, leading to them denigrating her.

** Even if Bob makes everything run smoothly to the point that it looks like if he so much as takes an extended bathroom break everything will come crashing down, he ''still'' gets fired/killed/etc. It may be that whoever does so is too full of UnstoppableRage (or is AxCrazy or actively desires anarchy) to care, or it may be an attempt to deliver a message that '''nobody''' is irreplaceable (either to Bob or to everybody else), or it may be that Bob has committed so many violations that the PowersThatBe have decided it's just better to take their chances with the inevitable 'reconstruction' period.
** Bob is fired and his work outsourced as soon as the boss gets fed up with his antics. If he lasts any longer after his warning is because his boss decided to secures a good deal for it before turning Bob redundant.

** "Is it better to be feared or loved? No. [[TakeAThirdOption It's better to be]] ''[[TakeAThirdOption indispensable]]''[[TakeAThirdOption .]]"

** Bob will never be fired because he's so indispensable, but unfortunately this means he will never be given any raises (at least in an official manner). Additionally, if he loses his job somehow, he will be unable to find similar work because other business owners won't want him usurping their authority.

** Bob learns to love the job or can find a suitable replacement.
** Bob is given immortality.
** Alternatively for Deconstructed #2, the job dies with him and/or other people change it into something more manageable.

** Bob avoids getting sick through good hygiene, a proper diet, and extensive exercise.

* '''Played for Horror''': Bob is a horrifyingly psychotic kingpin that terrorizes the town constantly, but the local underworld behaves like a well-trained (and whipped) dog to every one of his commands. And Alice is either more incompetent or more indiscriminate in her violence, possibly both. YouDoNotWantToKnow what will happen if he leaves -- the casualty projections for the opening MobWar alone make most people decide to leave Bob alone and protect him from the other half who want him gone no matter what, a decision that they can only bear with [[INeedAFreakingDrink a lot of liquid courage]].

* '''Straight''': Bob is vice president in charge of accounting in a large company. When he retires, newcomer Alice is assigned his job, and makes serious mistakes that cost the company millions.

* '''Double Subverted''': Alice turns VP of accounting into a more active position.
* '''Parodied''': After Bob goes on vacation for a week, several unrelated problems start appearing. As soon as he returns, they instantly disappear.
* '''Zig-Zagged''': (Continued from Double Subverted) It turns out that Alice [[ObfuscatingStupidity wasn't as dumb as she seemed]], and she does a good job in her new role. Then she quits, and when Charlie takes over from her, he causes a disaster.

* '''Exploited''': Charlie buys up lots of the company's stock after it plummets, and then sells it after the company recovers.

** Even if Bob makes everything run smoothly to the point that it looks like if he so much as takes an extended bathroom break everything will come crashing down, he ''still'' gets fired/killed/etc. It may be that whoever does so is too full of UnstoppableRage (or is AxCrazy or actively desires anarchy) to care, or it may be an attempt to deliver a message that '''nobody''' is irreplaceable (either to Bob or to everybody else), or it may be that Bob has committed so many violations that whoever else is in charge has decided it's just better to take their chances with the inevitable 'reconstruction' period.

* '''Played for Horror''': Bob is a horrifyingly psychotic kingpin that terrorizes the town on a constant basis, but the local underworld behaves like a well-trained (and whipped) dog to every single one of his commands. And Alice is either more incompetent or more indiscriminate in her violence. YouDoNotWantToKnow what will happen if he leaves -- just the casualty projections for the opening MobWar alone makes most people decide to leave Bob alone and protect him from the other half who want him gone no matter what, a decision that they can only bear with [[INeedAFreakingDrink a lot of liquid courage]].

* '''Played for Horror''': Bob is a horrifyingly psychotic kingpin that terrorizes the town on a constant basis, but the local underworld behaves like a well-trained (and whipped) dog to every single one of his commands. YouDoNotWantToKnow what will happen if he leaves -- just the casualty projections for the opening MobWar alone makes most people decide to leave Bob alone and protect him from the other half who want him gone no matter what, a decision that they can only bear with [[INeedAFreakingDrink a lot of liquid courage]].

* '''Straight''': Bob is VP of accounting in a large company. When he retires, the new Alice is assigned his job, and makes serious mistakes that cost the company millions.

* '''Downplayed''': The accounting department is thrown into chaos for a week, but once Alice figures a few things out the problem is sorted out quickly.

* '''Parodied''': After Bob goes on vacation for a week, several unrelated problems start appearing. As soon as he returns,they instantly disappear.
* '''Zig-Zagged''': (Continued from Double Subverted) It turns out that Alice [[ObfuscatingStupidity wasn't as dumb as she seemed]], and she does a good job with her new power. Then she quits, and when Charlie takes over from her, he causes a disaster.
* '''Averted''': The transition of power goes smoothly and the company works as well (or [[IncompetenceInc poorly]], as the case may be) with Alice as it did with Bob.

** Even if Bob makes everything run smoothly to the point that it looks like if he so much as takes an extended bathroom break everything will come crashing down, he ''still'' gets fired/killed/etc. It may be that whoever does so is too full of UnstoppableRage (or is AxCrazy or actively desires anarchy) to care, or it may be an attempt to deliver a message that '''nobody''' is irreplaceable (either to Bob or to everybody else), or it may be that Bob has done so many violations that whoever else is in charge has decided it's just better to take their chances with the inevitable 'reconstruction' period.

** Bob will never be fired because he's so indispensable, but unfortunately this means he will never be given any raises (at least in an official manner). Additionally, if does somehow loses his job he will be unable to find similar work due to other business owners not wanting him usurping their authority.

** Being impossible to fire no matter what is the kind of power [[WhatYouAreInTheDark that challenges people's character and morality very greatly]]. Because of this, Bob becomes a JerkAss very quickly. As a result of this, the road to becoming so hated that people will risk their complete ruin for the sake of smacking the sneer off Bob's face will be walked sooner rather than later.

** Bob avoids getting sick through good hygiene, diet, and exercise.
** Understanding the great responsibility that comes with the impressive power that he wields within his company, Bob practices being a BenevolentBoss. Nobody ever questions the risk of firing him because nobody ever wants him to leave.

* '''Played for Drama''': Alice gets no training before being given a job far above her skill level. When she fails, everyone in the company blames her completely.

'''Basic Trope''': A character leaves, and nobody else can do their job properly.

** "Bob is too important ''to'' ditch. That's kind of the problem. He's the only guy who can make things work 'round here. ''If'' we fired him, ''if'' he went on strike--hell, if he takes too much time to get here in the morning? Whole damn place would fall apart, just like '''that'''!"
** "Is it better to be feared or loved? No. It's better to be ''indispensable''."
* '''Implied''': Bob is said at first to be the [[OnlySaneEmployee most composed and competent person on the board]], then [[TheManBehindTheMan the person who really makes it all run]].

** Bob's impossible to replace, but this also means that if he ever so much as catches a 24-hour cold, the whole business is doomed. And there is nothing that can be done about it.

** Alternatively for deconstructed #2, the job dies with him and/or changed into something more manageable by other people.

%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:

** Being impossible to fire no matter what is the kind of power [[WhatYouAreInTheDark that challenge's people's character and morality very greatly]]. Because of this, Bob becomes a JerkAss very quickly. As a result of this, the road to becoming so hated that people will risk their complete ruin for the sake of smacking the sneer off Bob's face will be walked sooner rather than later.

* '''Conversed''': "Bob is too important ''to'' ditch. That's kind of the problem. He's the only guy who can make things work 'round here. ''If'' we fired him, ''if'' he went on strike--hell, if he takes too much time to get here in the morning? Whole damn place would fall apart, just like '''that'''!"

* '''Inverted''': Bob was incompetent, and when Alice takes over she fixes most of the problems he created and helps the company greatly.
* '''Subverted''':

* '''Zig Zagged''': (continued from double subverted) It turns out that Alice [[ObfuscatingStupidity wasn't as dumb as she seemed]], and she does a good job with her new power. Then she quits, and when Charlie takes over from her, he causes a disaster.
* '''Averted''': The transition of power goes smoothly

** Even if Bob makes everything run smoothly to the point that it looks like if he so much as takes an extended bathroom break everything will come crashing down, he ''still'' gets fired/killed/etc. It may be that whoever does so is too full of UnstoppableRage (or is AxCrazy or actively desires anarchy) to give a shit, or it may be an attempt to deliver a message that '''nobody''' is irreplaceable (either to Bob or to everybody else), or it may be that Bob has done so many violations that whoever else is in charge has decided it's just better to take their chances with the inevitable 'reconstruction' period.

* '''Deconstructed''':

* '''Played For Laughs''': Everyone hates Bob due to his antics, but they always need him (in a societal version of BunnyEarsLawyer). Whenever they try to get rid of him, Hilarity Ensues.
* '''Played For Drama''': Alice is given no training before being given a job far above her skill level. When she fails, everyone in the company blames her completely.

%%
%%* '''Implied''': ???
%%* '''Deconstructed''': ???
%%* '''Reconstructed''': ???
%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???

** Bob will never be fired because he's so indispensable, but unfortunately this means he will never be given any raises (at least in an official manner).

* '''Subverted''': Alice is shown to be relatively incompetent, and when she takes over everyone expects disaster, but it turns out the position is mainly a figurehead one, and even Alice can't cause much damage from it.

* '''Defied''': Bob helps Alice learn how to do the job so that she doesn't cause a disaster.
* '''Discussed''': ???
* '''Conversed''': ???

%%* '''Played For Laughs''': Everyone hates Bob due to his antics, but they always need him. Whenever they try to get rid of him, Hilarity Ensues.

* '''Justified''': Bob is very good at his job, and it is harder that the new VP was expecting.

%%* '''Intended Audience Reaction''': ???