'[He was] SUPER EFFICIENT and a valuable asset': Programmer fired for underperformance despite being the most productive, but quietest, on the team

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

May 9, 2023 9:00 AM EDT

You're not always going to agree with every decision your workplace makes… and it's especially gutting when that decision is to fire a well-liked coworker over stupid workplace politics. Maybe they got on the wrong side of one of the bosses, maybe they didn't support a foolish new direction or initiative, or maybe they were just the sacrificial lamb to make everyone sweat a little bit to keep them as productive as possible and keep them toeing the line. The fact is that watching a coworker get let go for no good reason hurts and changes the way you view your workplace permanently.

On productivity, it has often been said that ensuring people know you're doing good work is more important than doing the work itself, and repeated experience would support this. You'll be consistently surprised, maybe dismayed, just how unaware everyone above you is about your work. They probably think your high achievements are just the norm and that they could stick any monkey in your role and get the same result. It will be long after you leave that your presence is noticed, and it takes constant and continuous upwards communication otherwise to even hope to change this mindset.

It's no surprise that a large group of introverted people and people who otherwise struggle with communication suffer in workplace culture due to this. For example, a peacocking salesperson who is half as effective as their introverted peer may receive more recognition just because their persona fits the mold of their role, makes friends easily, and makes their bosses aware of their mediocre achievements.

This worker shared their experience of watching a seriously efficient coworker get fired simply because their high productivity wasn't visible enough to the bosses. They lamented the loss of their coworker in a post they shared to Reddit's r/antiwork subreddit and asked readers for advice on how they can appear more productive to their bosses as a remote worker. The thread generated tons of responses, with few answering the actual question but giving ample thoughts and insights.

Read on. Next, check out this worker who lamented the loss of remote work despite record productivity at their company.