'I got a half-hearted "I was joking" apology': Engineer quits and then roasts the company with a bad review after getting ‘fake fired' as a joke

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    r/antiwork Posted by u/zosco18 1 day ago My Boss Pretended To Fire Me Yes. Seriously.
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    I (27F) worked for an engineering company for 4 years and had recently changed offices when I moved cities. This means that I was working on finishing some things up for my previous office remotely and would transition to working for my new office after my projects were wrapped up. It was about time to start that transition so I had a meeting with our office managers. I had only been working for these two men (Bob and Guy) for a few months at this point, and never directly.
  • 03
    I am sitting in the meeting room with Bob when Guy walks in. He sits down across from me and folds his hands and looks at me and says "Well, this is going to be an awkward conversation. I just want to start by saying that we have really enjoyed working with you and think you are great at what you do, but, we are going to have to let you go" 5 seconds of silence "and I'm just kidding". I then had to proceed and sit there for an hour while we discussed my new position in the firm. At the end of th
  • 04
    It's been so many months since this happened, I spoke with HR, I got a half- hearted "I was joking" apology from him, I quit, I have a new great job with a great company, but it still bothers me so deeply. Never in my life have I had someone make me feel so small. I left a horrible glassdoor review and then my old manager (from my first office, we were on good terms and worked very closely) texted me several times begging me to take it down (don't worry, I didn't).
  • 05
    I just need to get this off my chest, I've told people, I've talked to my therapist, but it still makes me so angry and upset and like I never want to work for anyone ever again.
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    PatientBoring 21 hr. ago (edit this) OMG Nope. Don't like that. via GIPHY 88 Reply Share ... Zykium 21 hr. ago Michael mock fired Stanley so he would probably like that.
  • 07
    False__MICHAEL. 7 hr. ago I COULD FIRE YOU
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    PositivDenken 20 hr. ago You're stronger than most would be in this situation. 30 Reply Share zosco18 OP 20 hr. ago Thank you for this. A lot of higher management tried to convince me that it was just a joke that landed wrong
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    XANDERtheSHEEPDOG 18 hr. ago "Just a joke" is the anthem of the .Jokes are funny. Playing with someone's emotions regarding their livelihood is not funny. He was not joking, he was being a
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    PositivDenken 20 hr. ago. edited 19 hr. ago Well then more than just one person in this company is incompetent and not fit for the job. But that's also not much of a surprise since usually such seemingly strong outliers don't just happen out of nowhere. It's typically a reflection of that company's culture within management.
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    one_bean_hahahaha 19 hr. ago Real life Michael Scott. Gross. 9 Reply Share zosco18 OP 19 hr. ago Turns out living in a sitcom ISNT as fun as it seems
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    primal7104 15 hr. ago You weren't the first and won't be the last, despite the half hearted apology and HR hand waving. Bully managers enjoy their power and making casual comments that they have power over you, up to and including "you're fired, ... just kidding" makes them feel good and reinforces that power dynamic in a way they enjoy. Good move to get away. Congratulations.
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    FlyingMonkeyOZ. 11 hr. ago That wasn't humor, it was bullying. I'd have likely actually got fired for my response. Reply Share... 5 zosco18 OP 19 min. ago he probably got promoted tbh
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    mrhorse77 - 7 hr. ago make sure you check on that review a couple times a year. they can pay Glassdoor to remove it. ive been recreating one of mine from a previous employer for years and years now. they keep paying to remove it, and im fine with them paying for that constantly.
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    cultivatingreader - 16 hr. ago I'd look dead at them and say their sense of humor....... 3 Reply Share zosco18 OP 12 hr. ago I was truly too flabbergasted atm that I just stared
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    karmarecycler 78 17 hr. ago Worked at a place that found it hilarious to give fake write ups. Would frequently tell us 15-30 mins before our shift ended we needed to stay late. 423 Reply Share ... zosco18 OP 16 hr. ago Sounds horrible, your livelihood isn't a joke. Glad to see past tense in your post
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    248) camelslikesand. 10 hr. ago Anybody tries this "joke" with me, I'm packing my things and filing for unemployment immediately. Sorry, pal, when you said it, you did it. Explain to HR why they're paying out for wrongful termination. I'm sure they'll find it very, very funny. 2 Reply Share ... zosco18 OP 17 min. ago unfortunately Texas is an at-will employment state so they can basically fire you for any reason they want
  • 18
    CrankyBiker 15 hr. ago Dont let a... like that leave his stink on you for any longer!! A SMALL man like that deserves less and less of your mental energy. Just laugh at how fun his personal life must be if he has to take drastic steps like that work to bring himself joy.
  • 19
    mongobob666 14 hr. ago Omg, I would have thrown up. That is sadistic. Hopefully the Glassdoor review will make his life ↑ ¹ Reply Share zosco18 OP 13 hr. ago Apparently they've been having a hard time recruiting and have had competition use it against them which is why they asked me to remove hehe oops

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