Worker Saves the Life of a Stranger on Their Commute, Ends Up Getting Fired for Being 1 Hour Late to Work

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jan 31, 2024 6:00 PM EST

Folks like to stick to themselves on their commute– especially if you take public transit. But when there's an emergency and a person's life is at risk, the "first responders" always end up being the calloused strangers that we're accustomed to ignoring. Have you ever considered how you might handle an emergency? Anything can happen on public transit. With so many people filtering in and out of the metro every day, there's bound to be an accident at some point.

This is exactly why OP in our next story is an unsung hero. Keeping their CPR and First Aid certifications up to date, OP was ready for anything in the real world. One day, while taking their usual commute to work, their preparedness came in handy. However, even after saving the life of a stranger on board their commuter train, OP's boss didn't agree with their life-saving endeavors. 

Scroll for all the details of injustice and backlash where a heroic act of selflessness ultimately got someone fired. 

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  • 01
    r/antiwork Posted by u/qirad 4 Fired for saving a life Title says it all. This morning I was on my way to work when someone in the opposite side of my train carriage had pretty much dropped dead. I'll save you the
    via qirad
  • 02
    gory details, but I make sure to keep up to date with my First Aid + CPR certification. Even though I was in my work uniform, I didn't mind getting it dirty if it means I can help someone. By the time the guy was breathing again, the paramedics & police had arrived. The police wanted me to give a statement, so I did.
    via qirad
  • 03
    Due to the fact there was now a "biohazard" on the train, they cancelled the service, forcing me to wait an extra hour for a train. I gave the courtesy of letting my work know I'd be about an hour and a half late to work bcos of this.
    via qirad
  • 04
    Once I arrived at work, my boss had taken me into a meeting with himself and HR. I provided evidence, including the details of the police officer who I gave the statement to, and screenshots showing that there was an "incident" at the station on their website.
    via qirad
  • 05
    Nope. Not good enough apparently. I was fired on the spot. Apparently being in uniform while giving CPR causes a "negative image" for the company I work for...... TL;DR: Gave CPR to someone on the way to work, saved their life. I was 1.5hrs late to work, Fired.
    via qirad
  • 06
    I've also heard a lot of you saying sue/lawyer up, but however labor laws in my country are not that great. I'm only a casual worker, which means they can fire me for whatever reason at any time and there's not much I can do about that.
    via qirad
  • 07
    minimax343 days ago go to the local Television Station of Newspaper, Great story, for you, bad for your employer ✩ 8.0k Reply Share PublicRule3659- 3 days ago Wear your work uniform during the interview.
    via minimax34
  • 08
    AlphaNoodlz 3 days ago Nope. Don't wash it then bring it in as a prop "I saved a live and was fired for it" show that company logo in all of their wonderful limelight hahahaha
    via AlphaNoodlz
  • 09
    thesleepjunkie. 3 days ago Work experiences experience with Microsoft Suite • performing duties in a timely manner • taking a minute out of my schedule to save a life and getting fired for it. Sorry I haven't written a Resumé in 15yrs
    via thesleepjunkie
  • 10
    jdb888 2 days ago My uncle had a small business. When he was hiring he said all the resumes and interviews were the same, except one guy listed first aid and CPR as an additional skill at the bottom of his. My uncle said he hired him figuring he could save his life if he had a heart attack at the office.
    via jdb888
  • 11
    pineandsea. 3 days ago Go to local news as well as other news sources! I think more companies that see you would be glad to have you work for them rather than fire you. 724 Reply Share ... TGIfuckitfriday. 3 days ago yea for real, this is an honorable person, they should be rewarded not condemned
    via pineandsea
  • 12
    BuffalowRoams. 3 days ago I'd figure out a way to make this go public, as it could make the company look really bad. HR is creating a very apathetic work environment if they're firing you over saving a life.
    via BuffalowRoams
  • 13
    kawaeri 3 days ago If they don't want people wearing their uniforms doing anything that may impact their image they should not require the uniform to be on before they arrive at work. They should be providing a place for staff to change into their uniforms.
    via kawaeri
  • 14
    Mxysptlik 3 days ago A thousand percent this. Also, how the is saving a life EVER bad image for a company. I hope OP gives us some insight into what they do, or where they worked? Reply Share 173 Comburo90 3 days ago He works for a funeral home and was ruining their business! Totally justified!
    via Mxysptlik
  • 15
    Newsboy1962. 3 days ago. edited 3 days ago Former reporter here. That story guarantees top of the news pages website and lots of clicks. Call the local newspaper or TV station Do that, and if your former bosses work for a national chain, they're about to be fired for projecting a negative image for the company. They could have held you out as a hero. Potentially big screw up on their part.
    via Newsboy1962
  • 16
    Pop Culture_Phan_Guy 3 days ago Sounds like this is the best thing that's happened to you. Do you really want to work for a company that isn't happy that one of their employees took time out of his work day to save a random strangers life?
    via Pop_Culture_Phan_Guy
  • 17
    jamey1138 3 days ago Exactly this, and not only as revenge: once it hits the press, there's likely to be a competitor that will want the good press they'll get by hiring you. "Someone who will stop to save the life of a stranger is exactly who we want representing our company."
    via jamey1138
  • 18
    NocturnalFirelily. 3 days ago It also sounds illegal to fire you after this. I don't know if you are in a Country that has a labor board or not, but this sounds very illegal. I mean, we're you supposed to just stop and let someone die and not cooperate with police etc. I would check into that. Good job OP!
    via NocturnalFirelily
  • 19
    Party-Objective9466 3 days ago Thank you for caring about another human being 37 Reply Share joantheunicorn. 3 days ago Thanks for staying up to date on your CPR and first aid OP! If you are reading this and have never had CPR training, please consider getting it. It is extremely important, you could need those skills at any moment!
    via Party-Objective9466
  • 20
    I was fired on the spot. Apparently, being in uniform while giving CPR causes a "negative image" for the company.
    via canva

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metro hero getting fired life saver boss commute worker emergency employee fired manager job life saving work coworkers cpr working ceo employees heroic supervisor workplace company coworker business train bus
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