Boss lays off entire staff over text: '[We have] decided to close our operations. Effective today'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Feb 17, 2024 8:00 AM EST

Sometimes, abrupt decisions need to be made, but in this case, a heads-up would have been nice. The fact that the head honchos in this scenario decided to wait until all staff had gone home one night only to shut down the store indefinitely at 9:28 pm already signals the incompetence of management. But of course, it only gets worse. With absolutely no warning, this toxic boss decided to notify the entire staff via text message that everyone was getting let go. What gets us is the hypocrisy of pulling that kind of stunt when employees are "required" to give two weeks when announcing their departure. Remember, everyone! At-will employment is a two-way street.

This thread was posted to Reddit by u/AntlerAlchemist, who shared the text message in full below. The "best of luck" wishes at the end of the text are the most humorous to me. In what world do these people care about the well-being of their employees if they are also getting rid of them on the spot in the most impersonal way imaginable? Keep scrolling below to see how folks responded to this mess. For more stories like this, check out this post about a server who was fired over a hash browns order.

Advertisement
  • 01
    r/antiwork. Posted by u/AntlerAlchemist 13 hours ago Our whole staff got eliminated via text
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 02
    NW Store Closure admin The team at has decided to close our operations. Effective today. We will not be opening up for business tomorrow. We are unfortunately laying off the staff. HR will be sending out a follow up email for insurance and if anyone wants to file for unemployment. We appreciate everyone hard work and dedication to the job. We will are willing to help out as a reference if needed. We wish you the best in your future endeavors. 9:28 PM Message
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 03
    Zero warning, it was sent after the store closed 9:28pm and everyone had left for the night. Gotta love how they can just lay their whole crew off with out giving them a heads up. Also is a zero company to work for. They give about their employees.
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 04
    Old_Banana_Pudding 12 hr. ago • edited 12 hr. ago How big of a company? Which state? Just saying if over 100 employees they need to give 60 days warning etc. https://www.dol.gov/agencies /eta/layoffs/warn
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 05
    Individual states can, and often do add on to that. Like in a previous post today Iowa had the limit at 25+ employees and 30 days notice, and then referring to the federal level thing at 100+ employees.
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 06
    SeriouslyNotAGoodGuy 13 hr. ago Your manager knew months ago... ↑ 1.2k Reply Share
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 07
    _autumnwhimsy 11 hr. ago i will say, back in the day i worked at a retail store that closed all their brick and mortars 2 days after Christmas and my store manager was there standing at the front door reading the notice some 3rd party taped to the door just as confused as the rest of us openers. Sometimes, especially in situations like this, they don't. 432 Reply Share
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 08
    grilledcheese2332 . 12 hr. ago This is why you never give 2 weeks notice ↑ 295 Reply Share
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 09
    RealisticSituation24. 11 hr. ago This exactly. I've been without a job cause they suddenly closed shop. I won't give a place a 2 weeks notice. I lie in every interview when asked. them
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 10
    Backlotter 11 hr. ago "a follow up email if anyone wants to file for unemployment" what? Nobody needs a from HR to file for email unemployment insurance. That's not how that works. You go online, or down to the employment security office, and you fill out a claim to tell them you were laid off. End of story. 90 HR has nothing to do with that. Reply Share ...
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 11
    Ghost Nation03. 13 hr. ago Why is ur work group chat on telegram lol
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 12
    d-cent 12 hr. ago The subtly of putting in "if anyone wants to file for unemployment" and "help out as a reference if needed" is gross
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 13
    Caver214 11 hr. ago At my company they did a layoff by locking out the computers when they try to log in. People came in the morning to find their user name and password were removed. People went outside upset bc they couldn't login.
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 14
    svenguillotien 11 hr. ago Hate to judge, but this person really really should have put this text through a word processor or something before mass-firing people with this embarrassing wall of text Fragment sentences, quite literally zero commas, missing apostrophes, the phrase "we will are willing to help", just like really bad overall, frankly
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 15
    i8yourmom4lunch 11 hr. ago And by "team" they sure as don't mean you But when it's about staying late and pulling extra then it's "teamwork"
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 16
    MaadMaan Maatt 11 hr. ago But workers need to give two weeks notice
    via u/AntlerAlchemist
  • 17
    Horror-Activity-2694 - 11 hr. ago At least they told you. I worked at a pizza place when I was like 18. Showed up to work. It was closed. After many calls, I found out they closed permanently and didn't tell me.
    via u/AntlerAlchemist

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

getting fired workplace-stories fired work stories toxic-workplace work text Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit company toxic-work-environment
Scroll Down For The Next Article