'I made the mistake of going back': Guy quits job, gets lured back with enticing offer, only to be let go six months later

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Apr 15, 2024 8:00 AM EDT

It's always a better end to the story if you quit your job than if you're let go. Unfortunately, this overworked, underpaid, and undervalued employee had quit what he believed was a toxic work environment. However, after some time away, his old boss reached out and lured him back in with the promise of the promotion he likely always wanted. In fairness to the employee, he likely felt flattered that they seemingly needed him so much.

Unfortunately, that flattery only went so far. A mere six months after rejoining the company, the employee learned that he was being let go as a result of budgetary constraints. Not only did that promise of a promotion never come through, but also now he was back to square one all over again. Some folks in the comments section were harsh on the guy, saying that if he felt it was a toxic place to work at once upon a time, why didn't he remember that the second time around? We empathize with him because we understand the draw of the promotion and the enduring belief that workplace dynamics will improve, even if they seemingly never do.

Keep scrolling below for the full story. For more, check out this post about a micromanager who sent an employee home because of the dress code.

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  • 01
    FRED ?!
    via Igor Omilaev
  • 02
    Job poached me just to downsize and terminate less than 6 months later
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 03
    Back in 2016 I started with Now back then these guys were just a means to an end. It was a desk job but I happened to be really good at it. I stayed there through covid when they switched to WFH and stayed that way permanently(even recorded half the training procedure videos so my voice is forever held imprisoned there). I moved up eventually to what was essentially an assistant manager position (although not paid like one). I stayed there through multiple mental breakdowns due to insane pressur
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 04
    This place was pretty well known in our area for being brutal and . But after years it took its toll and I couldn't do it and bugged out and left in 2021 to work at (that's a whole story in its own) but reached out to me in 2023 asking if I wanted to come back as a processor again with the plan of going up to QC. They let me name my price and did a solid job convincing me things were different now.
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 05
    So I made the mistake of going back and woooooowwwwww it was a mess. I was constantly struggling to get the access I needed The help I needed was never present because everyone was stretched too thin. And they started hiring people but not training them properly so help was there but it wasn't helping.
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 06
    Then end of Jan we all get an invite for a company meeting. They announced they would be using the W.A.R.N. act within a week or so that they federally have to if of more than X percentage of employees. So we all waited to see who would keep their jobs. "Miraculously" they found a new investor and they weren't doing the WARN act after all.
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 07
    Great! Right? Well 2 weeks later I open my email and I have a one on one meeting with the President and VP of the company. Olexe
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 08
    So I course reach out to everyone and we figure out that some people got individual meetings and others are in one big group meeting.
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 09
    Well I had a few hours before my meeting so I didn't do C practically went through the 7 stages of grief while waiting. Finally throwing on No fear for the setting sun by Amon Amarth and facing it.
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 10
    Of course they rattle off a bunch of sorry Is and everything and explain why I had to terminated to make budget for the company along with half the company (meanwhile the ones talking to me make 6 figures and they'd pay me less if they could) and I just let them go.
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 11
    When they asked if I had any questions I told them they were soulless fg ghouls and if I I ever saw them I'd make sure to tell them to their face too.
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 12
    So yesterday I finally went to turn my computer and swipe badge for building entry. Lucky for me, the VP was the one to greet me at the entry and took the computer. Last i pulled out my lanyard with the swipe and as soon as he went to grab it I tossed it to the side on the ground, him the bird while I made raspberries and then told him again he was a fGhoul and that he could tell the president Ghoul too. he's a fo
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 13
    Man that felt good. I also recorded the interaction for rainy days when I'm feeling blue Thank you and I apologize if I'm all over the place. ADHD is my copilot.
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 14
    TLDR Corporate ghouls be Corporate ghouls and I was lucky enough to tell them
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 15
    Aschrod1 3 hr. ago What's so funny to me is the amount of money they spend on pouching you and retaining you for 6 months... only to lose your talent before you are even that useful. Every time I see folks over-hire and then down-size it tells me they are poor planners with short term quarterly viewpoints. It's like setting money on fire and getting a bonus for it.
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 16
    JiveDJ 2 hr. ago In Canada this is called Inducement and you could sue this compny for severance that takes into account all the time you worked at the company from which they poached you. Might want to at least speak to a lawyer to see if you have any recourse where you live.
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 17
    SkoolBoi19 3 hr. ago So you left a company for being, then went back to the same company and are surprised they are still a → company. Some times the post in this sub
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 18
    Necrosynthetic OP. 3 hr. ago I'm pushing 40, and my back is a mess. Aldi was a super physical job, which was fine for the time being at first, but it was carching up with me. So I'd have been going into an area of expertise for me AND taking a position with fewer responsibilities than i had before. Lots of factors led me to this. Do you think I was excited to go back? I needed to. They were higher paying than anything I could get in the immediate, and I physically cannot handle warehouse environ
    via u/Necrosynthetic
  • 19
    better.Should I have simply left my other job with no safety net? That's silly and irresponsible. I have a daughter, and I have a mortgage. Sometimes, you make sacrifices to stay afloat. Yes, the company was before, but does that mean you should expect half the company to go under less than 6 months after they bring you back?
    via u/Necrosynthetic

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