'Isn't it obvious?': Toxic boss mysteriously stalks ex-employee on LinkedIn after abruptly firing them 3 months in

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
May 26, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

Getting fired from a job can kind of feel like getting broken up with. Someone has told you that they don't want you around anymore, for whatever reason they've come up with. It's a blow to the ego, it forces you to re-organize your life, and it takes a while to recover from. Especially if it's out of the blue. You reach out to your friends for support, take some time to lick your wounds, and eventually get yourself together enough to see what else is out there. 

Toxic bosses can often behave like toxic relationship partners-- similar issues of control, communication, and compatibility cause similar sorts of issues. But an interesting extension of this metaphor came up when an ex-boss did a classic ex-relationship move, and stalked their ex. Who hasn't checked their ex's tagged photos to see if they've moved on yet? But this kind of behavior should be left to romantic relationships, not professional ones. 

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  • 01
    WORLD'S BEST BOSS
    via Pablo Varela
  • 02
    Boss who fired me keeps looking at my LinkedIn and is trying to re-connect after I removed her
    via u/Southern-Reaction-38
  • 03
    I had gotten hired at this job and was fired out of left field 3 months in for "performance". I had a 30-day review and a 60-day review as well as bi-weekly check ins, and never once did my boss. express any concern about my performance. She kept telling me things were going great, then I went in for my 90-day review, and she fired me. When I asked for more information as to why, she insinuated that I had no critical thinking skills. But then offered to give me a good reference lol? (does that e
    via u/Southern-Reaction-38
  • 04
    It was horrible. I've never been fired before, and what she said really hurt. I cried and left. They had 0 training for this role, she would just tell me to do things, but never explain how/why and she worked from home 99% of the time. She would yell at me and have a horrible attitude any time I had any questions. She was terrible to work with. They hired me and another person on the same day, and they and I had barely any work to do. I had wondered if that was the real reason they let me go.
    via u/Southern-Reaction-38
  • 05
    Anyways - 1 week after firing me, I saw she viewed my LinkedIn profile. I decided to remove her, she gives me anxiety, and she 'likes' SO much stuff, I was constantly seeing her name and it was a constant reminder of being fired, which was a humiliating and shameful experience for me. Well now, a week later, she viewed my profile again last night and tried reconnecting. Why?!?? Just leave people alone, especially if you've fired them with 0 warning or opportunity to change and do better. I don't
    via u/Southern-Reaction-38
  • 06
    Edit: I've already blocked her prior to posting this. I'm just venting and want to know why she would attempt to reconnect when I clearly don't want to be associated with her.
    via u/Southern-Reaction-38
  • 07
    loadnurmom 22 hr. ago • NEVER take an offer for job reference from the person who fired you I never have, but I can't imagine that would go well
    via u/loadnurmom
  • 08
    Southern-Reaction-38 OP. 22 hr. ago I definitely am not!! Which is another reason why I removed her, there is literally no reason to have her on LinkedIn, I only have people on there I can network and keep in touch with.
    via u/Southern-Reaction-38
  • 09
    Sufficient-Meet6127 13 hr. ago A lot of times, a previous manager wants you to fail to justify why you parted ways. So I tend to go silent on LinkedIn to prevent my previous manager from sabotaging me. And I only update my profile once I'm proven at my new job.
    via u/Sufficient-Meet6127
  • 10
    No_Arugula7027 - 22 hr. ago Could be she wants to keep tabs on you to make sure you're not talking badly about her for firing you. Pure paranoia.
    via u/No_Arugula7027
  • 11
    Unjugged RabbitFish · 19 hr. ago I think you blocking her on LinkedIn shows excellent critical thinking skills!
    via u/UnjuggedRabbitFish
  • 12
    . C64128 - 23 hr. ago edited 17 hr. ago That's kind of odd that she'd want to reconnect with you. You did right by removing her, you know she'd want something from you and would be reaching out to help you. First firing, you'll remember this for a while, then it'll fade away and you you'll move on with many jobs.
    via u/C64128
  • 13
    EulsSpectre 20 hr. ago · edited 16 hr. ago Block her, not just on LinkedIn but if you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp or any other social media service you use, block her on them too. I did the same after my abusive boss was made redundant a few years ago & never looked back. It felt like an enormous weight was lifted & it genuinely helped me heal after 3 years of ¨*.
    via u/EulsSpectre
  • 14
    Taigaike 22 hr. ago Probably just checking to see if you found some other job....some people are never happy unless they see others being miserable.
    via u/Taigaike
  • 15
    PeligrosaPistola 14 hr. ago · edited 1 hr. ago 1. Power. They don't understand that once they fire you, they stop having any control over you and are grasping at straws to get it back. 2. Insecurity. They want to see you fail...to validate their own negative opinions of you...to erase doubts about their decision to let you go...or to simply be vindictive.
    via u/PeligrosaPistola
  • 16
    ThatSavings 20 hr. ago Sounds to me the boss is the one without critical thinking skills. "Why would they not like me?"
    via u/ThatSavings
  • 17
    ThisIsDurian · 18 hr. ago Turn it around. You are happy to offer your work as contractor for five times the pay, upfront. This will either scare her away or you get a good paycheck.
    via u/ThisIsDurian
  • 18
    ThePowerOfShadows · 20 hr. ago Personally, I'd probably not block and see what she wanted, but i wouldn't do it to build bridges. I like to let people know when they up. I see why most people wouldn't do that.
    via u/ThePowerOfShadows
  • 19
    leedade · 13 hr. ago Block her on all social media you can. And send an email complaint to her manager explaining how badly you were treated. And glassdoor/other reviews specifically mentioning her first name.
    via u/leedade
  • 20
    • PopcornandComments 8 hr. ago It sounds like not only did your boss enjoy humiliating you by firing you, she also enjoys taunting you by constantly looking at your LinkedIn, almost borderline stalking. So creepy.
    via u/PopcornandComments
  • 21
    Westernation · 13 hr. ago Isn't it obvious? She was commanded to get rid of you so someone connected to her boss could have your job. And she's been feeling guilty about it ever since.
    via u/Westernation

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getting fired boss workplace-stories toxic-manager fired manager terrible-bosses fired story bosses work stalking linkedin toxic-boss managers workplace Horrible Bosses bad bosses
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