Fired employee contacted a year later to recover important company files: 'How do you not make a backup of your entire company's directory?'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 29, 2024 2:00 PM EDT

You know it's not a well-run company when the CEO has to reach out to an employee she fired for important company information. The best part is that she realized she needed the company directory a whole year after dismissing the employee and their entire team.

Essentially, after closing this Redditor's department, the company made a headquarters move to a different state but somehow managed to not keep key documentation, namely the company directory. We're certain that the former employee's boss wanted to avoid contacting people she fired at all costs but was ultimately left with no other choice. I guess it just goes to show that things at the company are not necessarily going very well. 

Keep scrolling below for the full play-by-play and for the best reactions from folks in the comments section. For more stories like this, feel free to take a look at this post about an employee who exploited a loophole to combat his company's strict dress code policy.

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  • 01
    D "My old boss asked if I might have a copy of their entire company's directory"
    via Maksym Kaharlytskyi
  • 02
    a year after laying me off with 30 minutes notice, my old boss asked if I might have a copy of their entire company's directory on hand
    via mits66
  • 03
    I wish I was joking. I was laid off a year ago - 30 minutes before end of shift my entire department was called in and told we didn't have to come the next day. I was obviously, but I got on with my life because I have to make rent.
    via mits66
  • 04
    Last night, I got a text from said boss, asking if I wanted to make some money on the side. I still have hard feelings, but money's money so I said yes. She asked if I could please transfer the entire company's old directory to the new one (they moved state and went under a different name after laying us all off).
    via mits66
  • 05
    Because apparently, after they moved, they did not SAVE their directory and take it with them. I was their compliance officer, and now they need me to provide proof of compliance in their new state. So they need their old directory to get all of the old compliance records, as well as all of their old documents.
    via mits66
  • 06
    I just... how? how? How do you go a year without these files?? How do you not make a backup of your entire company's directory?
    via mits66
  • 07
    mits66 OP 9 hr. ago If I thought they'd give me that amount I would lol.
    via mits66
  • 08
    Vhman123 9 hr. ago If you're not being paid for this, then the answer is simple. No.
    via mits66
  • 09
    mits66 OP. 9 hr. ago Oh I will be paid. I told her straight out. "Yeah sure, how are you sending the money?"
    via mits66
  • 10
    Wonderor 6 hr. ago • & 4 More Get everything in writing/part of a contract and have a lawyer who does contract law have look at it. Give them absolutley nothing until you have either been paid in full or have a legally binding agrement in place.
    via mits66
  • 11
    If they are happy to you off with 30 minutes notice, they WILL happily you over again. Do NOT allow them to do this. Also extort the out of them in terms of how much you charge for this...
    via mits66
  • 12
    ApprehensiveKey1469. 8 hr. ago Get paid up front if you intend to do anything. Quote high fee/hourly rate. E.g. 4k per hour minimum 12 hours. If not then they can pay the fine / get closed down when it doesn't suit them.
    via mits66
  • 13
    mits66 OP 8 hr. ago Upfront yep, and depending on how many files they need I'll be upping my hours like crazy. I don't care if it's just 2 clicks, that'll be 2 hours please :)
    via mits66
  • 14
    norahceh 8 hr. ago So they want you to admit keeping corporate documents and provide them proof?
    via mits66
  • 15
    mits66 OP 8 hr. ago Not in the slightest, I removed all directory files to my boss's account when I was laid off-she just so happened to *deactivate* the account I put them in when they moved states. Like no, ex-
    via mits66
  • 16
    boss, I'm not keeping terabytes of data from a company that f d me over a YEAR AGO. So I'll have to see if I can salvage that account and if not they're just f d for good I guess
    via mits66
  • 17
    Background Patience88 8 hr. ago They NEED this. They must have it. She probably wanted to contract you for months. Start with a flat fee of $3000. If she says no, simply say you won't do it and you are too busy to waste your time for less. Now is your ONE
    via mits66
  • 18
    time to get some payback, and they will try to lowball you and make you feel like the sheep that they fired before and ruined your life for at least a few minutes. Remember how mad you were? lol
    via mits66
  • 19
    mits66 OP 8 hr. ago It's actually insane that they are asking me now, because originally the directory files were on my (the administrator's) account. They had to call me 2 weeks after they the laid me off to please give it to the company's owner (why would you not just make her administrator??) I charged them for 5 hours of work that took me roughly 5 minutes.
    via mits66
  • 20
    So they laid me off, realized my company account was the one that held their ENTIRE directory, asked me to put the directory on the boss's account... and THEN moved states and need it on a different account, again because they deactivated the account I set up the directory under. Just insane.
    via mits66

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getting fired workplace-stories fired work stories toxic-workplace job work reddit thread Reddit company toxic-work-environment
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