Employee sends in one-month noice, toxic boss makes them fire innocent coworker before they leave: 'So happy you were able to escape'

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Aug 5, 2024 3:00 PM EDT

Leaving a job is a process. You decide you're going, you give your notice, and then you have an awkward amount of time where you're still there, but everyone knows you're leaving. It's like a dead man walking period. You're probably not putting in as much effort as you once did, because you know you don't have to. Your employer might be scrambling to fill your place, but there's usually not much you can do about it. You just sit around waiting for the time to pass. 

Unless your boss decides this might be a good time for you to do their dirty work. That's what happened to one employee during their leaving period, who was inexplicably asked to help with some pretty unsavory tasks. But the question remains, did they have to help them, or did it not matter? Read on for the story, and decide how you feel about it.

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    via Nick Fewings
  • 02
    Boss made me fire a person because I gave my notice
    via u/aka472
  • 03
    I'm a department manager in a small IT company. Recently I gave my month's notice (required by law, as I'm in Europe) due to burnout caused by all the caused by my boss, who also co- owns the company.
    via u/aka472
  • 04
    When I gave the notice, pretty much the only thing the boss asked me to do was to prepare a list of people who underperform so that they can be let go at the same time I'll be leaving the company. I didn't prepare such list because of two reasons.
    via u/aka472
  • 05
    Firstly, why would I want to throw anyone under the bus. Secondly, I believe that currently there are no underperforming people, so there's no need to let anyone go. I always thought of my boss as lacking leadership skills and empathy, but the answer I got regarding the empty list of
    via u/aka472
  • 06
    people to fire left me baffled. I got a message that I have to fire a specific person because the boss "doesn't want to work with that person". Of course there was no room for arguing and even the HR department was not able to say a word. Ultimately I participated in the meeting to soften the blow of serving the
    via u/aka472
  • 07
    papers to the person, as it would happen with or without me. I try to understand the reasoning behind this, but nonetheless, this was one of the most absurd things I had to take part in during my career as a lead.
    via u/aka472
  • 08
    Holy am I happy to jump this ship. Even though I don't have anything new aligned, the uncertainty of the job market beats the stomach-turning stress induced by this hellhole.
    via u/aka472
  • 09
    StolenWishes 21 hr. ago. • prepare a list of people who underperform so that they can be let go at the same time I'll be leaving the company. Your list should have had one name: His.
    via u/StolenWishes
  • 10
    Nicolehall202 · 21 hr. ago You can say no to ANYTHING they ask you to do at this point. What are they going to do about it? Fire you? You are already leaving. You work for them they don't own you
    via u/Nicolehall202
  • 11
    • Odd-Egg57 21 hr. ago. edited 20 hr. ago I'd have got it all in writing them being fired because someone doesn't want to work with them is not a legally vaild reason to fire someone under uk or eu law. Pass it onto them and then they could sue for unfair dismissal.
    via u/Odd-Egg57
  • 12
    aka472 OP 19 hr. ago That's not on the table unfortunately, as some people are on a B2B contract, meaning they pay significantly less taxes, but on the downside, they're not really protected by the labour laws. Very popular way where I live. Still, would be a shame if other coworkers got to know how the boss treats his employees...
    via u/aka472
  • 13
    Shadow_84 21 hr. ago. Squatter 'No I won't do that. What are you gonna do, fire me?'
    via u/Shadow_84
  • 14
    • fliegende Scheisse 21 hr. ago Your ex-boss is a coward. So happy you were able to escape from that hellhole with your sanity.
    via u/fliegende_scheisse
  • 15
    • Camango17 20 hr. ago You should have fired the person in the most illegal way you could so that they can sue the company after you leave
    via u/Camango17
  • 16
    swordstool 21 hr. ago • In the future, in that situation, just explain to the person that "Bob" asked me to let you go, and "Bob" said the reasons are "X, Y, and Z". That's it. It's not on you, so don't make it seem like it is to that person or to yourself.
    via u/swordstool
  • 17
    Zahrad70 20 hr. ago • I'm a fool to do your dirty work... I would have warned the poor it was coming and refused to help. ...yes, I know that song is about infidelity and not actual work, pedants! Don't @me.
    via u/Zahrad70
  • 18
    Large-Client-6024 18 hr. ago. edited 18 hr. ago Put the Boss on the top of the list as the only person on the list. When firing the person, explain the only reason they are being let go is that the Boss doesn't want to work with them. Put it in writing on company letterhead. Later contact them and tell them to file against the company, and you will back them up.
    via u/Large-Client-6024
  • 19
    ImpactAggressive 5123. 19 hr. ago if IF if you go to that meeting--which you shouldn't!--you absolutely tell the fired person in the meeting that big boss is having you do it because they're too chicken it themselves. to do
    via u/ImpactAggressive5123

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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