‘Have fun replacing every lock…’: After getting wrongfully fired, employee leaves workplace with all their keys, causing management to spend thousands on changing locks

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Oct 9, 2024 1:00 PM EDT

We all, at some point, have to do things at work that are not part of our job description and have nothing to do with our actual role. When one is asked to do something outside of their role, they tend to agree, mostly to stay on good terms with their manager, and in hopes that doing so will benefit them in the future. It is all part of a workplace strategy in order to get ahead.

So what can one do when they are not only asked to do things above their pay grade but also blamed for mistakes made by people who didn't do their job properly? Sadly, the answer is not much, and they often end up like the person who wrote this Reddit story—unemployed.

OP (original poster) was an employee at a store who was required to do management tasks when he was not actually a manager. Then, OP was blamed for a shortage in the cash register and was fired. Fortunately, OP left the job with one more card up his sleeve and made the people who fired him regret that decision.

Keep scrolling to read the full story. Up next, click here for a story of an entitled truck driver who got what they deserved.

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  • 01
    "They had to change all the keys in the entire store"
    via AndreyPopov

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Let me go for doing my (your) job... have fun replacing every lock...
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 03
    This happened many many years ago when I was "middle" management for a big box retailer. I oversaw a few departments for this particular store and was what
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 04
    they considered a key carrying manager. I wasn't an Assistant Store Manager or Store Manager, but played the roll when they weren't around or it was convenient for them to schedule me as such.
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 05
    Basically I was responsible for my departments and sometimes the entire store. I would have to open or close the store as needed. I would need to do the morning or nightly money count. You should
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 06
    get the general idea. I would sometimes be responsible for more than I was "trained" for. This quasi roll I was in went on for months. I made a few inquiries
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 07
    about either being promoted or returning this keys was met with, OK, we will talk about it! Flash forward 3-4 months, An Assistant Store Manager who had an emergency and had to leave
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 08
    asked if I could close the store. So, I agree to stay and close. I go through the normal closing routine, everything goes smooth and all is well.
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 09
    Two days later I'm called to the Loss Prevention office and asked about the nightly count for that particular night. I tell them what I remember and that the count was good according to the numbers.
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 10
    Apparently the count was off $250 and I was responsible. An investigation ensued, it was determined that all the money was actually accounted for, but I
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 11
    wasn't permitted to be in the back room to do the count. I explain my side and that I've been doing this for months with the Store Managers blessing.
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 12
    The higher up ups didn't care because rules are rules. The Store Manager and Assistant were reprimanded and I was fired. Here's the petty part... When I was fired they hurried me to my
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 13
    locker and out the door I went. When I got home I realized I still had keys and codes to the entire building. It took them a week to figure this out before the phone calls started.
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 14
    I informed them they were left on the Store Managers desk on my way out and that's that. I still have those keys and it was a warm and fuzzy feeling when I found out they had to change out
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 15
    all the keys and cylinders in the entire store. Plus changing the system passwords and security codes.
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 16
    joppedi_72 3d ago • One might say you played a key- role in their expense sheet...
    via joppedi_72
  • 17
    Woodfordian 25 years ago I was fired under similar circumstances. No electronic locks and the cash safe was a key type. I had the lot, over twenty keys.
    via Woodfordian
  • 18
    jeep jeep_dude OP I totally forgot about the safe and those codes... they had to do. something with that also because | knew the combination and had those keys as well. Oh well... wasn't my problem then and it still makes me chuckle now.
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 19
    Texastexastexas1 The asst store mgr took the money.
    via Texastexastexas1
  • 20
    jeep jeep_dude OP Nope, the stupid regional loss prevention auditor messed up the count.
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 21
    Equivalent-Sink4612 Seems so short sighted and petty! All the thousands of dollars and so much time that went into your training, and all the time spent building trust within the team and leadership....over $250???!! That they could surely disprove pretty easily. Just seems so dumb!!!
    via Equivalent-Sink4612
  • 22
    jeep jeep_dude OP Yup, but I've come to learn that those (not all) who work on the loss prevention side are short sighted and looking for the GOTCHA and now you're gone moment. Some of these characters think everyone is a thief.
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 23
    QueenieMcGee $250 that wasn't even stolen, lol!
    via QueenieMcGee
  • 24
    jeep jeep_dude OP Nope, it was all there. The issue was me not being "formally" trained and approved to be in the back room with the money. It definitely hurt and I was worried I
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 25
    wouldn't be able to get a similar position elsewhere, but my immediate manager told my next employer how things went down and my new manager was appreciative and just said, Their loss!
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 26
    nadav183 Bet that cost more than the $250 they originally tried to pin on you.
    via nadav183
  • 27
    jeep jeep_dude OP Indeed it did
    via jeep_jeep_dude
  • 28
    GeoBrian You shouldn't have been fired. Would they have preferred that no one did the closing routine? That's ridiculous.
    via GeoBrian
  • 29
    jeep jeep_dude OP This was forever ago and while I wanted to make that place my career, I'm way better off.
    via jeep_jeep_dude

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boss workplace-stories employee fired manager petty-revenge-reddit job tales-from-the-workplace reddit story petty revenge overworked-employees workplace Reddit company funny
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