'I can’t believe you did that behind your bosses back': Manager fires two teenagers, gets fired by head manager after "taking initiative"

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Oct 29, 2024 5:00 PM EDT

One manager is finding out the hard way that they were too hasty in firing a few of their teenage employees. 

As a manager, you have leeway to make some important decisions. A supervisor needs to decide if they'll pull in more employees to make a shift easier, or send a few home so that the business saves money. You might get handed responsibilities like counting drawers at the end of the day or supervising closing and opening shifts. However, the manager at this store just randomly took it upon themself to fire a couple of young workers… and the head boss was not pleased with that choice at all! 

Firing employees isn't something every manager can just decide to do. Just because a supervisor is having a bad day or decides they want to get rid of a certain employee, doesn't mean they're allowed to on any level. So when this person went to r/AmItheA****** to ask for advice about what they did, the internet swiftly told them how stupid their choice was, and pretty unanimously informed them that they were wrong. 

Next, check out some terrible birthday presents that people shared that made them shake their heads, like one person who "got a check… for $5. It bounced and cost me $10."

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  • 01
    AITA for firing two high schoolers at my workplace?
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 02
    I work as a manager at a store that is very popular for high schoolers to be hired at because it starts at minimum wage and has flexible hours. Think of your Subway type of store.
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 03
    Currently at work, we have two teenagers who are good workers. They do everything we ask, are kind to customers, and in general are very competent.
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 04
    Well, the other manager staff and I had a meeting last week to talk about how shifts will be decreasing once August begins due to winter approaching, which means generally less customers. Since everybody would be working less, I took initiative and decided to let go of the two teenagers who are on the
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 05
    workforce, since they would be busy with school soon and it would be unfair to continue to give them shifts when there are people who need this job to pay bills.
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 06
    My boss was not happy with this decision of mine. I told the two teens in a respectful way what the situation was and that it was no means because of their work ethic, but simply because there wouldn't be enough shifts to go around.
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 07
    One of the teenagers came in to work the next day to ask how to pick up his last paycheck, and my boss was working then. I got a call saying I was fired for attempting to fire them and the two teens have been rehired.
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 08
    After talking to several of my friends and SO, many people are mad at me for this and say I was rightfully fired. So Reddit, AITA for attempting to fire the teenagers?
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 09
    Edit: To clarify a few things, there's a lot of comments saying that the teens could have needed the money, but I've interacted several times with them when it's a slow day, and both of them are simply working to get work experience. Neither of them is saving the money or giving it to their family. Also, at my work all
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 10
    managers are able to hire and fire at their own discretion. I can see now after reading through the comments that I should have talked to them before firing them.
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 11
    waste_away_ YTA, if they haven't done anything to get fired, you could have just kept them hired and explained that you would be cutting hours for everyone? They would probably even be understanding if you had to
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 12
    cut their hours more than others' and could make the choice to quit or not based off that. Firing them is extreme and honestly looks bad on the business you work for.
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 13
    [deleted] YTA it sounds like you never got the okay to fire them, but you "took initiative" aka went over your bosses head, and did it anyways. Absolute karma that you got fired and the damage you did was undone.
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 14
    KillCreatures YTA. You can't legally discriminate against them based on their age, which you did. Your boss was right to fire you, you could have caused a lawsuit.
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 15
    [deleted] I would argue YTA for firing individuals because of their personal lives. That's their private life and as a business it seems unethical to hire and fire employees based on any personal reasons. You wouldn't hire someone just because they're poor, and your shouldnt fire someone just because they're not struggling.
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 16
    Neon Lights12 YTA. "Took the initiative" = Didn't have authority. And who's to say those "kids" didn't need the money and weren't helping support their family? I sure the f was at 16. I would've went to your boss that day, you should be grateful they didn't go to corporate on your
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 17
    Rosie_Queen YTA I can't believe you did. that behind your bosses back! How do you know the teens don't have bills or aren't saving for college? Why do you think they are working? Gas money, prom money, etc. Who cares if others have rent to pay if they can't outwork high schoolers.
    via u/AITA_summerjob
  • 18
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    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

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getting fired teens boss firing story aita workplace-stories firing jobs fired manager job teenagers bosses work workplace
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