Employee gets fired on the spot after making an ‘unprofessional’ joke about the CEO being bald, to the CEO's face: ‘It genuinely felt like an innocent, self-deprecating joke’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jan 23, 2025 9:00 AM EST

We've all had moments where our brain has lost every last shred of common sense, and we end up doing a stupid thing that later prevents us from being able to go to sleep at night.

90% of the time, as much as those moments make us cringe and feel like the dumbest people on Earth, they are harmless. Sure, we might have made fools of ourselves, but it would probably be forgotten by everyone else in a matter of hours, and you can hopefully just move on.

But in the other 10% of the time, well, those moments actually do have consequences. 

Saying something dumb to a stranger is usually harmless. For example, when a server tells you to enjoy your meal and you reply with 'you too', a harmless mistake that they probably haven't even clocked. Saying something dumb to a boss, however, can result in more than just an awkward moment in the office, it can very well cause you to lose something important, like your workplace dignity, or even your job.

Advertisement

  • The employee in the story down below didn't think that the joke they made in front of their company's CEO was that bad, but it was apparently bad enough that it cost them their job.

    However, it doesn't seem like this story will cause the now unemployed fella to lose any sleep, as they seem to think they didn't do anything wrong. Even if other people strongly disagree.

    I don't want to give away too much of the tale, because it is genuinely hilarious, so please scroll down to read it all. 

  • 01
    "Don't joke about the boss's appearance, no matter how relatable you think it is"
    via Lipik Stock Media

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02

    "TIFU by joking about the CEO's baldness and getting fired for it"

    So, this happened today, and I still can't believe it. Our CEO, who usually works from a different location, visited our office. Now, to give some context-he's completely
    via jorisssssss
  • 03
    bald, and I've been dealing with a receding hairline for a while now. It's something I've come to accept, and I often joke about it with my friends. and coworkers.
    via jorisssssss
  • 04
    Anyway, when the CEO arrived, he was accompanied by my direct superior, the main coordinator of our department. I was introduced to the CEO, and in a moment
    via jorisssssss
  • 05
    of what I thought was lighthearted humor, I decided to make a little joke. I casually said, "I'll be the same as you soon." He looked at me a bit confused
    via jorisssssss
  • 06
    and asked, "The same as me how?" Without missing a beat, I replied, "Bald." There was this awkward silence that followed. My
    via jorisssssss
  • 07
    superior's face immediately changed, and the CEO just stared at me for a second, then gave an awkward chuckle before moving on. I
    via jorisssssss
  • 08
    thought maybe it wasn't a big deal. Fast forward a few hours, I get called into my boss's office. Long story short, I was informed that my comment was inappropriate
    via jorisssssss
  • 09
    and unprofessional, and it didn't align with the company's values of respect and workplace decorum. Before I knew it, I was being let go.
    via jorisssssss
  • 10
    Now, looking back, I can see how it might have been taken the wrong way, but at the time, it genuinely felt like an innocent, self-deprecating joke. I guess I
    via jorisssssss
  • 11
    underestimated how seriously some people take these things, especially when they're at the top. Lesson learned: maybe don't joke
    via jorisssssss
  • 12
    about the boss's appearance, no matter how relatable you think it is. Was it worth it? YES! funny a. Would I do it again? Probably yes.
    via jorisssssss
  • 13
    TL;DR: Met the bald CEO, joked about my own receding hairline, got fired.
    via jorisssssss

  • This definitely would have made me lose a few nights of sleep and maybe a few extra strands of hair. But at least the employee found it funny, and didn't seem to regret their actions! 

    Let's hope their next boss will have flowing and lush head of hair.

  • 14
    LordShtark You thought it was self- deprecating to deprecate yourself by comparing yourself to another person...to their face?
    via jorisssssss
  • 15
    Brisball Probably Fired For Being unfunny. If you said, "I see we have the same barber", you would have got a promotion.
    via jorisssssss
  • 16
    jorisssssss OP Good point.
    via jorisssssss
  • 17
    digital_wino A CEO that can't take a joke about being bald (especially in this context), is NOT a CEO that I would want to work for.
    via jorisssssss
  • 18
    jorisssssss OP Me either :D
    via jorisssssss
  • 19
    egnards Jokes like that are best done in a controlled setting - You may know your direct supervisor, but you've never met the CEO before, you have no relationship with that person, and they have no relationship with you.
    via jorisssssss
  • 20
    It comes off as tone deaf to call out their baldness [even if it's a seemingly mild thing], in a setting where you're meeting someone for the first time. It's like if I walked up to the CEO and said "hey look, we both I have adult acne!!!"
    via jorisssssss
  • 21
    Cheezburger Image 10458177280
    via Werner Pfennig

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 22
    jorisssssss OP You know what's the funniest is that he laughed and I don't know what happened next.
    via jorisssssss
  • 23
    subtleeffect You might want to work on your joke delivery
    via jorisssssss
  • 24
    harm_and_amor I don't think it counts as self- deprecating humor if your joke deprecates another person more than it deprecates you. In fact, it probably doesn't count if anyone other than you is also deprecated by the joke.
    via jorisssssss
  • 25
    iamthatguy54 This is a joke you make with your friends, not with your boss.
    via jorisssssss
  • 26
    Wereallgonnadieman Never remark on the appearance of a colleague, ever. Just don't do it. This outcome isn't surprising, at all. Learn from this.
    via jorisssssss
  • 27
    womp-womp-rats A self-deprecating joke is a joke where you are the punch line. In your joke, the CEO was the punch line.
    via jorisssssss

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

boss workplace-stories employee fired manager job jokes work reddit story ceo workplace tifu unprofessional Reddit company funny
Scroll Down For The Next Article