Employee fired via web meeting by an executive she never met along with colleague finds out her boss didn’t know she was losing 2 team members: ‘my boss told us she wasn’t aware of any meetings with upper management’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Feb 22, 2025 1:00 PM EST

The corporate world has many tricks up its sleeve: the pointless meeting, the reply-all email chain, and the mysterious lunch thief. But one of its true masterpieces is turning employee termination into a stealth operation that would make seasoned samurai proud. It's like they're following a "How to Traumatize Your Staff" handbook, complete with appendices on maximum psychological impact.

Gone are the days when getting fired meant a somber chat with your boss and a cardboard box for your desktop succulent. Now it's all about the surprise calendar invite from an executive you've never met—like getting a party invitation from a stranger, except instead of cake, you get unemployment. The modern layoff comes with exciting features like sudden digital exile: one minute you're a tech-savvy laborer checking Slack, the next you're checking the job listing section of a newspaper like you're a real-life black-and-white photograph. Locked out faster than someone who forgot their Facebook password.

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  • "Today I got laid off via GoToMeeting webinar. My boss didn’t know about it."

    "I logged on today to see a new meeting on my calendar from an exec I've never once said a word to"
    via Jazmin Tabuena

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

  • One employee's seven-year commitment to her company ended via A web conferencing webinar—a digital termination so swift that even her boss didn't know she was losing team members. But the overall inadequacy doesn’t stop there–Her boss's boss got axed too, creating a corporate version of musical chairs where everyone loses their seat or little Zoom window at once.

    But hey, at least they saved money on those farewell cards nobody wants to sign anyway.

  • I logged on today to see a new meeting on my calendar from an exec I've never once said a word to- and not HR either.
    via Beckythetechie
  • I asked some of my team members if anyone else got the same invite and only one other did. We asked the rest of our team and my boss told us she wasn't aware of any meetings
    via Beckythetechie
  • with upper management going on the calendar/try to stay calm. Next thing we know, we got kicked out of our Slack and email accounts before we could even be told "today is your last day"
    via Beckythetechie
  • I texted my boss to let her know what was going on. She called me to check in with me once she could but she was completely blindsided by the fact that she was losing 2 team members. Her boss also got let go.
    via Beckythetechie
  • Cheezburger Image 10470458624
    via Dean Drobot

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

  • We're getting severance but I'm underwhelmed by mine. I'd been with the company for 7 years and am getting 2 months salary. According to my other teammate who was included in this layoff, they are unwilling to negotiate severance.
    via Beckythetechie
  • The writing was on the wall for a while but this was next-level cruel and cowardly. I'm glad I stopped going above & beyond once I saw the red flags... onto the next.
    via Beckythetechie
  • Claymore209 Hard work gets rewarded with getting sh-canned just so upper-management can get bigger bonuses. Just happened at my job. The
    via Claymore209
  • guy who hired me, my boss, had turned around a failing store into the companies most profitable location. As a reward, he was swiftly fired so they could take his salary.
    via Claymore209
  • Cheezburger Image 10470475264
    via fizkes

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

  • Unable-Cellist-4277 Sorry about the layoff, that really, really s ks. I hope your next venture is a better environment.
    via Unable-Cellist-4277
  • vonshiza My company's idea of a severance package is two weeks pay, and health insurance ends at midnight.
    via vonshiza
  • MsAmes321 What state do you live in? Check your department of labor for WARN law requirements, some states have requirements for giving you notice of a layoff and if they don't give you
    via MsAmes321
  • that time in warning then they have to pay that out to you on top of severance. Sorry this happened, good luck out there.
    via MsAmes321
  • Courtcourt4040 Hostess told people to bring the trucks back and that it was their last day. No severance or even amy vacation that they had accrued. They also didn't
    via Courtcourt4040
  • pay the union dues. All the Teamsters did was ask for the union dues. 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. Sorry you all are going through this. This is terrible
    via Courtcourt4040
  • Unlikely_Recipe6219 Don't kid yourself, she knew.
    via Unlikely_Recipe6219
  • Pottski That's why a lawyer will be negotiating with them instead. Don't roll over and accept this OP.
    via Pottski
  • The_Slavstralian Your direct report knew, They would have been instructed to keep quiet. Its pretty normal.
    via The_Slavstralian
  • Apprehensive-List927 This s ks but two months severance for 7 years is pretty fair. Some companies don't pay any or pay a max amount like 4 weeks or whatever. Good luck to you but it sounds like a sh employer and hopefully you find something better.
    via Apprehensive-List927
  • void How do you negotiate severance? "If you dont pay me more, i wont leave"?
    via v0id
  • zemol42 lol, for front-line workers, I was scratching my head at that too. You'd need some sort of leverage, like a legal threat or some form of long-term equity structure
    via zemol42
  • that you agree to give up in exchange for the upfront severance payout. Usually only officers have this stuff built into their employment agreement.
    via zemol42

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management boss workplace-stories hr toxic-workplace manager bosses work PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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