Retaliatory boss fires colleague before they could file a claim against her, employee fears they're next on the chopping block: ‘I am next on her list’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Apr 3, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Retaliatory work practices are against the law; that's a fact. Most companies nowadays, though, have "at-will" termination clauses in their company contracts to protect themselves from lawsuits that accuse them of discriminatory or retaliatory practices. There are (usually) safeguards in place to protect employees from harassment, retaliation as a result of speaking up about harassment, and getting fired for reporting something they had the right to report.

When you see a coworker who clearly had many bad things to say about your boss get slashed from the company because they were planning on filing a claim against said boss, you might have to take measures outside of the company. You never know who you can trust in a workplace that prioritizes a higher-up's power-hungry personality rather than an employee's safety and comfort at the company… and the employee in this next story is realizing that they might be next after their coworker is fired. Let's hope they can fill out paperwork faster than their boss can take the temperature on what they think of her…

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  • In super competitive environments, work pressure is inevitable. Though this is true, it's up to leaders in the company to develop practices that protect the employees' mental and physical health despite the heavy workload they anticipated before coming to work there. Often, an employee might not be able to regulate the amount of work they're doing for fear of seeming like a slacker to their supervisor, and in doing so, succumb to the pressure of it all. This employee, however, refuses to be just another cog in the machine.

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    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • "Boss fires people who try to speak out against her, and I fear I am next"

    Hi everyone. I have been at this workplace for over 3 years now. For context, I am a paralegal (basically, we are what nurses are to doctors, but in the lawyer context).
    via PracticalCurrent8409
  • I work with two lawyers. One is amazing, very organized and great to work with. The other one... she is overall messy, unorganized and always behind
    via PracticalCurrent8409
  • because she takes on too many cases. But she is very close to the partner... so she gets away with her messy behavior.
    via PracticalCurrent8409
  • We end up having cases for almost 6 months to a year because she takes too long to review and is all over the place. And all of her cases are always
    via PracticalCurrent8409
  • last minute because she just procrastinate, and puts a lot of pressure on paralegals. But she never wants to take accountability and push the blame onto others when things go wrong.
    via PracticalCurrent8409
  • Every time someone tries to speak up against her, they either eventually quit or she fires them. Essentially making their lives miserable.
    via PracticalCurrent8409
  • Cheezburger Image 10488778240
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • Recently, she just fired a coworker who I was very close with... who was about to file a harassment claim against her.
    via PracticalCurrent8409
  • Now, I am starting to sense that she is turning onto me and I am next on her list. I have been pushing back lately because she is expecting too much out of me.
    via PracticalCurrent8409
  • Especially now that she is trying to force my former coworker's work onto me, when I am already at max capacity.
    via PracticalCurrent8409
  • I am considering looking for a job... but for the time being does anyone have advice? I have to work with her for the time being, but need to find a way where she doesn't one day just call me in and fire me.
    via PracticalCurrent8409
  • MinimumBuy1601 1. Start looking for a new gig. 2. Act your wage. Don't take on more work than you can possibly do. This woman is a sociopath and gets off on seeing other people suffer, you accepting more work means your quality will suffer and she will use that against you.
    via MinimumBuy1601
  • 3. Make them fire you. 4. Document, document, document. Eventually she will lose that job when her lack of work ethic affects the entire business, that's when she will find out that the one who hired her is not her friend as much as they like to think. Remember, the best revenge is living well.
    via MinimumBuy1601
  • NefariousnessSweet70 Some day, Someone she fired will file a lawsuit for a variety of issues that will cost that manager and her Buddy a huge ammount. Keep the popcorn handy, and say nothing. Never tip your hand.
    via NefariousnessSweet70
  • JMaAtAPMT Firing has to be for being protected class to be illegal. Harassment is illegal regardless of the reason.
    via JMaAtAPMT
  • Yeetin_Boomer_Actual Prepare to walk out, pushback and keep doing what you're doing. You will be fired. But can you make it unjustified? Make her a liability to the partners.
    via Yeetin_Boomer_Actual
  • PracticalCurrent8409 Only thing that is saving me is that all my reviews have been 4/4. So trying to make the case to fire me suddenly would seem off. But I am having a hard time working with someone who i am losing respect for. Especially after what she did to my other coworker.
    via PracticalCurrent8409
  • NefariousnessSweet70 That friend that just lost their job should be going to their friendly neighborhood employment lawyer. Not only for the harassment suit, but for wrongful termination, and whistle-blower retaliation.
    via NefariousnessSweet70

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boss workplace-stories fired employed fired work stories career advice bosses work coworkers fire reddit story workplace Horrible Bosses reddit thread bad bosses work advice Reddit
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