Grocery store employee fired after one trial shift, then reprimanded for not showing up to their next shift: 'I didn't know I was scheduled!'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 24, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

It seems that this employee would be better off working somewhere else anyway. Considering how poorly management handled the termination of this person, we're confident that they will find another opportunity working for more organized and decent employers. 

Firing someone might be inevitable, and while it's certainly not an easy thing to do, there are definitely bad ways of handling it. If someone had to be let go, I would assume they would prefer it to be done privately and with all other logistics considered and sorted out. That means when their final day is, when they need to return necessary materials (electronics, uniforms, etc.), and when other members of the team will be made aware of the dismissal. All of that needs to be decided and communicated carefully and with clarity. Otherwise, those final days on the job will be a big old mess.

For this author, they were asked to do a trial shift, which consisted of a few hours at the store followed by an entire day's worth of work. Then, their boss started coordinating the schedule and said they would get back to the author the next day. That day went by, as did another day. It took a long time before the author was told they were fired. When it finally happened, other colleagues were not made aware of it, and that's when chaos ensued.

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    JANE 1,99
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • Imagine finding out you're fired and then while you're in the midst of processing that information, you learn from another colleague that you're in trouble for not showing up to a shift you didn't even realize you were scheduled for…

    In one sense, it could help ease the pain to know that this store is wildly disorganized. In another sense, you're still getting yelled at, and that could only add salt to the wound depending on how resilient you are…

  • 02
    I started at a grocery store hot food counter. I was "hired" after my resume got to them from another counter I interviewed for.
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360
  • 03
    I agreed and did the three hour "trial" and one whole day on Saturday, with him saying he will send me the schedule Sunday.
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360
  • 04
    He messaged me on Sunday asking if I would prefer another food counter, assuming he was using it to make the schedule. No response. Monday? No response.
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360
  • 05
    Tuesday comes, I finally get a response and it's him telling me how management doesn't think I am a fit for the job.."sorry for the late updates" and come 12 PM, a
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360
  • 06
    colleague called me angry asking why I am not in. I didn't know I was scheduled. He refused to communicate to me until...today. I
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360
  • 07
    am aware he has days off but he's the manager and he has asked of me to respond promptly. Even "double texting" with a question mark lol. Kind of a bummer he just kind of sprung it on me but...dodged a bullet? Lol
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360
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    JANE
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • 09
    wongatronus 18h ago Dodged the whole magazine of bullets there
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  • 10
    CautiousBasil2055 18h ago I hope you got paid for the "trial shift."
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    JakobWulfkind 18h ago • Make sure that they pay you for the trial shift, and file a labor department claim if they don't.
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  • 12
    SI ole 18h ago We need to end normalizing texting between employees and bosses regarding work schedules. They should post
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  • 13
    them physically at the workplace and provide an online portal so you can see your schedule. This bulls texting scheme only hurts employees.
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  • 14
    WestCoastTrawler 18h ago . Trial shift? What a scam. Ask them for a trial paycheck next time
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  • 15
    KateKoffing 17h ago Your employer is required to pay you for hours worked. There is no such thing as a trial shift.
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360
  • 16
    Twittenhouse • 14h ago I was a bagger at a grocery store for five months. They opened a cafeteria area that was full service, salad bar, smoothies, sushi bar, deli, they had like eight different stations to get food.
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360
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    I asked my manager if I could work at one of the stations because I knew they were making more money.
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360
  • 18
    He just said there weren't any openings yet so ask him again in a week. I was so tired of bagging and asking paper or plastic?
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360
  • 19
    I asked one last time about working at the smoothie bar and he just said baggers can't be juicers.
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360
  • 20
    3 parkesc 18h ago . Dodged a Remington factory.
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360
  • 21
    doubleOnein • 13h ago Once a company asked me to trail a whole month to see if I was a fit. I agreed but asked for a ball park figure on my salary. The owner says let's discuss after a month. I simply walked out.
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360
  • 22
    MarginalOmnivore 17h ago Does it say anywhere that the trial shift was unpaid? Because they are absolutely a thing that happens, and I am trying to figure out where "trial shift" suddenly was a synonym for "unpaid intern."
    via Puzzled_Koala_3360

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terrible coworkers getting fired workplace-stories fired work stories toxic-workplace job fired story work coworkers toxic-work-environment grocery store
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