'I'm basically fired at this point': Boss demands female employee use her personal money to fund training for work trip in Japan, she refuses, he accuses her of not being a team player

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Aug 22, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

Sometimes our 9-5 jobs can feel like a 5-9, taking up way too much of our brain power and energy that it should. In the story below, the protagonist is a woman who's supposed to fly to Japan to give a tour there. Obviously this takes skill, expertise, and certain training. Her entitled boss refuses to pay the appropriate amount to fund her to be a capable woman for the job. Can you believe it? Imagine being asked to fly all the way to Japan for a work trip, train there, give a tour, and that your boss will only cover 50% of the expenses. Japan isn't Greece, it's not cheap there, and in fact it's known for being very expensive. 


You'll have to read the full story below to see what happens, if she flies to Japan, and if she actually ends up being fired. It's times like these you might think to yourself, "I'll just move to France," but alas, were stuck in the rat wheel of working until then.

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  • 01

    AITAH for not collaborating with my boss who refuses to cover training costs?

    Woman fired from work
    via andresr from Getty Images Signature / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Long story short: My boss wants me to guide a trip in Japan which requires significant travel and research prior to leading it.
    via u/kainodasher

  • Could you imagine if your boss asked you to fork up this amount of money? It's not just entitled, it's out of legal bounds of the company. There's no reason the company shouldn't pay 100% of a company trip. She should find a better job. 

  • 03
    He says that he is willing to pay for half of the expenses for this training and I told him I will only work for him if he paid for all training costs on top of my salary.
    via u/kainodasher
  • 04
    Boss then proceeds to say that I am not a team player and that I have an uncooperative attitude that is aggressive.
    via u/kainodasher
  • 05
    I respond by saying that part of maintaining healthy professional relationships involve providing
    via u/kainodasher
  • 06
    the financial resources needed for mandatory training to foster a productive work environment.
    via u/kainodasher
  • 07
    I'm basically fired but at this point I don't really care if my work doesn't even cover training and
    via u/kainodasher
  • 08
    that they expect me to pay 50% out of my own pocket for a necessary job function.
    via u/kainodasher
  • 09
    DynkoFromTheN... • 18h ago NTA. This I would consider theft.
    via u/DynkoFromTheNorth
  • 10
    IDGAF53 18h ago Document everything. CC or BCC all emails to your own account, in case something goes legal
    via u/IDGAF53
  • 11
    Cocoa AlmondsRock 18h ago NTA. You don't pay ANYTHING out of pocket - not for the training, not for the trip. Not one dime.
    via u/CocoaAlmondsRock
  • 12
    MuchDevelopmen... ⚫ 17h ago So, by not paying company expenses out of pocket. You're not a team player. Got it. lol
    via u/MuchDevelopment7084
  • 13
    Araxanna 18h ago If they fire you over this, take them to court for wrongful termination. Try to get at least 2 years' worth of salary.
    via u/Araxanna
  • 14
    Sofa-Head 16h ago In Ireland any training mandated by the company is by law, paid by the company.
    via u/Sofa-Head
  • 15
    BeginningSun247 • 16h ago Team Player does not mean "willing to be exploited"
    via u/BeginningSun247
  • 16
    MumziDarlin • 17h ago Kindly asking everyone who is responding to this to
    via u/MumziDarlin
  • 17
    Japan
    via Stephane Bidouze / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 18
    support their local teachers during their next contract negotiations.
    via u/MumziDarlin
  • 19
    Courses that I NEED for recertification are not reimbursed fully at all. Each course costs close to $2,000,
    via u/MumziDarlin
  • 20
    Tokyo at night
    via Aleksandar Pasaric from Pexels / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 21
    (those are online - the in- person courses cost a lot more) and our district balked, a LOT at moving
    via u/MumziDarlin
  • 22
    away from $450 for course reimbursement. They moved a little, over 3 years. My health insurance has gone up a lot (I pay over $17,500
    via u/MumziDarlin
  • 23
    in a wealthy district. No, our salary is not compensated for this, and the school board tells us their hands
    via u/MumziDarlin
  • 24
    are tied. "The town can't afford it." Please support your teachers.
    via u/MumziDarlin
  • 25
    Leah_Slays 18h ago NTA. He was trying to pull a fast one on you
    via u/Leah_Slays
  • 26
    RJack151 17h ago Time to lodge a complaint against him to HR. Then if he tried to fire you, you have it on file on what he is trying to make you do.
    via u/RJack151

Tags

boss workplace-stories fired toxic-workplace drama work relationships lol love workplace Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit funny money dating
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