Company forces experienced IT employee to train their junior replacement after firing them, employee teaches him everything wrong: 'You sabotaged us'

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Oct 20, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

The employee in the story below was not happy to be fired, to say the least. It wasn't just because they felt like they gave their heart and soul for this IT position for 6 years; it was due to the way the company decided to bring these 6 years to an end.

The reason this employee was fired was that the company thought someone with less experience could do it for less money. So, for their last two weeks on the job, this employee had to train their junior replacement, Derek, or else they would not receive their severance package.

Feeling petty, the employee decided that they were going to train Derek to do everything… completely wrong. Every task, every command, every important detail was being told to Derek the other way around. So on Derek's first day on the job on his own, everything caught on fire.

The company was quick to blame their ex-employee for Derek's misinformed operation, but the employee refused to take the blame.

Keep scrolling to read how the rest of the story went down.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10564932352
    via BartekSzewczyk

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

  • 02

    Company forced me to train my replacement after they fired me, so I taught him everything wrong

    I worked in IT for a mid-size company for 6 years. I was good at my job, never had issues, got solid reviews.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 03
    Then new management came in 8 months ago and started cutting costs everywhere. Three weeks ago my manager calls me in and says they're "restructuring" and my position is being eliminated.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 04
    But heres the thing - they werent eliminating the position. They hired some kid fresh out of college who'd work for half my salary.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 05
    They told me I had 2 weeks left. And during those 2 weeks I was expected to train my replacement.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 06
    The kid - lets call him Derek - seemed nice enough. Wasnt his fault. But I was so angry at the company I couldnt think straight.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 07
    So I trained him. I trained him real good. Our system for database backups? I told him it runs automatically and he never has to touch it.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 08
    In reality someone has to manually verify it every Friday or it corrupts. I'd been doing it for 6 years.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 09
    The server restart procedure that has to be done in a specific order or everything crashes?
    via angelf**kzme
  • 10
    I taught him the wrong order. Told him it didnt matter which order you do it.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 11
    Password management system? I told him the master password resets every 90 days automatically. It
    via angelf**kzme
  • 12
    After 90 days without a manual reset the whole system locks everyone out and takes 3 days to fix.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 13
    The printer network that's held together with duct tape and prayers? I told him if it acts up just restart the print server.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 14
    Do NOT restart the print server. You have to clear the queue first or it bricks the whole network and costs $2000 to fix.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 15
    Every single thing I taught him was wrong. Not obviously wrong - like, close enough that he wouldnt question it.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 16
    But wrong enough that it would cause serious problems. I documented everything I "taught" him in detailed training notes that he signed off on.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 17
    So theres proof I trained him exactly like they asked. My last day was Friday. I cleared out my desk, said goodbye to the few coworkers I liked, and left.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 18
    Today (Monday) I woke up to 47 missed calls from my old manager and the IT director.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 19
    Then my phone rang again. Manager: "What the hell did you teach Derek?!" Me: "I trained him on everything.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 20
    You have my training documentation." Manager: "The database backup corrupted over the weekend. We lost client data.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 21
    Derek said you told him it was automatic." Me: "I trained him according to company procedures." Manager: "He restarted the servers wrong and crashed our entire system.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 22
    We've been down for 3 hours!" Me: "Sounds like he needs more training. Unfortunately Im no longer employed there." Manager: "You sabotaged us!
    via angelf**kzme
  • 23
    Cheezburger Image 10564933120
    via shironosov

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

  • 24
    You taught him wrong on purpose!" Me: "I have 6 years of excellent performance reviews and detailed training documentation showing I trained my replacement exactly as requested.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 25
    If Derek cant do the job maybe you shouldve kept someone with experience." Manager: "We could sue you for this!" Me: "For training my replacement?
    via angelf**kzme
  • 26
    You required me to do that. I have emails. Also I dont work there anymore so good luck with that." He hung up.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 27
    Then HR called. I didn't answer. Then the CEO called somehow? Also didnt answer. My buddy who still works there texted me.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 28
    Apparently everything is on fire. The database thing lost them a major client. The server crash wiped important files.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 29
    The password system locked everyone out this morning. The printer network died and theyre gonna have to pay to fix it.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 30
    Derek apparently had a breakdown and quit this afternoon. Just walked out. Now they have no IT person and everything's broken and its gonna cost them probably $50k+ to fix plus whatever they lose from clients jumping ship.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 31
    My severance package hit my account this morning. They cant take it back - I fulfilled my contract by training my replacement.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 32
    I have documentation proving it. My girlfriend thinks I went too far. Says I couldve just done a bad job training him, not actively sabotaged the company.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 33
    But they fired me to save money and expected me to help them do it. They dangled my severance over my head to force me to train the kid replacing me.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 34
    So I did exactly what they asked. I trained him. Not my fault he was a bad student.
    via angelf**kzme
  • 35
    They said if I didnt train him properly I wouldnt get my severance package.
    via angelf**kzme

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replacement boss workplace-stories employee fired manager job tales-from-the-workplace reddit story ceo overworked-employees workplace Tech Reddit company funny
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