'You're next': Employee's manager warns him about his job security after getting unceremoniously fired over "excessive absences"

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Nov 11, 2025 4:00 PM EST

At least this dude's manager gave him a fair warning!

This employee watched as his supervisor, who was one of the rare decent guys in middle management, get unceremoniously fired for bogus reasons. Upper management claimed that it was due to what they referred to as "excessive absences." The author knew that this meant he was in trouble. After a series of health issues that meant he was late to work on a number of occasions, he became immediately concerned about his job security at the company.

Then, his now former manager pulled the author aside on his last day and delivered the two words no one wants to hear from someone who just got dismissed from your workplace: "you're next." 

Yes, after the employee heard those dreaded words, he faced a dilemma. On the one hand, he could play delusional and assume that his ex-boss doesn't know what he's talking about. On the other hand, he could face reality and begin to strategically plan his exit. Keep scrolling below for the author's full account of what seems like his final days at the company.

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  • A young businessman sits on the stairs in front of a corporate building with a box of his personal items and documents blowing in the wind.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • Some employees would like to think that there is a third option here, in which the employee could try to prove that he's not expendable in his role. However, it was clear that if a decision had, in fact, been made, there was nothing that would change upper management's mind. It's a better use of time to update that resume and begin the process of moving on. 

  • "My manager was just fired. His last words to me were 'You're next.'"

    Last week, my manager was fired under the pretext of 'excessive absences.' The truth is, he was sick with a bad cold, and management saw it as a good opportunity to let him go.
    via Acceptable-Alps8489
  • He and I were in a similar situation. I had some health issues that messed with my medication, so my punctuality was a mess. At my job, they use a 'point system' for tardiness. If
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  • you accumulate 4 points, you get a warning. Three warnings and you're fired. We both had accumulated about 11 points. He managed to make a deal with HR
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  • and the previous regional manager (who, by the way, was also let go to bring in this new guy) that we could keep our jobs as long as we kept our points under control. One point is removed every 90 days. I
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  • managed to get mine down from 11 to 7, and in a few more weeks, it'll be 6. By the beginning of February, my record will be completely clean.
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  • This morning, he came to pack up his desk. He pulled me aside in the hallway and dropped the bombshell: I'm next. He told me that the 'new support role' they posted for our department isn't a
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  • support role at all - it's my replacement. My days are numbered until they hire someone. He also told me the real reason he was fired was that he had proof our new manager
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  • was falsifying performance reports to make our branch look better. And now that guy is in charge of everything, and all of us on the front lines are walking on eggshells.
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  • I feel completely trapped. This Friday, there's a big 'all-hands' meeting to discuss all the recent changes. Should I take my old manager's words seriously and start updating my CV? Or should I play dumb and hope he's wrong?
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  • I tried asking about professional development opportunities, and they told me to book a meeting with the same person who fired my manager. Honestly, facing a hungry lion would be easier.
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  • My stomach is in knots from anxiety. I'm so confused, and frankly, terrified. Part of me wants to believe I can fix this, but the other part is screaming at me to get out immediately.
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  • Well, it is time to update my resume. I am now sure that I will get fired very soon. No time to panic, I have to act fast and start looking for a new job. I can't afford not having a job. I know the market is brutal right now.
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  • A young businessman sits on the stairs in front of a corporate building with a box of his personal items and a bottle in his hand.
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • LogicalPerformer7... Look for a new job. No one forces you to accept the offer if the situation calms down. But having backup plan is never bad.
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  • autonomouswriter. I would say definitely polish your CV and start looking for a new job (without breathing a word to anyone at your current place, of course). He may be wrong or right, but it can't hurt to be prepared for anything.
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  • ailish Start looking for a new job just in case. Sounds like it would be better anyway even if your manager was full of it.
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  • Wasteofskin50. Get out now. But, not before you get that information from your manager about what he said was going on.
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  • Then, go scorched earth. These leeches and soulless animals can eat each other. You will be fine.
    via Acceptable-Alps8489
  • A young businessman sits on the stairs in front of a corporate building with a box of his personal items and documents blowing in the wind.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

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workplace-stories fired toxic-workplace fired story work toxic-boss workplace Horrible Bosses employment toxic-work-environment
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