Employee gets fired with no warning the day their vacation was set to begin, gets a string of frantic messages not even 24 hours later about returning their equipment after they've already left home: 'I cannot get over how insensitive it feels'

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Dec 1, 2025 9:00 AM EST

Getting fired from a job has a sense of uncertain finality to it, as if the known path you had been following out into the darkness has ended, and all around you is blackness with no certain way forward. Sure, your job wasn't always rewarding, your boss only cared about the money you were making him, and there wasn't really that much room for professional growth and personal development… But at least it was familiar and relatively comfortable. Although you can't see the pathway at the moment, before long you'll find your way.

When a company fires someone abruptly, it's portrayed as if some calculated decision is being made words like "fit" and "timing" get bandied about as if there is some kind of hard evidance supporting them. But the minute they start calling you for lost passwords and processes, and just generally trying to get you to explain your job to them, you have to start wondering why they thought they could get on without you in the first place. 

This worker experienced something like this when they found themselves suddenly fired unceremoniously right as their PTO was set to start. A process that seemed calm and calculated during their dismissal changed rather quickly once they started receiving the frantic messages, not even 24 hours afterward, asking them to return their equipment. It's a bit like that ex calling you late at night, a few days later, to get you to help them move some furniture. 

Here's the thing: if the owner of your ex-employer contacts you trying to schedule an urgent meeting, you really should just ignore it. While you might hope that they've had some revelation that they need you after all, it's more than likely that they'll find one last way to blame you for their problems one last time. 

You'd think that they would have thought about all of this beforehand, and at this point, the (now ex) employee had already left for their vacation they had already planned, so their ex-employer would just have to wait.

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  • 01

    "Fired out of nowhere, now my old employer is blowing up my phone about “equipment returns” less than 24 hours later. What is going on?"

    So I was recently fired from my job in a way that still does not make sense. to me. No warnings, no prior concerns, no performance issues ever raised. Just a sudden meeting with leadership where I was told vague things about "fit" and "timelines," but when I asked for examples they literally could not give me a single one.
    via DustyJames3
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10581693696
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • 03
    I'm still wrapping my head around it because up until that moment I had every reason to believe I was doing well. I had recently delivered a big project that went smoothly, the client renewed for additional work, and leadership publicly praised it. I also genuinely liked my coworkers and made a point to recognize people and show appreciation. So this was... jarring, to say the least.
    via DustyJames3
  • 04
    Here's where things get weird. Not even 24 hours after firing me, my former employer starts blowing up my inbox and phone about "the dimensions of the equipment" I'm returning. Not "hey just ship it back when you can," but multiple emails a day from the single HR person plus missed calls. Then out of nowhere the company owner sends me a vague message asking if I'm "available to talk this afternoon."
    via DustyJames3
  • 05
    To add context: I had clearly marked PTO on my work calendar for Friday through Sunday. I was literally in the desert, very off-grid, with no service. And they're still firing off messages like I'm ignoring them. Meanwhile I'm sitting here still trying to process getting fired, and they're acting like I'm holding their equipment hostage.
    via DustyJames3
  • 06
    Part of me irrationally wants to believe the owner is reaching out because someone realized the firing was rushed or handled poorly. But the realistic part of me knows it's probably just another angle to get me on the phone so they can pressure me about the return process or verify my location.
    via DustyJames3
  • 07
    For the record, I fully intend to return everything promptly and professionally. I'm not trying to keep anything. But I cannot get over how insensitive and tone deaf it feels to immediately harass someone for logistics less than a day after terminating them. Especially when they knew I had PTO planned and would be nowhere near home.
    via DustyJames3
  • 08
    Has anyone dealt with this? Is this normal? Are they trying to intimidate me? Cover themselves legally? Or am I reading too much into it because the timing is just so awful? Any perspective would be appreciated. I'm still pretty shaken and trying to make sense of why they're acting like this.
    via DustyJames3
  • 09
    Varnigma Tell them to send you a prepaid shipping label and you'll return it. Don't box it up and return on your own dime.
    via DustyJames3
  • 10
    H3rbert Kornfeld Make them send you a shipping label for the return. Do not pay out of pocket.
    via DustyJames3
  • 11
    I_Stabbed_Jon_Snow "As everyone is well aware, I am on vacation away from home. In order for me to promptly address equipment return upon returning from vacation, please have a prepaid shipping label waiting for me." After replying with this ignore all attempts to contact you.
    via DustyJames3
  • 12
    Outrageous_Duck3227 companies just don't care, you're just a number to them. they probably realized they need the equipment back asap for some reason. not surprising. don't expect any empathy. hope you find something better.
    via DustyJames3
  • 13
    mybreakfastiscold Let 'em sweat. Relish in their anxiety. Don't make them any sort of priority. Let them know they don't matter to you. You know they'll get their junk back. They obviously care as little as they can about catering to your needs, so don't you dare cater to theirs. A reasonable timeframe for returning their garbage is within a week or two. Don't get it twisted, their deadlines are no longer your priority. Sorry for your troubles, I sincerely hope your next job has competent and ag
    via DustyJames3
  • 14
    1 quirky1 \> Has anyone dealt with this? I have dealt with equipment return and it was always low-key prepaid shipping boxes sent to my home. \> Is this normal? They are not acting normally or professionally. They are acting in a way that they believe best serves their interests. \> Are they trying to intimidate me? They are eager to get the equipment back for their own reasons that have little to do with you. A good guess is that they need it for the half-price replacement they hired. \> Cover
    via DustyJames3
  • 15
    badhouseplantbad I bet the client found out that you were fired and the company wants it computer back before the client reaches out to you and you copy all your files and go. work for them
    via DustyJames3
  • 16
    Harrigan_Raen They sent you boxes with prepaid shipping... right??? Cause i surely would not send them back the equipment at your expense. Also dont forget to file for unemployment. And try to get it in writing via email to confirm the reason why. Makes getting unemployment that much easier when they agreed it was a firing and not for cause.
    via DustyJames3
  • 17
    Eighteen-and-8 They're only looking out for themselves, not you. Don't want proprietary information (on the equipment in your.possession) to leak out. Definitely don't want you working for their competitor with information on that equipment. Hence their actions. It's not about coming back to work there. You'd be a fool to agree to go back to work for them. Ship that shit with FedEx/UPS tracking #'s and email the tracking #'s and close the chapter on this, in your book of life.
    via DustyJames3
  • 18
    Phosis21 They get their shit back when they send you a box and a prepaid shipping label that gets picked up at your front door. You don't spend one red penny or go out of your way to get them their shit.
    via DustyJames3

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workplace discussion getting fired employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employee employment-discussion job work employees overworked-employees workplace Horrible Bosses employment got fired in the workplace
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