Company fires employee for no reason, immediately hounds them to return equipment within 24 hours: 'Are they trying to intimidate me?'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Nov 22, 2025 10:00 AM EST

Jobs are a lot like relationships. You'd rather leave than be left. 

It's a lot easier when you're in the driver's seat. But you aren't always in control of that. Sometimes you can get dumped for no reason at all, and you'll spend your precious time trying to figure out why. Getting fired is never easy, no matter what the reason is. What's even worse is being fired for no reason at all, at least one you can discern. If you know why it's happening, you can better prepare for it, and it won't be as big a blow to your self-esteem. But if you're left to wonder why, you might be wondering forever. 

If you get fired without reason, the least you can hope for is a smooth exit. You hope your employers make it as painless as possible to move on to something else. But that's not what happened in this story, where an employee was fired and then immediately chased down for equipment. Sure, you're going to be expected to return property of the company, but there are ways to ask for it politely. 

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  • A man looks confused and upset on the phone in his apartment.
    via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

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

  • The employee was left wondering if there was something more going on under the surface. They weren't sure if this was a typical firing or if there was something larger at play. Commenters came in with their ideas. Scroll on to read the full story and make your guess as to what was going on. 

  • 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 u/DustyJames3
  • 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 u/DustyJames3
  • 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 u/DustyJames3
  • 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 u/DustyJames3
  • 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 u/DustyJames3
  • 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 u/DustyJames3
  • 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 u/DustyJames3
  • A man holds his face in his hands, upset.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • Commenters gave their thoughts and opinions.

    Varnigma 18h ago 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 u/Varnigma
  • I_Stabbed_Jon_Snow . 18h ago "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 u/I_Stabbed_Jon_Snow
  • H3rbert_Kornfeld 18h ago Make them send you a shipping label for the return. Do not pay out of pocket.
    via u/H3rbert_Kornfeld
  • mybreakfastiscold 18h ago 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.
    via u/mybreakfastiscold
  • 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 agreeable leadership.
    via u/mybreakfastiscold
  • 1quirky1 18h ago > 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.
    via u/1quirky1
  • > 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 themselves legally?
    via u/1quirky1
  • You haven't shared anything that could be considered unlawful termination so they don't need any legal cover. > Or am I reading too much into it because the timing is just so awful? You are reading too much into this because the company is awful. While it affects you personally, try not to take it personally.
    via u/1quirky1
  • So you were out Friday to Sunday. It is Tuesday now. What happened yesterday? Be sure to get a copy of your work for your own records before returning the equipment at their expense. Box it up. Guess the weight and add five pounds. Then tell them the dimensions/weight so that they can send you a shipping label.
    via u/1quirky1
  • Don't foolishly tamper with any data or equipment. They're naturally behaving awfully and can easily get nastier with you if you give them a reason.
    via u/1quirky1
  • Outrageous_Duck3227 • 19h ago 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 u/Outrageous_Duck3227
  • Phosis21 18h ago • 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 u/Phosis21
  • Harrigan_Raen . 18h ago 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 u/Harrigan_Raen
  • Eighteen-and-8 • 19h ago 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.
    via u/Eighteen-and-8
  • 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 u/Eighteen-and-8
  • badhouseplantbad • 19h ago 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 u/badhouseplantbad
  • • februarytide- 16h ago In my experience (HR), they're asking about dimensions because they are sending you a prepaid box to return your stuff. Also in my experience, they're blowing it up because their offboarding checklist doesn't exist, or wasn't followed, and now they're backtracking.
    via u/februarytide-
  • imontene 16h ago . They've already hired your replacement (someone's nephew), and they need your equipment because he starts tomorrow.
    via u/imontene

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getting fired boss antiwork workplace-stories fired toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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