'I'm legit getting fired for attendance when I called off one time': Manager fires employee for calling in sick, then tries to treat it as a resignation

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jan 19, 2026 2:00 PM EST

Everyone should have the right to use their sick days whenever they need to use them without fear of punishment.

Unfortunately for this employee, he fell victim to the impulses of a wildly unethical human resources department. The first red flag appeared when the employee got in trouble for not showing up to work on time, when in reality, there was far more to the story.

The author had not been made aware when he was hired that his manager frequently adjusted shift schedules up to the night before without giving specific notice. So the following day, he did show up on time… but according to a previous draft of the schedule. He was new to the job and thought he and his manager had an understanding about what went wrong. Moving forward, he knew to always check the night before.

The second red flag was waved when, the day after this incident, the employee was asked to sign a form stating he had been late the day before. He signed the form, thinking his manager understood the full context of why the lateness occurred. However, she fooled him. By signing this document, he took full blame for what happened rather than ensuring that there was language in the documentation that reflected the last-minute schedule change.

These questionable moments culminated in the employee's unceremonious dismissal, which occurred after he called in sick. Now, this is the one time he used a sick day, and it was out of genuine need. He couldn't keep anything down and even forced himself to come into work on subsequent days despite almost passing out in the break room. Still, his manager used this sick day along with the lateness report to build an unfair case against this guy.

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  • To make matters even worse, not only did they fire the author, but they even went so far as to try to frame his dismissal as a voluntary resignation. The reasoning? They clearly wanted to get out of having to give this guy any severance or unemployment benefits. 

    As several members of this online community noted, it will be highly unlikely that this human resources department will successfully get away with that aspect of this case. Furthermore, the grounds for “attendance” issues are not even substantial enough, and the author has at least a partial record of what actually happened. We wish him the best of luck and hope he finds a better opportunity elsewhere!

  • A man with glasses and a watch speaks on the phone with a frustrated expression.
    via sarah b

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

  • "I was late one time. Called of sick today and I’m getting fired for it"

    + Hi. I am working with HR right now, but I do need to let you know that this point pushes you over the limit for attendance violations within 90 days. iMessage
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • This is actually crazy. I started a new job in November. One day last month my manager asked me why I didn't show up for my shift.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I let her know I was off that day (had a screenshot of the schedule) she changed our schedules and I messed up by not checking a day before that it changed.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I went in. Showed the screenshot. Thought it was fine. The next day she had me sign an attendance policy paper for being late.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • Today. Is the only time I've called of there. I have a fever and a stomach flu. I can't even stand up without feeling like I have to V
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • Anyway I called off about an hour before my shift (I was planning on just going in, telling them I'm sick, and leave). Seems silly, so I just called off instead.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • received this text message. I'm legit getting fired for "attendance" when I called off one time total and was late another day.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I'll update later today. I'm 99% sure I'm getting axed. Do I have any legal grounds here? This is wild (it is a temp job until I finish school, but still it's ridiculous).
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • A man with glasses and a watch speaks on the phone with a frustrated expression.
    via sarah b

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

  • "Update: Fired For calling off once. They are now saying I quit to avoid un-employment"

    *UPDATE This is her response email (she keeps sending my calls. straight to voicemail. This won't let me add images to edit, but I can show proof) "Subject: Clarification Regarding Separation Thank you for your communication regarding the separation.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I understand there may have been some confusion around attendance and scheduling; however, the separation was based on reaching two points during the 90-day probationary period." F ing insane Regarding the wording of the separation, I understand the frustration with it being categorized as a voluntary quit.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • While I cannot change the fact that the separation occurred, I can update the classification to reflect a policy violation rather than a resignation.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • Please let me know if you have any further questions or need additional clarification. They admitted they lied.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • Do I have any legal re-course here? If you guys read my last post this is the update to it.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • Later in the day after I posted that. My manager Called and fired me over the phone.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • (full stories is in the email I sent them below) Then I get emails saying "I Quit" Multiple.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • F ing Insane. This company doesn't have an HR Phone number. I emailed the HR team on their website Monday.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • No response. I just sent this email to the internal HR one (I found the hiring emails and used that email address) Here's hoping I get a response.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I really don't want to get them reviewed b ed, without absolute proof this isn't an error.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • So please read the email I sent to them just now. Let me know what you think I should do next.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • If I get zero responses I will likely post there Google reviews page (they are mad a I about 5 star reviews) Email - Hello.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I need some assistance please. I started on November 17. I had one day where my posted schedule was changed.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I looked at it. I worked two days in a row, then had a day off.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • So I expected that to be my schedule. It was changed again and I was scheduled on my day off.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • My manager called me. I told her I apologize I wasn't aware that I worked that day and would be in, ASAP.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I came into work. Showed her the screenshot (two separate ones. The WURK and posted both said I was off.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I have them saved still for proof). I apologized for my miscommunication and worked my shift.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I didn't do a "NO Show" I answered her call. Apologized. Then went in. The next day she had me sign a piece of paper saying I was late.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • OK No problem I thought. These past two weeks we've had staff members get the flu and call off of work multiple days in a row.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I went into work sick multiple days. Monday I physically couldn't. I still have a bad stomach flu.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I'm unable to eat food without v ting it up instantly. I was getting ready for work Monday and passed out in my bathroom from exhaustion (probably from not eating for days).
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I had a high fever and called off about 1 hour before my shift that day.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I received a text message from my Manager stating "Hi am am working with HR right now, but I do need to let you know that this pushes you over the limit for attendance violations within 90 days" (word for word) I called off once, in two months.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • She called me and fired me over the phone for it. When I asked the attendance policy I was told that showing up late counted as a no show.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • So after losing my job for calling off one day after going into work sick multiple days in a row I receive an email stating that "I resigned" This is wild.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I get fired over the phone for calling off one day. Then I get told "I Quit" The exit email only gave me a 1 through 5 drop down box on reasons "I Quit" Again I never quit. When I call HR it disconnects immediately.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I've sent multiple requests to the hr email on sunnysides and Cresco's website days ago. No Reply.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I'm not sure when I'm being lied to. I'd like to confirm | was fired. I didn't quit.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • I don't know if lying and forging a fake resignation is a way to get around paying unemployment, or what, but this is insane.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • Please contact me. I really don't want to get this resolved and de-escalated.
    via aNaughtyLlama
  • A man with glasses and a watch speaks on the phone with a frustrated expression.
    via sarah b

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

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getting fired shift employee fired toxic-workplace manager sick day update human resources
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