Boss fired employee but demands they continue working for commission, employee firmly refuses and files for unemployment instead: ‘Why would I go back?’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jan 21, 2026 1:00 PM EST

The last thing any fired employee wants is to be forced to return to a workplace where they are not wanted.

Some people never go through the tough experience of getting fired, but one thing is clear–it's not fun. No one likes to be told they are not doing a good enough job, or that their role is not important enough to keep. No one wants to find themselves without an income and without a clear path for the future. 

It really is a challenging experience.

However, even in that realm, there are better and worse ways to get fired. If your boss is apologetic, or even if they try to help you find your next job, it can ease that change a little bit and leave you slightly more hopeful for the future. If your boss is mean and ungrateful, and makes you think you have been the worst employee in the world, well, that is something you would probably much rather forget.

Where does the story below fall on that scale? We'll let you be the judges of that. 

The employee in the story below was fired after three months on the job because they were told the establishment was closing until further notice. While it was obviously not nice to be laid off, the employee figured it was not exactly their fault that the establishment was not doing great, so they didn't take it that personally.

Then, the employee's boss asked them to still come in and perform the services they did before, even though they were fired. The boss's plan was to pay the employee a commission that they decided on until they figure out how to fill the role they left vacant. This definitely did not sit well with the now ex-employee. They were fired, but were still expected to do the work? Why would they agree to that? They don't owe this place of work anything, and they would much rather file for unemployment than do a job for someone who never appreciated them in the first place.

Being fired is never fun, but at least you know you never have to face the people who fired you again. Since that is not the case for the employee in the story below, they are not sure what to do now…

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  • Fired Employee with His Office Essentials in a Box
    via Aleksandr Kichigin

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

  • Was laid off effective immediately but still expected to work. (No severance, minimum wage hourly employee)

    I was laid off last week from my employer after three months of the place of business being open (med spa).
    via yunqi69
  • They told me that they were closing down this establishment until further notice. I was an hourly and commission employee.
    via yunqi69
  • I performed services for commission and got paid hourly for other tasks. If you've worked in the beauty industry, hopefully this makes sense.
    via yunqi69
  • I was the only full- time employee while everyone else was "on call" so they didn't get lid off, as they only come in when they have appointments to fulfill.
    via yunqi69
  • I have a letter stating that I was being laid off effective immediately with the date being of that day.
    via yunqi69
  • However, this place of employment is asking me to come in and perform services. I am the only licensed person that can perform the specific type of services that are going to be scheduled.
    via yunqi69
  • Am I crazy for not wanting to go in and perform the services? My employment was terminated so why would I go back and work for someone who I technically don't work for anymore?
    via yunqi69
  • They s ved up by laying me off because now they don't have a Plan B for anyone to perform the services and I assume they think I'm just going to comply and work for them.
    via yunqi69
  • They told me I was eligible for unemployment in my state. I applied and I'm waiting on approval.
    via yunqi69
  • Do you think this is a way for them to SC W me out of my unemployment?
    via yunqi69
  • I can't possibly qualify for unemployment if I'm still working there. I just need advice on where to go from here.
    via yunqi69
  • TLDR; my former place of employment laid me off last week, but still expect me to come in and work even though I have filed for unemployment.
    via yunqi69
  • Unemployment Claim Form on Clipboard
    via kamitana

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

  • Shieldor If you're a licensed person, going in and doing services, while "fired/layed off", could put your license in jeopardy. Just something to think about.
    via Shieldor
  • yunqi69 Original Poster's Reply Didn't even think about this, thank you for this perspective
    via yunqi69
  • yunqi69 Original Poster's Reply I also want to add that I worked there for 90 days full time (had to work 90 days for benefits to kick in) and was set to get my benefits (paid for health insurance, etc.) the week after. It feels very intentional so they wouldn't have to pay to give me benefits. They really screwed me over in that regard.
    via yunqi69
  • nmw84pdx I don't think I've ever seen someone come right out and name their employer, especially if they're waiting on something like UE benefits that could be effected if things go south. They're not dancing around anything. They explained it's a med spa. Most people most semi- anonymously.
    via nmw84pdx
  • yunqi69 Original Poster's Reply THANK YOU.
    via yunqi69
  • BiologylsHot Fire effective that day but continue working? What does fired even mean then? Are they still paying you or wanting you to come in for free? It makes no sense to me really. Maybe ask for clarification. If you don't have an agreement or understanding about when they're paying you until you just collect unemployment and look for a new job. If they are still paying you normally you do the bare minimum, collect money and look for a job.
    via BiologylsHot
  • yunqi69 Original Poster's Reply They want me to come in and get commission only at their set rate. At least that's what I would expect them to do legally, but who knows - they never really clarified.
    via yunqi69
  • CeeUNTY There's a lot of people here who don't understand how this works in a salon. No, she can't demand 10x her commission that would far exceed what the customer pays. She can agree to work as a subcontractor without an hourly wage or she can not go back.
    via yunqi69
  • yunqi69 Original Poster's Reply This is unfortunately the case. Right now I make 50% commission on services. I could demand 100% commission instead. This would be the only way. For example, one service is $185. Instead of me making 92.50 from that, I could request that I receive all $185. They would never comply, but it would be funny to hit them with that.
    via yunqi69
  • kyallroad Goodness, you REALLY dance around what the job is. Why would you hide the identity of a crap organization?
    via yunqi69
  • yunqi69 Original Poster's Reply Details aren't necessary about my job description. I worked in a VERY small town of >600 people. There's no need to call it out because I can assure you no one is going there anyway.
    via yunqi69
  • ProtozoaPatriot Don't. They laid you off. You're applying for Unemployment. It'll wreck your unemployment claim. It's also not your problem if they didn't realize they'd be shorthanded after they let you go. This place sounds so poorly run.
    via yunqi69
  • Spittinglama Sounds like a scam to claim they didn't fire you. Save all the communication you have of them letting you go.
    via yunqi69
  • quast_64 Don't go, you will be working outside their insurance and could be held personally liable if something happens.
    via yunqi69

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Tags

boss workplace-stories employee fired manager job tales-from-the-workplace workplace company unemployment unemployed
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