Boss calls employee he fired on Christmas, asking for unpaid weekend help as a favor "as a friend” after his wife and only other worker quit, but the former employee refuses

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Mar 2, 2026 12:00 PM EST

Some bosses really do treat the people they fire like a spare part they can borrow later. It's almost cute, in a tragic way. One minute you're "thanks for everything, tough times," and the next they're calling you like an old college buddy who just needs "a quick favor" 

Except their favor involves unpaid work, no title, and a dash of emotional guilt.

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  • Not your buddy, pal.

    Young man standing in a modern kitchen holding a smartphone close to his face, speaking into it as if recording a voice message or using voice commands.
    via Michael Moloney

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

  • This story hits that note perfectly. A guy gets laid off from a tiny family business right before Christmas, complete with the classic “maybe we’ll rehire you later” speech.

  • In December, I was laid off from a small family business. I'd been there four years.
    via auntiechrist23
  • Mr. Boss hoped to hire me back "when business picks up". Maybe. I told him it was cool to reach out to me, but was clear I wouldn't be waiting around.
    via auntiechrist23
  • I started a new job this week. It's going incredibly well. I've also gotten three very long panicked voicemails from Mr.
    via auntiechrist23

  • He moves on, finds a better job, and probably breathes for the first time in months. Then the phone starts blowing up. Turns out the boss’s wife, who was also the only other employee, has walked out. She knew all the operations, left zero notes, and now he’s stuck trying to run a business he doesn’t actually know how to run.  

  • Boss this week... The only other employee, (his wife) left him and the business. She didn't train him on how to do our jobs.
    via auntiechrist23
  • Man wearing glasses and a plaid shirt sitting outdoors, holding a smartphone in both hands and taking a photo or recording a video near a waterfront promenade.
    via Aejaz Memon

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

  • She just packed up her sh and left. She won't answer his calls. Not sure how this is my problem... Now he expects me to come in and train him "As a favor to a friend".
    via auntiechrist23

  • So what does he do? He calls the guy he laid off and asks him to come back, unpaid, to train him. As a “friend.” He even tries to schedule the free help on the weekend because that supposedly “works best for him.” That’s the part that really sparkles. Nothing says “we’re friends” like asking someone to work for zero pay on their day off for a company that already fired them.  

  • Not being rehired, totally unpaid and out of the goodness of my heart. Nope! He laid me off two weeks before Christmas!
    via auntiechrist23
  • Also... He'd love me to come in Saturday or Sunday, because that "works for him". NOPE... I don't care what works for him, because I don't work for him anymore!
    via auntiechrist23

  • The sheer confidence of it almost deserves applause. You can’t buy that kind of self‑assuredness, it’s forged in the fires of delusion and desperation. The best part, though, is the response. A polite but rock‑solid no. No drama, no guilt trip, just a reminder that friendship doesn’t come with a timecard. When someone shows you who they are two weeks before Christmas, don’t forget it just because they suddenly realized they miss you in March.

  • We aren't "friends" and it's NOT my problem. The audacity is audaciting! It astounds me that a business owner would think this is an okay thing to do.
    via auntiechrist23
  • Smiling red-haired man with a beard talking on a smartphone in a modern home office with a brick wall, shelves, and a clock in the background.
    via Vitaly Gariev

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

  • SuppleSuplicant Given what he did to you and his wife leaving him high and dry, I'm going to guess he has a problem with taking people for granted.
    via auntiechrist23
  • auntiechrist23 Original Poster's Reply BINGO. Without too much tea spillage... You hit the nail on the head.
    via auntiechrist23
  • Jatin 1976 Tell him you want $X equivalent to 6 months pay upfront for 2 weeks of training
    via auntiechrist23
  • auntiechrist23 Original Poster's Reply I'd feel like a baller and a shotcaller!
    via auntiechrist23
  • SuppleSuplicant This would be my response to him.
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  • auntiechrist23 Original Poster's Reply I'm definitely putting this on my list of responses!
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  • olneyvideo Call the wife and ask if she would like to meet for a drink. Take a selfie with her. Send it to him.
    via auntiechrist23
  • auntiechrist23 Original Poster's Reply He was a big carnivore diet guy... No wheat, corn, or processed food. Holding up two corn dogs just feels karmically right!
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  • MyDarlingArmadillo She'd already left him and he still thought that was the way to go? Firing his only other option just before Christmas and thus making sure you'd never lift another finger for him while making himself completely reliant on someone who's already essentially dumped him? What an idiot.
    via auntiechrist23
  • auntiechrist23 Original Poster's Reply I'm as baffled as anyone. You'd think that would be an indication. His hubris is so strong you can smell it from space.
    via auntiechrist23
  • Gazelles-r-cool Nah spill that tea, we want the details please. It's not like any of us are going to be able to identify a one person business.
    via auntiechrist23
  • auntiechrist23 Original Poster's Reply His ex moved out a few months before my layoff! He took for granted that she'd keep working. I think he treated her like an employee all the time.
    via auntiechrist23
  • PFic88 The lion, the witch, and the Audacity of this B !! The Nerve!
    via auntiechrist23
  • auntiechrist23 Original Poster's Reply I'm a Leo sun/rising, and I'm definitely on my last nerve! ✔
    via auntiechrist23
  • Longjumping-Air 1489 How are you not friends? He's your best friend-he kept you employed for 4 years. You're his very good friend as well. I mean, not good enough to not play off two weeks before Christmas, but that's BUSINESS. Totally different than a favor for a friend, which is what this unpaid, not-hired-back, only on Saturday and Sunday cause other days are his golf days or whatever, thing that you would do for him cause you're SUCH GOOD FRIENDS!! /s
    via auntiechrist23
  • auntiechrist23 Original Poster's Reply Right?!! I'm friends with his dog. His dog is awesome. That's good enough for me!
    via auntiechrist23
  • Past-Cap-1889 Tell him you'll do it, then block him.
    via auntiechrist23
  • auntiechrist23 Original Poster's Reply Petty perfection!
    via auntiechrist23
  • HarleyDFLSTC I'm not your buddy, guy!
    via auntiechrist23
  • auntiechrist23 Original Poster's Reply I'm not your guy, pal!
    via auntiechrist23

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management workplace discussion employment issues boss workplace-stories hr colleague Horrible Bosses
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