Workplace fires graphic designer for attitude problem, continues to hang her art in the office: 'They tried to spin me as the worst employee ever'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Mar 27, 2026 9:00 PM EDT

Just because a workplace doesn't want to employ you anymore doesn't mean that they want to let go of the benefits that you brought them.

There are a lot of different reasons that a person may be fired, and not all of them are related to incompetence. In fact, plenty of employees who are great at their jobs get forced out of work because of everything from classic layoffs to misconduct to toxic office politics.

Needless to say, knowing that you are good at what you do and that your workplace decided to get rid of you regardless can be a tough pill to swallow. It can feel like you put in all that effort for no reward, even if you got a decent severance package. It is a significant career setback, albeit usually a temporary one.

For those who work in many different fields, but creative ones especially, something that can really sting is when a former employer continues to benefit from the pieces that you produced when you no longer work there. Despite the fact that they did not want you, they still feel like they should be able to enjoy what you brought to the table while you were there.

 

 

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  • An open-plan office space with large windows and a black and white painting on the far wall
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    An open-plan office space with large windows and a black and white painting on the far wall

  • A designer and illustrator faced an unpleasant experience with her employer when they fired her after an argument with her coworkers, accusing her of toxic behavior. She felt it had been an unfair dismissal because the boss did not like her.

    Due to this, she found it confusing to learn that they were still hanging her artwork in the office, even as she was leaving. While it was their property that she had produced during working hours, she thought that they might take it down given the circumstances. She wanted validation for the fact that she felt weird about it.

  • Old toxic job fired me, but still hang up my artwork in the office

    I'm just wondering if anyone else thinks this is bizarre. I work as a designer, and I am a good illustrator.
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • I did a lot of cool drawings/graphics for my last job, and everyone loved them. Long story short, this place was extremely toxic.
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • I was fired after an argument with my coworkers (they can fire me for any reason it's whatever go ahead fire me) but I think the real reason was because the owner hated me.
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • And the three years I was there my boss told me (privately, not on paper or around other people) how great I was doing.
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • But when they fought my unemployment tried to spin me as the worst employee ever. Like they had pages and pages and pages going on about how my attitude was awful, I was toxic, I was making the marketing team uncomfortable to come into work, etc.
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • A woman in business attire draws on a tablet at a desk in front of a computer
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A woman in business attire draws on a tablet at a desk in front of a computer

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

  • None of that is true, I was really good at my job they just s k. But I felt like they HATED ME from all the sh they wrote.
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • Like HATED MY GUTS. Weird part: I saw my artwork was hung up in the marketing room after I left.
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • It's their property, because I made it on company time, but that was such a shock to see.
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • They spent 6 months fighting my unemployment, only to hang my drawings on their walls. Like if you wrote all this bulls about how awful I am but want to hang up my artwork in common areas????
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • I am overthinking this or is that just BIZARRE?
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • A woman in business attire who is drawing on a tablet consults a color chart
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A woman in business attire who is drawing on a tablet consults a color chart

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

  • DelusionalThomasJr Envy and or jealousy. Sounds like you're talented and some people are so insecure they would rather tear you down than see you flourish. If they can only comment on your "attitude" and nothing else then it's about them not you. And yes it's bizarre but you're probably dealing with personality disordered people, so most of the things they do aren't going to make sense-they operate out of emotional thinking and not logic. And the notes about your attitude and toxicity was more t
    via DelusionalThomasJr
  • Rare_Assignment9892 Original Poster's Reply I think so too. The other designers would copy my work (when it was not appropriate to copy or share work, sometimes it is but usually not). And I know people won't believe me but the three marketing girls literally lied to get me fired (they way exaggerated the argument we had just absolutely blew it out of proportion). And yet these three marketing bozos hung up my old artwork in their marketing room. Jfc.
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • Academic-Lobster3668 It might be out of pure spite.
    via Academic-Lobster3668
  • Rare Assignment9892 Original Poster's Reply I feel like it would be more spiteful to like... burn it? idk
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • Glittering_War3061 They like your art. It is unfortunate that you shared it with them. Never cast your pearls before swine.
    via Glittering_War3061
  • Rare_Assignment9892 Original Poster's Reply I know they don't deserve it. My new job is kind to me and they love my art too.
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • MrIrishSprings This is what I was thinking too. This is not normal. Most companies quickly forget or want to forget the person they terminated.
    via MrIrishSprings
  • Rare_Assignment9892 Original Poster's Reply I know but also I designed murals on their walls so I am everywhere in that building baby hahaha.
    via Rare_Assignment9892
  • SalamanderFearless 11 It sounds like they liked your artwork but not your personality ...
    via SalamanderFearless11
  • ExtensionActuator Did you have a friend there who might have hung it as an f you to them? Or just because they loved you?
    via ExtensionActuator
  • janabanana67 Overthinking. You want to believe that deep down they did like you and felt you were valuable. They are just a bunch of toxic, miserable people. Go live a great, prosperous adventurous life and forget this yahoos.
    via janabanana67
  • 1130coco They don't care enough about the art to change it.
    via 1130coco
  • Rare_Assignment9892 Original Poster's Reply It wasnt hung up when I left. They moved to a new office and hung it up after I left. They decorated their new office with it.
    via Rare_Assignment9892

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employee art manager work coworkers Office workplace graphic design
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