'I hope they fire me': 47-year-old employee makes a mistake at work that leads to serious repercussions, hopes management fires him due to burnout

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Apr 24, 2026 4:00 PM EDT

How do people reach the age of 40 or 50 without feeling completely burned out by their careers?

The short answer is, they don't. It's incredibly rare for anyone to have a career, any career, without feeling the burnout at some point. It could happen when you're 25, it could happen when you're 55, and it can happen many times in between, too. The question is, what do you do to deal with it, and how do you move on without losing your job or risking your career?

Take this 47-year-old man, for example. He is a family man, a father to 3 kids, and a highly experienced employee who hasn't been without a job for the past 20 years. Despite all that, or maybe due to all that, he is currently feeling the worst burnout of his life, and is longing for a break, even though he knows he can't afford it.

Recently, he made a mistake at work that had huge repercussions. He admitted that it was a careless mistake, but he is so burned out that he doesn't really care if this mistake will lead to being fired. Actually, he is rather hoping it will. Now, when someone reaches the point of wishing they get fired because of how tired they are of working, they must take a long, hard look at their life and understand what they need to change. 

They can take a long vacation, take on a hobby, or work on improving their home life and relationship, whatever it takes to not feel so tired of their everyday life. Obviously, they can also change their job or profession, but that is a decision that should not be made recklessly, especially not these days. Staying at a job that makes you feel hopeless is never a solution, so we are here for any idea of how someone can snap out of it and enjoy life once more. Which is exactly why we now wonder:

What should the desperate man below do?

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  • Businessman in office uses computer
    via Nes

    Businessman in office uses computer.

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

  • Hope I'm getting fired tomorrow.

    I made a huge mistake at work, well actually a tiny mistake that had huge repercussions. It was a careless mistake that I own, but also see it was inevitable. I'm so
    via 420medicineman
  • burned out and have been for so long something had to break. I'm at the point where I hope they fire me.
    via 420medicineman
  • 47, highly specialized, deeply experienced, haven't been unemployed in 20 years. I also have 3 school age kids, a failing marriage, and have been the sole breadwinner for our family for the last 15 years.
    via 420medicineman
  • I've climbed the ladder well, but not because I want to, because my kids need to eat. Haven't taken a vacation longer than a 4 day weekend in a decade. No support because its just me and wife
    via 420medicineman
  • won't get a job outside the house, despite me begging her to for years. Then there is the general state of everything, rising prices, wars, our country tearing itself apart at the seams.
    via 420medicineman
  • I'm tired boss, real tired. Edit: Should have seen that coming. No hate to the work SAHMS do. We made that decision TOGETHER because we felt it was important for the
    via 420medicineman
  • kids to have a stay at home parent, and my income was already significantly more than hers. Our kids are better for it. However, that decision was made 15 years ago when the
    via 420medicineman
  • cost of living was a very different picture. Our kids are now 3rd-9th grade, and require a lot less during the day, while at school. Not NOTHING, but much less than they did when little little.
    via 420medicineman
  • RosieQParker Your mistake is most likely a direct result of the burnout. Burnout is serious. It can disable you, and in some cases you never fully recover. Whatever resources are available to you through work, now's the time to access them.
    via RosieQParker
  • Obone6 Sounds like the story arc to the creation of a dad support network in your area. You could advise young dads on how to navigate the struggles. You sound like a stand up guy.
    via Obone6
  • skailkchoodle A mistake at work can usually be repaired or managed. Careers bend more than they break. Especially for someone highly specialized and deeply experienced like you said. People like you don't just disappear from
    via skailkchoodle
  • the workforce over one bad incident, even a costly one. That's your fear talking in extremes but that part is real and long overdue.vlf nothing changes except hoping something external forces it, this pressure is going to keep building no matter what happens with your job.
    via skailkchoodle
  • Middle aged man sitting on the floor with a cup of tea and cookies
    via Getty Images

    Middle aged man sitting on the floor with a cup of tea and cookies.

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

  • Malicteal You sound like you could really benefit from therapy. You'd be surprised how much it can help. Good luck with everything.
    via Malicteal
  • bachelor4030 Take a break man. Spend some time with your kids
    via bachelor4030
  • snarky_engg_girl You need a break. Your circumstances are tough but you need rest before you figure out how to get out of this hole. Whether or not you get fired, think about atleast taking a sabatical (if possible) or just quitting and pausing for a second. Good luck!
    via snarky_engg_girl
  • whoknowswhenitsin I'm quitting tomorrow! No plan. No nothing!
    via whoknowswhenitsin
  • According-Glove-7663 My dad did that too, provided a lot, but he was never there. He was always at corporate. Today I dont see him much. As I kid I really needed someone to get me started in life, someone that ensures goals are set and kept if football or whatever that its kept and worked on, and improved.
    via According-Glove-7663
  • Why dont you give yourself a break, take a look at the finances and start designing a new life possibly with more time with your kids while you have them. Find a quite space 45min, 3 times a week and start asking those what-if questions.
    via According-Glove-7663
  • footdragon the only advice I can offer is to talk with your manager and suggest a one or two week time off (vacation) to de-stress and refresh your thoughts.
    via footdragon
  • i.e. try not to get fire. as skilled as you are, the market may not be what you think it is. the time off will help you immensely, then hopefully your spouse's issues can be sorted out, but focus on you! good luck
    via footdragon
  • D3adlywithap3n If they hear you're relieved about this you're gonna get promoted.
    via D3adlywithap3n

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boss workplace-stories employee fired manager job dad burnout overworked-employees workplace family company mistake
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