Intern refuses to return to the office after staying an extra hour on their first day, gets fired on the spot: 'Our company prioritizes output and revenue'

Author image for Cata Holmes
Cata Holmes • Writer
Aug 19, 2026 9:45 AM EDT

Staying a whole extra hour on your first day might show commitment, but expecting an employee to come back after they've already gone home takes dedication to a whole different level.

There's nothing worse than a first day at a new job. Well… I'm sure it depends on the company you started working with, but overall, it's not a very pleasant day. Maybe you're a bit nervous; you're not really sure what exactly you're going to be doing… but it gets better with time. In this story, however, the opposite occurred with an intern who started his first day of work at a coaching office.

According to the job description, the work hours ended at 5:30 PM, but since it was his first day, he decided to stay until almost 7 PM, just to make sure that everything was okay. He got home close to 8 and got a call from his manager telling him to return to the office as soon as possible… he declined, of course. He stayed longer than he should, and there was not really a reason as to why he had to go back.

The manager, instead of being more understanding, decided to fire him on the spot. Not only that: she even mentioned that they value revenue and the company's success rather than the employees' personal lives… And I have a lot to say about this. 

First, no company can pretend that its employees only live to work, because it's the whole opposite: people live a life, and to be able to afford it, they have to work. So, to expect people to have all of their lives revolving around work is not possible or healthy. I'm glad that this intern lost the job; I'm sure there will be other opportunities for them in the short term.

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  • Manager welcoming the intern to their first day of work and is showing him his desk.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    Manager welcoming the intern to their first day of work and is showing him his desk.

    Models pictured are not representative.

  • I just had the strangest "first shift" experience at a place called BrightPath Prep, one of those test-prep and coaching companies.
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484
  • Their advertised working hours are from 8:30 a.m. To 5:30 p.m. I stayed until 6:45 p.m. Because I wanted to finish the tasks they had given me and not leave
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484
  • anything messy behind. Honestly, I thought that meant I was a responsible intern doing my part.
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484
  • When I had finally gotten home at around 8:10 p.m., one of the senior partners called me and told me to come back to the office immediately. Not because
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484
  • there was a disaster. Not because there was an urgent issue involving a student. No... Just because she said so.
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484
  • When I told her I couldn't turn around and go back again, she fired me on the spot.
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484
  • Her exact words were: "Our company prioritizes output and revenue, not employees' personal schedules. Our values are not aligned."
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484
  • Intern fired on his first day of work for not returning to the office at night.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    Intern fired on his first day of work for not returning to the office at night.

    Featured likenesses do not identify those mentioned.

  • Alright, let's do the math. The pay was 240 RMB per day, which is about $33 USD. Apparently, to them, that means they own my entire evening too, for less than $3 an hour.
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484
  • I'm posting this because I'm not going to sit here and pretend this is "just how work is." This is a company that markets itself as helping students build a better
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484
  • future, while treating the people who work for it like replaceable spare parts with no basic respect.
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484
  • Every yuan spent at a business like this helps keep this kind of culture alive. If you're a student or a parent, please pay attention to who you're giving your money to.
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484
  • Intern working a whole extra hour on his first day of work.
    via Unsplash+ (via Flipsnack)

    Intern working a whole extra hour on his first day of work.

    Stock photo unrelated.

  • New_Caterpillar6305 There are a lot of companies in the USA that are just like that. The biggest are Corporate America towards salaried employees.
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484
  • youtaii What's this dumb horse cr p??
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484
  • Lets TryLove Dodged a bullet and learned a lesson at the same time. You are an expense to any company. Always prioritize yourself.
    via Agreeable_Sir_3484

  • This story is a good reminder to keep your priorities in check. I think it's never best to put a job before yourself, especially if that job demands things from you that are inhumane, like working more than two extra hours every day. There are other positions out there that are willing to accomodate normal working hours.

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intership first day intern toxic manager
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