Have you ever been fired?

Yeah, once. The company was going down the drain anyway, so I didn't take it personally.

My advice is: make sure they treat you right. If they put a piece of paper in front of you and ask you to sign it, tell them you'll take it home and think about it. Then maybe call a lawyer.

I was "laid off" in a company downsizing. So fired, but not fired for cause. A lot of other people lost their jobs with the company too. I did not see it coming.

It was pretty awful, OP, but I just looked for another job and took what I could get until eventually I found a good position with a great company.

Good luck.

I was "laid off" but really, it was being fired. I had a full time job medical assisting, while going to night school. My doctor boss mandated an 5 day week for us in the office although he practiced only 3 1/2 days per week. I asked for the day of the week he had no patients off, after a couple of years, and a half day in the morning when he was not in the office, in order to switch my college schedule to days. He said yes. They hired another "part time person" who I trained. 6 weeks later, I'm walking out on a Friday night and he asks me for my public parking lot pass for the city, and tells me they don't need me at 3 1/2 days. I reminded him of what he said, and he just said "Sorry that's the way it is. This is full time." I kept standing there staring, stammering "but you said..." -he didn't care. The bastard tried not to sign my unemployment, which I only needed for a couple of weeks, anyway.

It sucks. If you're feeling like you're going to get fired, copy all your contacts, save all your important documents, see if you can upload all your important achievements/papers that are still your intellectual property. Start cleaning out your desk now.

(I'm lucky I didn't have a desk b/c I didn't have the chance to take anything!)

Depends on the situation. I was fired from a college job once that was entirely student run. It was very much the sorority girls ganging up on the solo gay guy employee. All I had to do was talk to the boss of my "boss," an actual school staff member, to get the job back. Then I realized I did not want to be surrounded by those cunts and quit a month later.

If you're being fired, in lieu of being laid off, either your employer is a jerk or you did something seriously wrong yourself. Applying for a new job and explaining that you were laid off is understandable, but getting fired from your last job is a bad sign.

Never.

Only once but they didn't use the term fired, I was "Permanently laid off, with no possibility of recall" it was completely unexpected and no reason was given. It was mid-level management in a small manufacturing company, they had recently given me new responsibilities while retaining my old responsibilities. My reviews were excellent and I had good rapport with my boss. An upper level manager had recently been fired for sexual harassment accusations but they didn't tell him of the sexual harassment accusations when they let him go. Just that they were going in a different direction. So it did make me wonder if I had been accused, the accuser was a female and I and the upper level manager were male, me being gay male but not out at work. They gave the accuser was made management in part to keep her from suing.

The company went bankrupt and closed less than a year later. Anyway I hated the job, and it was a great relief that I would never have to go there ever again. It took quite a while but I found a job I liked better, paid better, was easier and I was happier. I stayed there 25 years until I retired. Sometimes getting fired leads to much better things, I am very glad it happened OP.

OP, what will you do to "mentally prepare?" How do you imagine this will help you?

Shouldn't you maybe financially prepare?

Why are you being fired?

Early in my career, I got fired from an internet start up by this very petty bitchy boss; I never received any kind of warning or any indication that I was in trouble, beyond the fact that my manager had clearly turned a cold shoulder to me and I was iced out of everything. At the time, I was absolutely devastated, but in retrospect, I realized the company was in trouble & they were looking to trim payroll. Time has given me perspective on the whole thing, but it was real blow because it felt like it came out of nowhere. For a long time, I felt this terrible shame that someone would find out & I'd be ostracized forever from the corporate world.

R3 what an evil piece of shit that doctor was. Betting he knew the person you trained.

Yes. Because of my association with another employee they had terminated. I was bummed until a few months later I found out the business burned to the ground. I always suspected my friend they canned. She was fucked up in the head enough to be that vengeful.

Yes, last year on the day before my probationary period was up. I had worked at my last job for 6 years and my job before that was at the place I got fired from (different department). my job before that I was at for 8 years. I have been at, my current job for a year now. I believe I was not the asshole in the situation. It wasn't a good match but that's not 'doing something wrong'.

I had a hard time finding work at first. I had a bunch of interviews and was in the final round for several but when they googled me the announcement from my last long term job would come up saying 'we're happy to announce rescue-chick is going to be working for blah'. My current job I told them in the first interview, 'I had another job after leaving x and it didn't work out. It wasn't a good match after the manager who hired me left after a month for medical leave'. they offered me the job later that day.

Oh yeah, several times. A job is like a relationship. Some last happily for years, some turn dark and nasty after a few months.

lol, that's true R13

At the Bell System so one was fired. They were "Separated From the Payroll."

Two or three times when I was in my 20's and just didn't give a fuck. But then I got my foot in the door of a government job and cleaned up my act and lasted 30 years, then was able to take early retirement at 55.

what did you do for the government R16?

Its funny that you should say that R16; when I was in my 20s I was so desperate to be liked at work & crushed when I wasn't. I have to admit, I kind of admire the younger generation that views their employment as a more transactional thing & don't get emotionally hung up about it all.

I was a research assistant in a public reference library r16

WHO IS OP: Donald, Don Jr. or Jared?

First time: first serious job after college. I didn't know what the fuck I was doing and was hiding work in my desk drawers. Client financial information. I deserved getting fired.

Second time: working for an ASSHOLE with unrealistic expectations. He's admonish me in front of coworkers at weekly meetings and I just had to take it. Hated that job and that guy with a passion, but needed a paycheck. Was fired for no reason other than my sales during an economic downturn weren't good enough for them, and was able to collect unemployment while I looked for something else.

Third time: laid off, company moved offshore.

I was fired for not giving sexual favors to my boss (I'm a woman) in a very high end industry. Fortunately, I was outperforming the men who were hired one to two years before me, and had the printouts to prove it. He knew I'd never tell because I wanted to stay in the industry. Fortunately the word got around that I was available and I got hired by a more highly respected firm, with a wonderful boss, within 3 days. The old firm even sent someone out from the other coast to meet with me about what happened. Again, I didn't want to lose my new position so didn't say anything. He then proceeded to hit on me too. Jesus. It was in the 80's, and the cocaine and misogyny were flowing freely. The firm that fired me went down in flames about 18 months later. Turns out some rules DO apply after all.

OP, one thing I'll stress is that you should make absolutely, 100 percent sure that if you are fired, the language of the termination will be such that you WILL be able to collect unemployment. A relative of mine was fired and was led to believe she would definitely be eligible for unemployment, but that turned out not to be the case because of the language of the termination agreement.

Yes, R23. If you're fired "for cause" it means you did something wrong and can't get UB. If you're laid off cuz business sucks, then you can.

I was laid off once. I know that's not what you asked, but it was devastating.

I was fired a few times in my early twenties. Once because, shamefully, I'd taken small amounts of money ($20) from the register a few times and eaten a few things at a convenience store where I worked. The owner was nice to me, just made me pay him back and didn't press charges.

I was fired from a Taco Bell after working there for a year and doing a no call no show, but there was a reason for that - one of the employees there, a skinhead, found out I was gay and told me if I came into the building, he'd kill me. I took those answering machine tapes to the cops, who told me to go to the district justice, but neither was willing to help.

No never been fired. Been employed with same company for 43 years.

The first time I handled it really badly. I was argumentative with HR Director and behaved like a brat. They gave me the bare minimum in severance. The second time I was professional, mature and had a no hard feelings attitude. They doubled my severance. It pays to take the high road.

[quote]If you're fired "for cause" it means you did something wrong and can't get UB.

I don't believe the language of the termination said my relative was fired "for cause," but whatever it said, she could not get unemployment benefits. I think I advised her to fight it at the time, but she didn't think it was worth it. The main reason she was fired was that a whole new administrative team came in at her company.

If you were fired, how did you get another job? New employers always call your previous employers.

I just looked at the place I got fired from and they replaced me with a PhD. You kwho does not have even CLOSE to a PhD? This chick right here. Thanks for the thread OP, after a year of doubting myself I suddenly feel better.

R29 no they don't. I know because they would have told me if they had gotten a call.

Besides, by law they aren't allowed to say you were terminated, why you left or eligible for rehire. They can only confirm the dates you worked there.

Now if you gave the former employer as a reference, that's a different story. But what idiot would do that?

Once. And I wouldn't call it a firing. I came into work one day where I had worked for 5 years and management told me that my job was no longer full time with benefits but instead I was being converted to "freelance full time." Meaning they no long had to offer me health insurance, vacations, sick pay etc. They thought we would all (there were a few of us) go along with this, no questions asked but I was not having it. I went directly to my manager and said, "I'm sorry, but I have to have to have full time work with benefits" and that I was therefore being "laid off" instead. He said ok and I asked him for my final pay check (by law, if they lay you off in CA they have to have your final paycheck ready to hand to you. He said it would be a while. So I went home and waited a few days, then emailed him to ask again for my final paycheck. It took them three weeks to get it to me so according the laws here, I took them to the EEOC and sued them for three weeks pay. Went to a small hearing about it and I won. According to the law, any days that pass that they owe you a final check they have to pay you for those days. So I got a nice little check and those assholes actually had the gall to call me to want me back IF I agreed to pay them back the money I won. I told them to fuck right off and their company went belly up shortly thereafter and I spent the best 6 months of my life living on unemployment while job searching and then started my own business. So shit will work out. Just know your rights and fight for them.

So many times.

Ask what severance pay is and if they have information on unemployment. For severance you usually have to sign an Non disclosure agreement, but act like you expect it. Say things like "I've done everything to fit in with the culture, it's just not a good fit." or "I've really tried to meet these expectations/goals, and I went to training, I don't know how else I can improve."

If you like the job, ask if you can be put on an improvement plan. If this is your first go around with HR they'll give you one and then it's up to you to fulfill it.

If you are certain you'll be fired, get a list of contacts you'll want - ASAP. Nothing else matters. Old emails? Forget it. Not worth going through. If you have time like 2 weeks you can draft a nice email good bye and make sure ALL your work is done 1000% on time and great.

If you pull up and see security, call in from the parking lot and ask if it's safe to come to work, even though you know it's for you.

I was technically fired from two or would have been if I didn't take preemptive acitions before my managers could make it official.

I knew it was coming because I fucked up badly and had already successfully completed a PIP (Performance Improvement Plan). So I made my plans the weekend before that Monday showdown and booked a flight to Europe for a much-needed 2-month vacation to celebrate my temporary freedom.

I came into the office early before others arrived to clean out the contents in my desk into my gym bag. I refused to have those "I got fired" boxes. I wrote up my one-page resignation letter, set my final day 3 weeks out, and prepared for the inevitable meeting with my bosses. Went through the motions with my manager and director. They said that they didn't feel like things were working out. I told them I agree and had the letter printed and ready for their review. They asked to talk privately for a moment, called me back into the office, and accepted my resignation. I was allowed to leave on the spot, which I knew was their policy. They asked if I needed a box, I said no need. Placed my badge on the desk and was walked to the door.

I had timed it all that weekend. That last week matched the conclusion of one full pay cycle. Plus, my 2 weeks of built-up vacation time. Since my letter stated that I'd end my time with the company via a 3-week notice, they were kind enough to pay me out for 3 additional weeks despite letting me depart the day the letter was given!

I was paid for 7 weeks of work. It's listed as a resignation. I am technically allowed to be considered as a rehire. They did me a solid and we talked about how it would be coded. I had this happen at my next job as well via a fuck up and resignation on good terms. Finally, two jobs later I've gotten the position I've wanted after 6 years of mind-numbing jobs. I was only able to get this because I was never fired from a job.

Some people say get fired because I guess you can claim some benefits. I wanted to play the long game because the narrative was worth a lot more to me than a couple of weeks of unemployment cash. Plus, it would have been spent shopping and partying in Europe. Yes, I do have a large amount of savings and investments in case anyone wants to get on my case.

I was laid off about a year and a half ago. My position was a brand new one, but after two years, the company realized there wasn't a market for what I was producing. (I worked my butt off with the Marketing Director to make it happen, but it didn't take off.) The boss offered two week's pay, plus he let me cash out all my remaining vacation/holiday time. (My supervisor, who felt awful, got that for me.) I signed a Non-disclosure agreement that looked very serious. If anyone saw that, they would assume I had been fired, based on the rigid language. I was allowed to work three more days until the pay period ended, and I got done as much as I could.

In the following months, two coworkers quit suddenly; they had interpreted my lay-off as a warning of others to come. Ultimately, everyone was let go, and the Board of Directors hired an agency management firm to take over.

Once. First you’re shocked. Then relieved. Then you move on.

Some stages of the process may take a bit longer than you want, OP. And that’s okay.

Yes, once. While I wouldn't care to go through it again, it was ultimately a positive thing. But at the time I was mortified. I had to do the perp walk and everything, lol.

The job was a poor fit, and I was isolated with three other women who were in the various stages of breakdowns. The woman in the cube next to mine spent most of her day on the phone arguing with her alcoholic son. When not doing that, she was fighting with our boss, who, while fundamentally a decent person, didn't know how to manage for shit and micromanaged everyone.

The third woman was always going through some sort of personal crisis, and she coped by eating. And eating. And eating. All day I would hear her crunching and wrappers rattling. And she would walk around the office muttering to herself, "I'm so hungry, so hungry." Writing this is reminding me of the "Freaks I Work With" thread.

My boss knew I was trying to get out, as I kept applying for positions in other departments. But I helped my departure along significantly by surfing the internet for increasingly long times of the workday, even though I knew they were monitoring this (smartphones weren't a thing at this point). I shake my head now, looking back at my behavior. I can't see myself ever doing anything like that again. But I was young and depressed and my morale was in the toilet. Being fired was such a relief really. I've been on an upward trajectory ever since, so no regrets.

Actually, the worst part about being let go suddenly were the dreams I had for months afterward. I would be back at work there and desperately trying to finish what was left hanging when I was dismissed. I would also dream that I was back at work, remember that I'd been fired and then spend the rest of the dream trying to escape without being caught and thus humiliated. That got really old.

Hang in there, OP. There are worse things than being let go from a job. Lots of good advice and counsel in this thread. Use whatever happens to grow and get stronger. I hope you have some sort of emotional and moral support in your personal life. That helps a lot.

R1 is correct; definitely call a lawyer.

I took a severance that they were all hot to have me sign when I got canned for budget 5 years ago; but they'd hired someone younger and more incompetent a month earlier after someone else was let go for cause.

Looking back, I could have sued for age discrimination, but it wasn't a bad separation agreement; nine months severance including medical coverage; I was paid peanuts, but it was nice having that money come in.

'Happy ' ending: the company went under last year during COVID and people who'd been there much longer than I had only got six months.

And I'm doing so much better now than I was then.

Good luck OP; and keep looking forward.

Sometimes when something bad happens something good will happen later.

Yeah, twice. I was fired when I was 15 from my first job in a shop, the boss hated me and I hated her, my bus caused me to be late from work and she fired me. Was a relief, that place was miserable to work at. The second time was my third job when I was 21, I had a placement as a trainee in an office, my mental health decided to deteriorate dramatically a few months into the job. I missed days randomly and would do the bare minimum. My manager took me into the meeting room and fired me, she was really nice about it. I was gutted and it didn't help my mental health, but that was 5 years ago and I'm now in a better place mentally.

I did, in a sense. The office was closing, there was plenty of notice, and the boss who was retiring kept his promises. In return for busting my ass off for the first ten years of my working life, I got a big payout from the pension plan at 33 that I couldn't touch and a year's pay and medical to keep me going until I figured out what I wanted to do next.

I was so bored I had my next job inside of three months.

I was fired from my first job in college... working in an ice cream parlor. (Hopefully that’s not OP’s situation!) I criticized one of the menu items when a customer asked about it and a manager heard me.

It made me realize you can’t badmouth your workplace or what they’re selling...if you want to keep a job, you come second. At least publicly.

Got fired from a sales job for not selling enough online advertising. I had no belief in the product and it showed. I just couldn’t lie to peoples faces about the results they would get.

I do want to affirm to the entire world, here and now, that our risotto salad DID indeed stick to the roof of one’s mouth.

[bold]#SilentNoMore

I was fired from a very popular "Italian" restaurant. I wish it were interesting, but I was in college, working in the costume shop in the afternoons, and had already worked there for two years. I told them I couldn't make it until 5pm. They wanted me there at 4:30pm. The woman (a new employee) who worked the day shift bitched, and bitched, and they fired me. I strongly suspect that I wouldn't have been fired if she hadn't been a cunt. I'd made my schedule very clear when my hours changed, and management okayed it.

It wasn't a big loss. I moved on with my life and no longer do that kind of work (thanks, college degree!). After I left though, two of the managers had an affair, and both divorced their respective spouses and moved in together. Neither one currently works for the company. A third fifty-something manager (also married) was fucking a twenty-one year old server, and they moved to Florida.

Soup, Salad, and Bullshit!

[quote]Finally, two jobs later I've gotten the position I've wanted after 6 years of mind-numbing jobs. I was only able to get this because I was never fired from a job. Some people say get fired because I guess you can claim some benefits. I wanted to play the long game because the narrative was worth a lot more to me than a couple of weeks of unemployment cash.

Two things: (1) I'm not 100 percent sure, but I think you can sometimes collect unemployment without being "fired" -- for example, if the company says in the termination agreement that they are downsizing and/or that your position is being eliminated or changing; and (2) I don't know why you refer to "a couple of weeks of unemployment cash," when I believe unemployment benefits normally continue for 20 weeks or more, I guess depending on the state on other variables. That's a huge monetary difference between "a couple of weeks" and five or six months of unemployment pay.

I got fired at DQ when I was 17. I called them all a bunch of bitches as I tore a case of cones off of the dispenser and slammed the employee door shut as I stormed out.

I as forced by my parents to accept employment at that DQ by the way.

Them bitches! After 30 years I’m still pissed off.

Yes, it sucks. After a while you move on. Like a brand new you.

Sounds like you're already mentally prepared as you're anticipating it. You should be thinking about how you can respond in a way that gives you the greatest advantage if and when it does happen.

If it's a "for cause" termination that you're expecting, you should resign before they can fire you - obviously you are expecting it so why stick around if you know they likely have grounds? You won't qualify for UB if it's a cause termination anyway. Leave on your own terms and avoid the (albeit unlikely) scenario of a potential future employer finding out you were fired. It's a small world, and these things happen more than people realize. Especially when you apply for jobs in the same industry, which most do. People know people who may know you.

If it's a "not for cause" termination that you're anticipating (and it always is unless you've been progressively disciplined in writing OR if there's an active investigation in which you are likely to be found culpable of misconduct), then wait to hear what they offer you. Whatever that is, try to negotiate a couple more weeks/months on top of what they offer you (depending on your length of service, be reasonable, you won't get an 2 extra months if you've been there for a year). In my experience as the employer rep, they will ALWAYS negotiate if it means that they get that signed release back. And your ass out the door, without drama.

Even when they've got written discipline on file, it's very hard to successfully defend performance-based teminations in court and most employers know this. They more often pay the person out and call it a "non cause" termination to avoid an unwinnable legal battle. I raise this as it's more likely they'll send you on your way with some money and call it a non-cause termination. So, sticking around (unless you've done something truly nefarious) is your best option, without knowing more detail about your circumstances.

Either way, if you're expecting it, this means that you're likely not in a job that you enjoy. You should view this as an opportunity to find something better and more importantly where you're appreciated and valued. Good luck to you.

[quote] Besides, by law they aren't allowed to say you were terminated, why you left or eligible for rehire. They can only confirm the dates you worked there.

Not true. Here's a state-by-state breakdown on the law.

Early in career I use too much teeth, client call agency and, poof, fired. I practice 1 month using banana, marry billionaire, become First Woman.

The first time I cried

The second time I said, "why didn't you do this in this morning? you really should have done this in the morning, oh, and fuck each and every one of you"

(they waited until the end of the day to fire me)

R51, can you share the link?

I've been at my current job for three years, and have yet to add any personal touches to my desk (photos, etc). I've seen way too many "walks of shame" of freshly fired coworkers cleaning out their workspaces, sobbing as they throw out artwork their children made, giving away overly watered potted plants, carrying what remained in a white file box from Staples.

Sad, really.

R54, here's the link. I thought I did post it.

Thanks, R56!

[quote] Besides, by law they aren't allowed to say you were terminated, why you left or eligible for rehire. They can only confirm the dates you worked there

I've worked for people who give shitty references. There's a lot of ways to slam someone legally

I worked for a tech startup company in the 1990s that shuttered suddenly and dissolved when the venture capital was pulled. In retrospect I should have seen the signs, but so should a number of much more seasoned colleagues. There was a nice severance payment, it was all handled as well as could have been, but the suddenness of the news and the realization that I was making much more money than I likely would for a long time hurt.

I was fired for cause, once. Though that was revised as laid off. I worked for a small office of a firm where a junior manager staged a coup against our boss, arranging evidence against her and offering to do her work and more for less money. The boss was fired in absentia while on leave for an extended holiday. He didn't like me, didn't like that I was gay, didn't like that my specialty field within the firm meant he couldn't fault me on professional findings, didn't like that I wasn't a young woman with a freshly minted degree who swooned over him, and hated that I was a friend of the boss he ousted. I knew immediately he would find some reason to fire me and he made no attempt to hide this, making a big show of it actually. Being on good terms with the client of my main project, he suggested I stop work so that they could terminate the contract and re-hire me independently. When the client told my boss that they should stop interfering with my work, I was fired immediately. Company directors who liked me reoffered the job on a limited basis, but I said I couldn't work for a boss who had no confidence in me, who had engineered a bad situation to force me out (with replacement consultants standing by to pick up my work.), In the end I got a 6 months severance, was not fired but "laid off", and was able to complete my main project as a consultant.

Like an accident, I could see it all happening in slow motion but it was an ugly time and not fun to be fired for cause, even if the cause was calculated to be rid of me for purely non-professional reasons. The conniving boss was a bitter, bad mouthing sort, but he also struck many people as two-faced and smarmy so his later attempts to interfere with me fell short, at least in a couple cases I am aware of.

That was my one time being properly fired, for no reason other than that the boss wanted rid of me because I knew how he schemed his ascendancy. Even with a better than could be expected end, it wasn't a happy ending.

When I worked in radio was fired at the end of my shift. SOP in the industry. They're afraid you'll bad mouth management on-the-air.

First off start looking for a new job, go on interviews, so if you are fired you already have the groundwork. Also you may possibly get a new job beforehand.

If you are pretty sure you will get fired, you should be looking for a new job now. As they say, it is much easier to get a new job while you already have one and much harder when you don't have one. If you find one you will get the satisfaction of quitting instead of being fired.

[quote]New employers always call your previous employers.

How was the ride on the turnip truck?

It’s fake news. I am not fired!

If you feel you’re going to be fired, you’re probably right. In the meantime, update your resume and start looking proactively.

Troll.

OP is unemployed and homeless.

Similar to R21: Laid off - lack of work, Laid off - offshore work to India, Fired - unrealistic expectations - wanted me to be the manager, dev ops, developer, QA and help desk for shitty pay. I expected the other shoe to drop and started looking as soon as I got a bad vibe. Usually, I found another job quickly, except for first layoff (after 9/11) - I decided to go to grad school until the economy recovered. For references, I give HR for dates and colleagues/managers from other jobs as additional references. As for the job I was fired from, I left them off my resume. Since I was freelancing for another company at the same time, I used that company as the filler on my resume.

Worked remotely for a company that did a lot of VA hospital medical records work, and they had only one person in tech support, a lady who said right up front that she would need to go into my computer and delete things off my desktop and uninstall stuff she didn't like. I said no, and assumed I wouldn't be working there, but they called me and said that was fine, "she gets a little excited, ha ha."

Well, she got so excited she tampered with the company software I downloaded and it never worked properly. After a year or so it finally got fixed in an update, or so I thought. I grabbed a huge psych file from the queue and spent literally 9 hours working on it, only to find out later that the file was earmarked for someone else, but my software didn't show that. A whole slew of ladies working on the same VA hospital account said I'd "stolen" the file and they complained viciously about it. No one said a thing to me until I was accidentally CCed on an email chain full of women literally threatening my life, they were so mad because "Barb got her work stolen from her."

I replied back to all of them that what they said was inappropriate and in some cases illegal and if they had anything to say they should say it directly to me. No one said a thing, but then I got "laid off." No one would answer my calls or emails and they tried not to pay me my last paycheck, but a complaint to the Dept of Labor sorted that out,.

No joke, a year and a half later they emailed me begging me to come back. I was shocked. The nerve of those people.

If I "knew" I was going to get fired, I'd quit first.

Getting fired is character building but some of us land on our feet better than others. That's the downside.

R63, are you kidding? Of course they call your previous employers. They know that your references you listed will only say good things about you.

Some previous employers will only confirm your job title and dates of employment, but a caller can often squeeze additional info out of them, sometimes just by the tone of their voice.

Phillywhore here...Short version. Was accused of Sexual Harrassment by a "hot half breed man" who worked in another dept of the Financial Institution I worked at when I was 45 yrs. I was his mentor-Trainer Because we both had "white trash-foster care upbringings", the company thought I would be a Good Mentor. Smart as a whip he was(Troy-never trust the name), never saw it coming. 10 months later, BOOM time.. The whole 9 yards!! I was "almost out the door" when Security in my work building-next door got ahold of me and my vicious Pit-Bull Lawyer. They had audio-video tapes of Troy meeting with the COO-CFO of a rival company to steal major clients-information. Needless to say, I made sure Troy was destroyed along with the rival company employees. Massive settlements followed, then 3 months later, I sued the company I worked for(HR fucked up, CEO other members knew the charges were faked, wanted my clients-my files) I always made copies of all client files(in foreign banks-diff.name) Another huge settlement(almost as much money as divorce settlement from ex-wife). I never even Fucked Troy( too slick)

That is the edited version, the real version is like a John LeCarre spy novel

Sorry!!

R51 is correct. The whole "legally an employer can't give information about x or y" idea that persists in a lot of working-people's heads is not true. That legal myth stems from companies that have bylaws or internal policies limiting what they can say (for purposes of avoiding defamation issues). But for most states, and at the fed level, a past employer can say whatever they want, as long as it's true.

Anyone here tried to get himself get fired just to get a severance package - instead of resigning and getting nothing.

If you can find an employment lawyer to help you gracefully make your exit — especially negotiate your resignation while stipulating sufficient notice and the ability to apply for unemployment benefits, you'll be doing yourself a favor. A lawyer to facilitate and represent you through this "Personnel" — which is different from H.R. — action can go a long way. A top lawyer shouldn't charge you more than $200 an hour for this service. and when it comes to document preparation, you can do a lot of work yourself. perhaps you'll first be suspended withy or without pay during the administration process. good luck

R43, why would an ice cream parlor sell "risotto salad?"

I've only ever worked at jobs that I got because of family connections and looking back I realize that I got fired from most of those but it was called something else.

Years ago while in school I worked in a hotel in Victoria. The owner was a drunk idiot who inherited everything he had, including the hotel and, I suppose as some kind of sick joke, hired this completely twisted, evil woman to manage the housekeeping department. I was in maintenance but had a series of confrontations with her that eventually -- because the GM was also a total idiot who was in above her head and didn't know how to deal with the situation diplomatically -- escalated into a full-blown screaming match in the laundry room. Proud to say I reduced that cunt to blubbering tears, and was fired minutes later. Still gives me a nice glow of satisfaction to think of it.

Yes, once, by a major Texas department store in the late 70s. I was the head of IT. My boss's secretary asked to have lunch with me one day, and during the conversation, she asked personal questions, which I found odd, but didn't have a problem answering. So it came out that I was gay; later in the afternoon, I went to my boss' office and found the door closed, but could hear this cunt telling my boss about my being gay. Lunch was on Monday, I was fired on Thursday morning. While I was being fired, security went to my office, and removed a cabinet full of the punch cards that ran all the corporate programs. ( Back in the day, all programs ran with punch cards, and in this case, there were a series of cards that had to be inserted ahead of any programming cards; they essentially acted as the password, and gave the permission for the program to run.) Since Friday was payday, I was on my way to run payroll when I was summoned to my boss's office, and had the prefix cards in my suit pocket. After security escorted me out of the building, I stopped at the nearest trashcan and tossed the cards in, and no-one got paid until the following week. The unions gave them incredible trouble over the late payments. I began a new job six days later. Meh.

R77, it was Gelson's Ice Cream Parlor

I am looking to get fired at my current job.

No, but my last three places of work went out of business before I could quit, so technically I've had a string of redundancies. Am I curse? Or do I just know how to pick 'em? (depressive autistic, so probably that).

No idea how to spin my horrible resume to ever land another job, either. I'm burying my head in the sand at this point.

Just lie, R83. Get some friends to act as your reference in case they want to place calls.

I’m being fired as I type this

Are you relieved, R85?

Nope, never. I'm a big data engineer who was hired by a large company right out of college. I'm in my mid 30s and have been with them since.

R60 is Gregg 'Opie' aka 'Brothaman' aka 'Tits' aka 'Grapefruit Shandy' Hughes?