Reddit user u/Quintowne posed an interesting question on the platform, asking people to share the fastest way they’ve seen someone get fired. The thread quickly filled with numerous stories that would make any HR representative gasp. BuzzFeed Community members also chimed in with their own tales of workplace drama. Here are some of the most outrageous:
1. “A new hire accidentally sent an email to the entire company, complaining about how bored she was at work and eagerly anticipating a lengthy phone call with her boyfriend to pass the time. The CEO promptly fired her on the spot, thinking it was a joke at first due to the email’s audacity.”
2. “Our company had a mid-level manager leading an important project who decided it was a good idea to bring a mini-fridge stocked with beer into his office. Our company has strict alcohol guidelines, and when an HR person caught him openly drinking a Coors Light, he was instantly fired. No one could understand what he was thinking.”
3. “At the hotel I worked at, the maintenance guy was caught stealing tips from housekeepers. He would enter empty rooms before they were cleaned and pocket any cash he found. What made it worse was that he made significantly more money than the housekeepers. He was fired on the spot.”
4. “During my brief stint at Subway in high school, a new guy was hired who had a major anger problem. On his first day, a customer requested more mayo on their sandwich. In a fit of rage, he poured the entire bottle of mayo onto the sandwich and then aggressively threw it into the parking lot. The manager saw the whole thing on camera and immediately fired him.”
5. “We hired a receptionist who didn’t know how to use a computer. She constantly asked senior employees for help, and on Friday nights, she would go out with friends, come into the office at 2:00 a.m., and raid the kitchen for drinks and snacks. She was caught on camera and fired shortly after.”
6. “One coworker found a ‘loophole’ to make extra money by pocketing cash from customers who paid with exact change and then canceling their orders on the register. Needless to say, he was fired when our supervisor found out.”
7. “A nepotism hire got fired within a week for repeatedly vandalizing the bathroom with feces.”
8. “During an annual sales meeting, a colleague got drunk on the plane ride there and pressed his bare butt against the window, hoping to moon some friends who had just landed nearby. Unfortunately, a VP was on the plane, and the guy was immediately fired and sent home.”
9. “On his first day at work, a guy refused to work under a woman and was promptly shown the door.”
10. “I had to fire two waiters who dumped contaminated ice, which had discarded shells, back into the ice machine. They lasted less than two hours, and their actions could have been life-threatening for someone with a severe shellfish allergy.”
These stories showcase the various absurd and sometimes dangerous situations that led to swift terminations. It’s a reminder of the importance of professionalism and following workplace guidelines to maintain a healthy work environment.
