There’s a good reason why a probation period exists for new hires. It acts as a ‘test run’ that is beneficial for both sides. During it, the employee can make sure that the company aligns with their goals and lives up to their expectations, while the employer reduces the risk of poor hires and ensures a good fit. Despite the mutual benefits, though, sometimes it happens that new hires are dismissed during the probation period, some even at record speeds, and for the most ridiculous reasons ever.
We gathered some of the fastest and craziest new hire firing instances from this popular thread below that are bound to make you feel better about your own performance at work. Scroll down to check them out for yourself, and don’t forget to upvote those dismissals that were totally deserved.
#1
First day of work, a coworker asks for a short break and some space in a storage closet to put down his prayer rug. Was fired almost immediately.
About six months later we were all laid off when the company went bankrupt paying out his discrimination lawsuit.
About six months later we were all laid off when the company went bankrupt paying out his discrimination lawsuit.
Report
67points
#2
This is the opposite route here but I found it amusing. My boss was out of town and I managed a tea shop near a Starbucks years ago. This kid came in (foreign) and said he was supposed to start today. We were hiring and I trained him etc. My boss came back two days later and had no idea. The kid was in the wrong place but he stayed with us. Hired on the spot without even applying.
Report
50points
#3
We got a new contract for two receptionists to sit at our front desk. The company did not send their sharpest knives in the drawer because it was a low-dollar contract for only one year. You could consider the positions temporary.
They sent a guy that my security manager called "Sticks". He was incredibly malnourished and thin.
We had a front door that was double door paned glass. I always exited through the side door and would look in through the glass doors every day when I left for home.
On Sticks's second day, I looked in through the glass at the dark reception area and saw one of the office chairs behind the reception counter as it slowly spinned.
I entered back in through the side door and came into the the back of reception.
I found Sticks laying on the floor with an ergonomic office chair that had fallen on top of him. His head was bleeding from where he struck the floor or some other object. Also, in my peripheral vision, I saw a can of compressed air (the type for cleaning keyboards).
Sticks said he was perfectly fine. I helped him up and sent him home.
Over the next few days, other admin folks reported to me that they kept finding Sticks collapsed in the reception area when no one had been around. I finally called his corporate supervisor to come take him away. When the supervisor arrived, Sticks had locked himself in the supply closet and refused to talk to me. I could hear him huffing air behind the door. The supervisor talked to him through the door and finally escorted him back to company headquarters.
They fired him.
I called the company, and I learned that Sticks was a former service member who had served in combat. Looking at his résumé, I knew he was also a former EOD team member. I suspected he had substance a***e problems stemming from PTSD and head trauma.
I still had his contact information, so I contacted him a week later. From then on, I coached him every day until I finally got him an appointment with a volunteer from AMVETS who got him and his family help and care.
Today, I wish I knew where he was (this was more than 5 years ago). I hope that he took advantage of the help offered to him.
Because of this thread, I am going to text him right now and see how he is doing.
EDIT: Texted him. He didn't remember me at first because it was 6 years ago. Told me that because of me, he went and got help from the veteran volunteers: "I ended up in in Richmond, got my problems figured out and I am infinitely better now. Thanks again!"
EDIT2: Wow! Thank you for all the awards and heart-warming comments!!!
They sent a guy that my security manager called "Sticks". He was incredibly malnourished and thin.
We had a front door that was double door paned glass. I always exited through the side door and would look in through the glass doors every day when I left for home.
On Sticks's second day, I looked in through the glass at the dark reception area and saw one of the office chairs behind the reception counter as it slowly spinned.
I entered back in through the side door and came into the the back of reception.
I found Sticks laying on the floor with an ergonomic office chair that had fallen on top of him. His head was bleeding from where he struck the floor or some other object. Also, in my peripheral vision, I saw a can of compressed air (the type for cleaning keyboards).
Sticks said he was perfectly fine. I helped him up and sent him home.
Over the next few days, other admin folks reported to me that they kept finding Sticks collapsed in the reception area when no one had been around. I finally called his corporate supervisor to come take him away. When the supervisor arrived, Sticks had locked himself in the supply closet and refused to talk to me. I could hear him huffing air behind the door. The supervisor talked to him through the door and finally escorted him back to company headquarters.
They fired him.
I called the company, and I learned that Sticks was a former service member who had served in combat. Looking at his résumé, I knew he was also a former EOD team member. I suspected he had substance a***e problems stemming from PTSD and head trauma.
I still had his contact information, so I contacted him a week later. From then on, I coached him every day until I finally got him an appointment with a volunteer from AMVETS who got him and his family help and care.
Today, I wish I knew where he was (this was more than 5 years ago). I hope that he took advantage of the help offered to him.
Because of this thread, I am going to text him right now and see how he is doing.
EDIT: Texted him. He didn't remember me at first because it was 6 years ago. Told me that because of me, he went and got help from the veteran volunteers: "I ended up in in Richmond, got my problems figured out and I am infinitely better now. Thanks again!"
EDIT2: Wow! Thank you for all the awards and heart-warming comments!!!
Report
50points
Whether the person has worked 10 minutes or 5 years in a workplace, getting fired hurts just the same. But even if it's painful, career counselor Timothy Desmond encourages looking at it as a doorway to unexpected opportunities.
"It's often the push we need to pursue our true passions or discover hidden talents," he told us in a previous interview.
He might have a point, as the authors of the book titled The CEO Next Door have found that 91% of laid-off people eventually found a new position that is as good as or even better than the one they got let go from.
#4
Four or so hours. When I was 18 I got a job at a grocery store, along with three others. We all started training together. On the first day we were training in the evening, and one girl asked to go home, she said her head hurt. They said fine, she clocked out, went to grab a grocery cart and started filling it with beer and liquor. The store manager walked over, and asked her if she was having a party. She said yes. Didn't even try to come up with an excuse. Just, "yeah, I am, so I needed to leave early on my first day." basically. He fired her.
Report
40points
#5
Guy had been working a few days at a barn. Decided to smoke right by bales of hay. Manager saw him and fired him right on the spot. At farms, you don’t f**k around with fire.
Report
36points
#6
I owned a construction business and we recently hired 3 new employees due to expansion. I didn't get to meet them yet as my business partner was the one who interviewed them and watched them get started on the first day and would check in on them most mornings. Along with the new hired, we promoted one of our best workers to manager to oversee them.
So after a few days days I noticed that we were behind schedule on the job, this wasn't all that surprising because we had the new hires but I decided its best to go in and check it out to make sure everything was going well. So I call up my manager and tell him to go to a different site (we did multiple sites each day) and that I will take over at the place with the new guys.
I arrive at the site half an hour late due to traffic and everyone is already hard at work, and in fact they are working efficiently and correctly on everything. I asked them a few questions about what they are doing and so on and get all the right answers. I figured the delay was just the first 2 days of learning and am very pleased that everything was picked up and seemed to go well. Now it is important that at this point I didn't actually introduce myself and nobody asked who I was so it seems everyone just assumed that I was just another worker from the company they never met before.
So two hours before we are supposed to finish for the day, a guy comes over and says "Hey, just so you know, were all gonna head out now, but clock in that we worked the whole day. [manager] allows it, and the owners never notice."
So that is the story of how I fired 3 new hires on the first day I met them... and also how I had to fire our best worker.
So after a few days days I noticed that we were behind schedule on the job, this wasn't all that surprising because we had the new hires but I decided its best to go in and check it out to make sure everything was going well. So I call up my manager and tell him to go to a different site (we did multiple sites each day) and that I will take over at the place with the new guys.
I arrive at the site half an hour late due to traffic and everyone is already hard at work, and in fact they are working efficiently and correctly on everything. I asked them a few questions about what they are doing and so on and get all the right answers. I figured the delay was just the first 2 days of learning and am very pleased that everything was picked up and seemed to go well. Now it is important that at this point I didn't actually introduce myself and nobody asked who I was so it seems everyone just assumed that I was just another worker from the company they never met before.
So two hours before we are supposed to finish for the day, a guy comes over and says "Hey, just so you know, were all gonna head out now, but clock in that we worked the whole day. [manager] allows it, and the owners never notice."
So that is the story of how I fired 3 new hires on the first day I met them... and also how I had to fire our best worker.
Report
36points
Of course, this success ultimately depends on the steps a person takes after being fired. If they mope around pitying themselves, they probably won't land themselves a better new position. However, if they take the time to breathe and practice self-care, they can return stronger than before.
“You’ll be licking your wounds, so self-care is your number one priority,” says Keva Dine, a creative industry recruiter. “It’s like when you come back from a redeye and you’re completely thrashed. Take it easy," she advised.
Try something that helps you to decompress, whether that's sleeping in, going to a museum, or catching up with a friend.
#7
As a teenager, I worked at a bowling alley. Within an hour, a new girl was fired on the spot for dropping a ball on the foot of a complaining patron.
Report
34points
#8
Heard this from a manager I worked with when I worked in fast food. There was this one kid who didn’t show up for work. He ditched work often, so the manager called around, couldn’t get anyone to fill in his shift, so she had to fill it for him.
A few hours into his shift, the dude ditching SHOWS UP, with his friends, and orders food from that manager. She fired him on the spot.
A few hours into his shift, the dude ditching SHOWS UP, with his friends, and orders food from that manager. She fired him on the spot.
33points
#9
Worked in a grocery store for awhile: new guy took a lobster out of the tank and removed the elastic bands on its claws, then proceeded to put it back in the tank. The thing m******d all the other lobsters in the tank.
Report
32points
After taking some time to decompress, Desmond recommended having a short checklist for a further plan of action.
"Assess your finances, update your resume, and reach out to your network. The key is to gain positive momentum with small steps."
It's also important to stay positive when going back to job hunting, as putting pressure on oneself causes stress that can lead to job-search burnout.
"Remember, every 'no' brings you closer to a 'yes,' and you only need one. Stay persistent, focus on personal growth, and view each interview as a chance to refine your professional story."
#10
About 35 minutes
I hired a guy to work for me as quality inspector for merchandise headed to Walmart & Target. He bragged about everything he stole from his last job during training and how they paid him more than I did. Well, I'm not holding him back from all that money so I had some big guys escort him off the property.
I hired a guy to work for me as quality inspector for merchandise headed to Walmart & Target. He bragged about everything he stole from his last job during training and how they paid him more than I did. Well, I'm not holding him back from all that money so I had some big guys escort him off the property.
Report
32points
#11
My sister was fired one day one. My dad had his own small medical practice and would hire me and my sisters as our "first job" to be his receptionist and file insurance claims, so we could get some workplace experience before we went job hunting in the larger world. My older sister worked for him in high school for a year. I worked for him for 2 years, then it came time for my younger sister to take over. I brought her to work to start training and said the number one rule in the office was, "At work he's not dad, he's the doctor and the boss."
She sassed him in front of a patient her first day, with all the venom and sarcasm a teenage girl can muster when dealing with a parent asking her to do something. He fired her on the spot and I had drag her out of there. Mom told her at least she'd get paid for the couple of hours she managed to be employed.
Edited: My first Wholesome Award! Thanks!
She sassed him in front of a patient her first day, with all the venom and sarcasm a teenage girl can muster when dealing with a parent asking her to do something. He fired her on the spot and I had drag her out of there. Mom told her at least she'd get paid for the couple of hours she managed to be employed.
Edited: My first Wholesome Award! Thanks!
Report
32points
#12
I called a temp agency to get someone to help me count inventory. They sent a guy over with a cast on his arm.... That was my first wtf but I went with it because we were just counting parts. Then I came back from lunch and this dude was in my office chair zoned out and drooling on himself with a can of air duster in his lap. I kicked him awake and escorted him out of my warehouse. Never used that temp agency again.
Report
31points
To avoid the burnout that many job seekers experience, Dine also discourages people from sending resumes left and right, hoping to increase the chances of getting a job.
“I really discourage people from hopping on LinkedIn and Indeed and to start sending their resumes everywhere,” she said. “If you don’t have a strategy on what you’re doing, it can be a black hole. You’re just wasting your time and wasting huge amounts of psychic energy. You’re going to burn yourself out.”
#13
Guy got hired, while going through orientation realized that his ex gf worked there too, turned around and walked right out the front door.
Report
31points
#14
3 hours into the first shift. Guy lost it serving an annoying customer in a grocery shop, throw a cabbage at her. The manager came and told him to go home cause he finished there. He wasn't surprised. I was standing next to him, it was an entertaining day.
29points
#15
Guy got hired, went through training and all that jazz. First day on the floor, he disappeared for 3 hours and then came back high as f**k on like m**h or something. A manager found him in the bathroom aisle, staring at himself in the mirror. Said manager looked at the cameras after firing him, the guy was there staring at himself for at least 30+ minutes.
Edit: edit to clear up some questions. I worked at Home Depot, he was in the aisle where we sell bathroom counter tops and medicine cabinets. We also have mirrors in this aisle and that’s where he was. Not in the bathroom haha.
Edit: edit to clear up some questions. I worked at Home Depot, he was in the aisle where we sell bathroom counter tops and medicine cabinets. We also have mirrors in this aisle and that’s where he was. Not in the bathroom haha.
Report
28points
While consistency is key when searching for a job, taking a break is crucial to keep yourself healthy, too.
“Scrolling job boards for hours each day without purpose, putting in generic applications, taking rejections personally and beating yourself up—not only do these activities take a huge amount of time and energy that could be used in other ways, but they can actively damage you,” said Ashley Sigmon, a careers and employability officer at Gisma University of Applied Sciences.
#16
I got hired as a long-term temp with one other person to do some basic data entry work at a major brand pretty much everyone has heard of. And it was at their corporate headquarters so pretty prestigious. Anyway, we went through all of this onboarding stuff in the morning that required us to get photo IDs and figure out parking and all that stuff. Then after 2 or 3 hours we were introduced to one of the employees in our new department who began going over what we were going to be doing. None of it seemed overly difficult and I figured that while it was new system I had never used before I'd be able to work it out in a few days as long as I asked questions and took notes. And that was the thing that made me realize that the other person who got hired with me probably lied on her resume and was completely out of her depth. She didn't take any notes and didn't ask any questions. And whenever I glanced at her I could see flashes of panic on her face. Well, lunchtime came and when we came back she said that another company had called her and offered her a permanent position and she couldn't work with us ay longer. Both me and the person training us knew what was going on but I'll give the other lady credit for finding a way out without losing face too badly.
The takeaway here is: Yes, "Fake it Until You Make it" can and does work. But you gotta' be able to fake it. You can't fake faking it.
The takeaway here is: Yes, "Fake it Until You Make it" can and does work. But you gotta' be able to fake it. You can't fake faking it.
Report
28points
#17
One and a half hours into shift as an animal care worker, I was showing my trainee how to clean the kitten rooms and started him on the easiest cage. We’re talking neonatal, six day old bottle feeder kittens. I explained how to set up the kennel, clean them up, etc.
I turned around to grab some towels and a fresh hot water bottle when I heard a thump. And then another thump.
Turned around and he was tossing the kittens to the other side of the kennel to move them. Like, underhand lobbing a softball, just tossed three kittens out of his way.
I freaked out and yanked his a*s down to the supervisor’s office. His excuse was the kittens were ‘attacking’ him, and he felt threatened? So he threw them!!
No warnings, fired on the spot. (The kittens all were fine and got adopted out a few months later. :) ).
I turned around to grab some towels and a fresh hot water bottle when I heard a thump. And then another thump.
Turned around and he was tossing the kittens to the other side of the kennel to move them. Like, underhand lobbing a softball, just tossed three kittens out of his way.
I freaked out and yanked his a*s down to the supervisor’s office. His excuse was the kittens were ‘attacking’ him, and he felt threatened? So he threw them!!
No warnings, fired on the spot. (The kittens all were fine and got adopted out a few months later. :) ).
Report
28points
#18
CoWorker. Smoked like every 40min for like 10min.
Then asked the Boss if he could leave an hour early because he didnt take his Lunch Break.
As my Boss said: "Sure you can, but you dont need to come back.".
Then asked the Boss if he could leave an hour early because he didnt take his Lunch Break.
As my Boss said: "Sure you can, but you dont need to come back.".
Report
27points
#19
He didn't show up the first day, second day, or third day.
I had to work a double shift for three days straight. Not fun. I answered the phone when he finally 'called in' on the fourth day.
He said, "I'm going to be honest with you, I've been in Orlando. My parents paid for a small vacation as a reward for getting the job. Would it be okay to start next week instead of this week?".
I had to work a double shift for three days straight. Not fun. I answered the phone when he finally 'called in' on the fourth day.
He said, "I'm going to be honest with you, I've been in Orlando. My parents paid for a small vacation as a reward for getting the job. Would it be okay to start next week instead of this week?".
Report
26points
#20
Spent my summers in college working as a laborer for a construction company. Anyway, we were doing a bunch of renovation in an active hospital, so noise and dust were a huge concern. We were a small crew and just starting renovations on an area with a super tight schedule, so the company hired a subcontractor for some of the work.
Enter these two clowns who show up to do some demolition work. Foreman gives them the talk about how they may be used to doing things a certain way, but this is an active hospital so he'd rather the work take longer than for them to make a huge mess or a lot of noise. An hour later, we apparently got multiple complaints about the noise *and* the mess, so the foreman calls me up and says to go over there and clean up NOW, and that he'd be by shortly to see what the hell was going on.
These dudes had dust and broken wall *everywhere*. I could hear them half way down the hall, just smashing away without a care in the world. The foreman shows up and we walk into the room to witness this dude standing on a pile of rubble swinging a sledgehammer over his head at a brick wall that he's removed the bottom from. Somehow the rest of this wall is still hanging from the ceiling, I have no idea how. Guy wasn't even wearing a hard hat, apparently oblivious that at any moment that wall might give way and crush him.
The foreman lost his f*****g mind on these guys. Kicked them out immediately, and got on the phone with their company and told them he didn't want to see these guys on site again. Lots of choice four letter words were used, even threatened to fire the subcontractor entirely and get someone else to do the work.
Enter these two clowns who show up to do some demolition work. Foreman gives them the talk about how they may be used to doing things a certain way, but this is an active hospital so he'd rather the work take longer than for them to make a huge mess or a lot of noise. An hour later, we apparently got multiple complaints about the noise *and* the mess, so the foreman calls me up and says to go over there and clean up NOW, and that he'd be by shortly to see what the hell was going on.
These dudes had dust and broken wall *everywhere*. I could hear them half way down the hall, just smashing away without a care in the world. The foreman shows up and we walk into the room to witness this dude standing on a pile of rubble swinging a sledgehammer over his head at a brick wall that he's removed the bottom from. Somehow the rest of this wall is still hanging from the ceiling, I have no idea how. Guy wasn't even wearing a hard hat, apparently oblivious that at any moment that wall might give way and crush him.
The foreman lost his f*****g mind on these guys. Kicked them out immediately, and got on the phone with their company and told them he didn't want to see these guys on site again. Lots of choice four letter words were used, even threatened to fire the subcontractor entirely and get someone else to do the work.
Report
26points