Starting a new job can be really scary. Suddenly, you have to get used to new coworkers, a new workspace, and figure out which workflow works best for you and your peers. It can be quite daunting, but also exciting.
But some people take these new opportunities and quickly become HR's worst nightmare. And we have some stories to prove it. Someone on r/AskReddit asked about the quickest they've ever seen someone get fired, and well, some of the answers are truly shocking. So, hey, if you're looking to hold on to your job, here's what not to do.
#61
Back in like 2002 I worked at a clothing store. A new girl was hired and on her first ever meal break, she stole a soda from the case by the register. They fired her that day.
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3points
#62
We had a guy who said he could install furnaces like a god amongst men. He didn't last a week. The last straw was when he installed a furnace, we got called back since it wasn't working after he left. I show up and the guy didn't cut a hole in the furnace for the cold air return. Just straight up screwed the ductwork to the side of the furnace, he wired it up while staring at the side that should have a hole in it, somehow didn't notice. Some of the wildest stuff I've ever seen.
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3points
#63
Worked in a cafe where we hired a young guy as a dishwasher to help on weekends. He smelled real bad on his first shift, which was addressed to him but he was given grace cos maybe it was a one-time thing, but came in next day still stinking. Clearly never ever showered and got fired cos he just smelled so bad that no one could hack it.
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3points
#64
I'm the coworker. Got hired at a coffee roaster during COVID, lunch break on day 1 I had a guy come up to me and say "hey new guy, go ask Dan why he can't legally own dogs anymore". So I did. And I didn't go back for day 2.
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3points
#65
Before he even walked in the door.
He showed up late riding an e-scooter, out of uniform with a playboy hat on, and a joint hanging out of his mouth.
He showed up late riding an e-scooter, out of uniform with a playboy hat on, and a joint hanging out of his mouth.
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3points
#66
I had a coworker who got on everyone's nerves, but did his job.
I was giving a presentation to my manager and her boss, and said coworker decided to ping me on Teams, criticizing my boss and her boss. After I told him not to ping me. Because I was presenting to the bosses.
The presentation was at 9am, he was gone before noon.
I was giving a presentation to my manager and her boss, and said coworker decided to ping me on Teams, criticizing my boss and her boss. After I told him not to ping me. Because I was presenting to the bosses.
The presentation was at 9am, he was gone before noon.
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3points
#67
She'd been on the job for about a week, working with me at a series of electronic shops in the airport, some locations past security. This lady had ZERO filter and would make the most obnoxious observations to everyone she spoke to. "Wow, you have really dry skin. Your shampoo is giving you dandruff, you know". Just really petty superficial comments and she couldn't tell she was just pissing people off.
One day she was told to work one of the locations past security and an hour later we got word she was fired. Apparently she thought she could just walk through with privilege as an employee (there's still checks, just a separate, faster line), and when the dark skinned TSA agent had to block her physically, she freaked out and hurled a slew of, lets say, choice insults at him. Not sure if she eas arrested or escorted, but I was relieved to have my peaceful shifts back.
One day she was told to work one of the locations past security and an hour later we got word she was fired. Apparently she thought she could just walk through with privilege as an employee (there's still checks, just a separate, faster line), and when the dark skinned TSA agent had to block her physically, she freaked out and hurled a slew of, lets say, choice insults at him. Not sure if she eas arrested or escorted, but I was relieved to have my peaceful shifts back.
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3points
#68
Not nearly as fast as most of the answers here but at the start of the pandemic we switched to work from home as a company but were required to come in as needed if requested (we'd get like 48 hours notice to make plans and it was understood that this would be the arrangement). It was mostly because we kinda jumped in head first into work from home as soon as the pandemic started (kudos to them for that) but there were some things that they hadn't really worked out how to handle remotely yet.
Anyway, the 2nd week in, a couple members of my team were called back in for a day to work on an upcoming project and one of the guys couldn't make it because he had already relocated to California. So they ended up letting him go. Took like a year to get the company laptop back.
The irony is that all these years later and we're still remote and even have some of my team spread across the country and even in California. He just moved too fast (before they fully worked out the kinks of work from home) and didn't ask permission.
Anyway, the 2nd week in, a couple members of my team were called back in for a day to work on an upcoming project and one of the guys couldn't make it because he had already relocated to California. So they ended up letting him go. Took like a year to get the company laptop back.
The irony is that all these years later and we're still remote and even have some of my team spread across the country and even in California. He just moved too fast (before they fully worked out the kinks of work from home) and didn't ask permission.
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3points
#69
A guy lasted only two days. He kept showing up late ignored intructions and on his second day he got into an argument with the supervisor in front of everyone.
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3points
#70
Orientation. Guy comes in with a group of 10. Trainer trying his best to go over what the job entails, this guy (fresh outta high school) wants to be the class clown. After repeated attempts to quite him down, management and HR cornered him at first break and got his badge. He couldn't make it to the end of a free paid day.
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3points
#71
About 24 hours. He failed to show up on his second day. Apparently he had slept in his parents’ room when they weren’t home and he forgot to set his alarm, got up late, then figured it was best just not to come in at all rather than show up late or call out. He was fired when he came in the third morning.
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2points
#72
30 minutes into one of my buddies shift and he gets told he's fired for wearing brown pants instead of black ones.
We are servers...
We are servers...
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2points
#73
Without a whole lot of details. An individual had been hired despite disclosing that they had been fired from a past position with a different employer for alcohol problems, told the interviewer they were sober and asked for a second chance.
Said person appeared at the initial off-site HR training intoxicated and became belligerent at the training location when accused of being intoxicated.
Said person appeared at the initial off-site HR training intoxicated and became belligerent at the training location when accused of being intoxicated.
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2points
#74
My wife hired an intern at the non-profit where she worked. The intern was the daughter of one of the board members. The first day she didn’t show up. My wife called, and the intern said she didn’t have a car. My wife asked if she could take a bus, and she said she couldn’t. So my wife said it wasn’t going to work out. Then she called the mother and explained that if she couldn’t show up, it wasn’t going to work. The second day the girl doesn’t show up either and that’s it. I think she didn’t want to work and her mom wanted her to.
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2points
