Did you ever lose a job for a stupid reason?

[Torkuda]

Boss did not tell me what time I needed to be a work, as a result I was half an hour late, thinking I was early. I was promptly fired from a job I daily arrived at, half an hour early.

I so hate this. After all, when you answer questions about being fired at an interview, you're supposed to say you were laid off or that you learned from the experience, to ingratiate yourself to your potential new employer so you don't sound like an a**whipe who always passes the bill. The best I could say is "I learned to be punctual"... well I survived five years in the army, I should hope I figured that one out. And then IF they contact any employers of mine before that, an employer will learn being a half hour early for everything use to be a policy of mine so... that will be an easily detected lie. I try to avoid talking about it, but that never works either.

 

[norashepard]

I lost my most recent job because my stupid manager forgot to alter the schedule after I requested a day off (and reminded him several times, too), so when I took the day off, I technically was a no call no show and was instantly booted. I was pretty flaming mad as you might believe but honestly the job was shit anyway so I don't feel so bad.

 

[Mossberg Shotty]

I got fired from my first and so far only job cause I was the only one working. Well, that is my specific job, which was mostly folding clothes and keeping everything tidy. Everyone else in the same position made it a skill of goofing off, so all the bosses saw was me alone doing not so great and no one ever doing bad (or good). The whole job was bad though, they told me nothing and kept forcing me to switch to new areas, and gave me no information, which made customers annoying to deal with.

I did not know how to react when it happened. I regret not ratting out the others.

That sounds eerily similar to my first working experience. A few years back I was working as seasonal help at a JCPenney, mostly folding clothes and getting bounced around to different departments. Including an uncomfortable stint in lingere. But I left that job of my own accord, once the holiday season was over.

OT: I've only been fired once, and I'm not sure it even counts considering that they offered me my job back two days later. I was working at a semi-respectable deli, making food in the back. I enjoyed it, but the management was awful. Anyways, one day when I was changing into my uniform, I tore open my industrial piercing(which I had gotten only a day or so prior) while pulling off my shirt. My uniform got covered in blood, and it had to be washed. Since it's frowned upon to show up to work looking like an axe murderer, not even considering the sanitary issues, I called into work and set my clothes aside to wash. My general manager picked up and begrudgingly accepted my excuse, even though he never really liked me.

But when I show up the next day, I was terminated for being a "no-call no-show" even though I spoke to him personally. I would've been quite upset but he realized I was the fastest cook they had on line and called me two days later with an apology and asked me to come back.

I quit a few weeks later of my own choosing for a higher-paying, more respectable job.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I used to work freelance for a company that dismissed me for asking to get paid for extra hours, though the official explanation was "reorganization". I still think it was pretty stupid, but from me. I should've just slaved it for at least another month.

 

[Souplex]

I've never been fired, however businesses I've worked for have gone under, and employers have run out of work for me.

 

[joshthor]

when i was 16 i was a clean up guy for a bakery. i was obviously in high school - when i started the job it was 6:00 till done. a month later they moved it to 7. a month later to 8. when summer hit they wanted me to come in at 10. after summer, they wanted me to continue coming in at 10. i was in high school and i couldnt work till 1/2 a.m. so they stopped scheduling me.

 

[soren7550]

Not sure if this is the reason or not (they never decided to tell me why I was fired), but it seems as likely a reason as any.

I was a cashier at this grocery store no one has heard of, and it was during one of the busy times of day. This woman comes up with two carts of groceries and says that she wants it delivered. I worked at one of the tiny registers where you're not supposed to put groceries together for delivery since there's no room, and you'd be holding up a lot of people. I tell her this, and she refuses to go to the register that did do deliveries because she didn't feel like waiting (she seriously said this). One of the managers tells me to do it anyway, so I begrudgingly start trying to scan, bag, and pack up all these groceries on about two feet of counter space. Naturally, this takes awhile, and this woman isn't pleased.
She kindly pointed out how I was worthless and how her $40+ an hour paycheck could crush my minimum wage. Doing my best to not throttle the woman, I ask her to fill out the delivery form that I had to get from the delivery lane. While filling out her address, she complains to her companion about how I was "an ignorant dumbass".
I'm super pissed at this point, and when she hands the form back, I say to here "Now, I'm gonna have to read this back to make sure that all this is correct, what with me being such an ignorant dumbass and all." She's not happy with this, even though she didn't bother to lower her voice when she said it to her companion, and informs me that she's complaining to the manager. I give her the receipt, and with my most forced smile, I tell her to have a nice day. She didn't like that much either.

A few days to a week or so after that I was fired. It sucks that I lost it since no more pay and because their bad reference probably utterly soured any potential new jobs I could of had, but on the other had, that was a shitty job where the homeless alcoholics threw things at me, the old Hispanic ladies yelled at me about I don't know what, the manager never really cared to give me change whenever I asked for it, and the register I had to work at was filled with trash I wasn't allowed to dispose of.

 

[porous_shield]

My first real job I lost due to nepotism:

I was hired just after college to fill in for a teacher who came down with a sudden long term illness. I hadn't actually applied for it but the principal knew me and she couldn't find anyone to fill in. It was definitely rough going, and frankly a nightmare, but the pay was good and after a month things settled down. Two months later I was still teaching because they still couldn't find anyone, when the principal who hired me, took maternity leave. Within a week, the new principal calls me in and fires me on the spot because they "need someone with teaching credentials in that position." He then brings in his son (a second year college drop-out)...who quits three weeks in and he comes crying back to me but I already had another job lined up and he was shit out of luck. I seriously considered going back since I missed my students and wanted to close out the year with them but I couldn't turn down a permanent job for a couple more months of teaching.



That reminds me of another stupid reason I lost a job- well it was kind of a job- was due to infighting way back in high school when I was tutoring for the school. They gave me a list of students to tutor and almost all of them wanted French help but that was the one subject I had explicitly said I couldn't tutor so I went to one of the two people running the program and told her my problem. The woman was slightly high strung and preceded to get screaming mad at me and took me off the tutor list altogether. A few days later the other guy running it puts me back on the list and gives me a new set of students with no French, only for a few days later that I'm completely off the list again. That back and fourth went on for two or three weeks (pain in the ass for me and the students I had to tutor) when finally the guy that was sticking up for me quit...and of course the next day I'm off the list again.

 

[Elfgore]

Mines not a firing story, but one that would have resulted in one.

After I graduated high school, I was in a die-hard search to find a job until I left for college. I got an interview at a place I had worked at previously and a small mom and pop store that is run by a corrupt cop who abuses his employees and withholds their last paycheck.

After the interview with the small store, I got a call two hours later from the store, which I missed. I called him back only to get a voicemail. He never called me back. I ended up getting the job at my old place of employment and decided to work there. The day I was starting at my old place, I get a call at nine in the morning with that small store saying I was supposed to appear for work at nine that morning. Completely confused I ask when I got the job. Turns out that was what the guy had called me about. I said thanks but no thanks as I already had a job. Really confusing turn of events.

 

[Cyrin]

I was once fired for being 3 minutes late.
Less than 6 months later the shop closed down for good.
Felt like I dodged a bullet on that one.

 

[The Eupho Guy_v1legacy]

I got screwed out of a temp job a while back at a packaging facility for a local winery.

I had been working a rotating shift for a year or so at that point, when a work order for a premium wine came up. Now normally, there would be five operators per line (1 on the glass depalletizer, 1 on the filling machine, 1 on the labeler and 2 in the packing section). However because it was a high value order (in the region of $70 a bottle), 2 groups 2 spotters were added to the line to make sure the product was perfect.

The first day was fine, I was with another temp and we did our job with a minumum of fuss and the shift went smoothly, as did the second shift... and then the fun began. The next day, I went to change over with the night crew only to be told that the other spotter wasn't coming in today because they weren't needed. Little did I know that a machine had broken down and the replacement part was occasionally leaving a 2mm crease in the tin caps that cover the cork.

At this time, the line was running at about 15000 bottles per hour (250 bottles a minute or a mere 4 bottles every second) which didn't end well, as you could imagine. Half way through the shift I was pulled off station, replaced by two new spotters and sent home. I got a phone call the next morning to say that I had been blacklisted from that site.

I was seriously pissed at the time as it was reasonable work for good money, but I don't miss working rotating shifts at all. (7am - 3pm one week, then 3pm - 11pm the next followed by 11pm - 7am, rinse and repeat)

 

[Yopaz]

OP, I feel for you, but since you knew you had no bike - you probably should have left for work with ample time to get there. I also don't have a car, and when I've been forced to walk (sometimes 90+ minutes to, and then from work) you gotta do what you gotta do. After the first or second day, you should have been able to arrive on time.

Sorry. That's the truth of it.

As for me, I've never been fired, though I have been blamed for things that were not my fault.

Also, if you don't have a car, it's usually a bad idea to have a job so far away from home. Personal experience talking...

Yeah, I have to agree with the time thing. If you know you're going to be delayed for as much as 10 minutes every day then you try to adjust so you get there 10 minutes earlier. Just because you usually showed up before time that doesn't mean you're excused when you suddenly start to be consistently late. Showing up before time means you'll likely be overstaffed (which might not be a bad thing depending on what job, but it rarely improves anything) showing up late means they'll be overstaffed for a time which is a bad thing.

The thing is according to his post they were looking for a reason to fire him and no-one there liked him and from reading the OP I can kinda see why. Dealing with delays you know are coming is a part of work, no dress code doesn't mean wear whatever you like regardless of the atmosphere and if no-one there likes you you are doing something wrong.

Consider this a lesson learned and hopefully you'll find a job where you fit in better the next time.

OT: I've never been fired... never been hired for that matter. It sucks, but I'll just have to keep trying Maybe I'll be able to get a part time job or something for the summer.

 

[Dragonpit]

I lost my last job...well...because my last boss was irresponsible. Sort of. I worked in a retail shoe store in town and the business season was winding down. This meant hours would be cut, people would be let go. I was a plenty hard worker, but even so, issues with some customers (sighing in front of them and what not) meant I would one of the ones to go. I did not know this until on my very last day. I found out from the assistant manager. Her boss and mine was currently in Spokane for the weekend and was thus nowhere in sight. The asshole.

That's the full account. Arguably worse than being fired from McDonalds for breaking a monitor.

 

[karloss01]

yet to get fired properly, but when I was on job seekers allowance I was forced onto voluntary work at places that weren't anything to do with my skill set. one of these jobs was at Poundland, it was 9am to 5pm, five days a week. after five weeks of working hard for them and saving one of the staff members from serious injury (more on that later), they told me the job center wanted to see me the following Friday. when I got there, it was me the job center's manager, my 'carer' for lack of a better name and two of the security guards. they told me that the store didn't want me there anymore because 'I Had several confrontations with staff members'. they then started to lecture me that I would never get a job for doing such a thing, which with the shock and feeling of betrayal I broke down and cried for being used (which they were completely lost at handling).

It turned out that they completely believed that I was confrontational and violent despite all the meetings we had, hence the security. I'm not a confrontational at all, never been in a fight in my life and arguments are something I try to avoid. I'd been on job seekers for four years and that was the first time where I thought I'd might actually get a job, and for them to be so cowardly and two-faced still makes me sick.

The saving someone story:

So if anyone works retail or has been in a retail while they were restocking may know that most if not all of the product comes in wheeled cages. so four of them were bringing out this cage that had nothing but 1kg bags of sugar on it. (these cages are about 6.5 foot in height, slightly taller then me), when the cage made a creaking sound before one of the wheel that was rusted collapsed on itself. instinctively they all let go of the cage and backed off as it could easily crush someone, save for one of them who had a problem with tying their own shoe laces; which the cage had pinned his laces underneath the cage as it started to tip in their direction.

seeing this I dropped what I was doing and went to help them prop it up at first before it started to fall at that moment I rushed in and pushed against it, I only slowed it's descent long enough for someone to yank the trapped guy free before it fell. there was much cheering from the customers and the guy was really grateful for as he put it 'saving him'. then an old lady noticed I was bleeding along my forearm. turns out as it fell a sharp piece of the welding slashed down my arm as I redirected the fall to miss the nearby shelving units.

Despite all this it was never technically a job.

 

[Depulcator]

I got fired, because the guy who did the schedule changed the schedule on my days off and didn't call me. So it was like I no call no show'd for two days, got a better job and turned them down when the offered to re-hire me.

 

[keniakittykat]

OP, I feel for you, but since you knew you had no bike - you probably should have left for work with ample time to get there. I also don't have a car, and when I've been forced to walk (sometimes 90+ minutes to, and then from work) you gotta do what you gotta do. After the first or second day, you should have been able to arrive on time.

Sorry. That's the truth of it.

As for me, I've never been fired, though I have been blamed for things that were not my fault.

Also, if you don't have a car, it's usually a bad idea to have a job so far away from home. Personal experience talking...

Yeah, The road I used to take had no sidewalks. So it was rather dangerous to get there on foot. I also started working at 8:30 AM, and the first train departed at 7:00. So there was no way I was going to be on time on foot.

 

[Guffe]

Never fired, I'm only 22 but can't see myself get fired due to reasons stated in this thread.
I don't know how it works in other countries but here in Finland I hear very little of horror stories like these. We have a very good system (that I know of) when it comes to your rights as a worker.
Now times are pretty bad and people get fired left and right but that's due to the economic situation.

 

[CelestDaer]

Had one job that I started working on MLK Day, first shift, no interview, just got called and asked to come in and work, the manager sat down with me very briefly, asked if I was offended at being hired by a girl... "No, a job's a job..." worked until halfway through my shift, asked for a break, next morning as I'm getting ready to go in, I get a call saying, "Yeah, this isn't going to work out, just come on in, bring the shirt and hat, and we'll pay you for the one day from petty cash."
I still have no idea what happened there. I think it was from asking for a break. You know, as required by law for a six hour shift...?

I worked at a craft store for three months, starting just before Thanksgiving and made it through Christmas, which was just ever so much fun, let me tell you. I occasionally would wear nail polish to work, and just before I asked to be transferred, the store manager called me into the office and went, "So, what's this then?" Nail polish? "You can't do that." Like hell I can't. "Men can't wear nail polish." And next you're going to tell me women can't wear pants? "No, I'm not." Well, you might as well have. Gender equality. "It's in the dress code." No, no it isn't, I read it very carefully. "I just don't want the district manager coming in and seeing you in it and firing you." Well, that's nice, and ever so lawsuit worthy.
Anyway, I stopped working at that location, and moved, keeping in contact with the new store, where the job I'd had lined up just kind of disappeared.

Or how about the Halloween store that I got hired on at, never worked a single day, kept calling for my work schedule, kept getting told, "Call back next week, I'm sure we'll need you then," until Halloween was over, and then the store went away.

 

[DkLnBr]

I was fired from Safeway almost a decade ago, and I thought it was pretty stupid (actually its more just me being butthurt over a simple misunderstanding). What happened is that I thought I had booked time off of work, but instead I misunderstood how things worked and it was actually just a request for time off (asking "please can I?" rather then "I cant work these days". So I ended up being scheduled to work on my Dad's birthday, but didnt know it (I had checked the calendar at work and saw nothing, so I just assumed). I didnt actually find out I was fired until the next time I showed up for work