I was fired from my job yesterday after giving my two weeks notice a few days ago for a better job, are companies this petty?

[Anonymous]

I understand companies can do what they want. But working for this company I felt unappreciated, rarely thanked for my hard work, they pin pointed stupid things on me, just a toxic work environment overall. Came to work on time, did my job and went home, what more can someone ask for. I told them I found a new job a few days ago. The president of the company tells me, you know how much money we invested in you. I was doing this job for one thing — make money and leave. Companies don’t give a heads up if they lay people off. I swear the hypocrisy of employers, glad I left that place and have another opportunity with more growth.

[Effably]

I mean... good?

Obviously you will not be relying on them for a reference and their act is outright childish. But!

It is, from a practical viewpoint, almost always better to be fired for no good reason than to quit yourself. This often entitles you to a bunch of pay and other compensation which is why many companies jump through a lot of hoops to make people quit rather than fire.

Now it is also possible you have no course of action, although it does sound like they lacked grounds for firing you. They could have certainly suggested you just forego the two courtesy weeks but they did not. They fired you. Again, almost always this means free money. Congrats.

[ArrowheadSW]

Did they give you any kind of reason, other than the president saying that they invested money in you? Yeah it is weird.

[Asker]

I was going to stay on board and work two jobs until they found a replacement. I told the president of the company to his face I want to be open and honest and for this job I feel like I am doing a two person job for the wage given, it is not worth it. I said you can let me go today, I can pack up my stuff and leave or you can keep me, hire someone else, i'll help train them but he said that's nice of you but we have to let you go asap. I said ok, shook his hand and left.

[ArrowheadSW]

How big of a company is this? How many employees would you say? Some companies do this so the employee won't steal things before leaving, or so they won't try to "poison" other employees against the company. (Not saying that YOU would do that.)

The company that I used to work for... There was a lady who trained in a very specialized type of sales. After the training, she came in to work one day and said that she was going to take a job with another company that offered her $10,000 more a year. They got security, told her to clear out her desk, and escorted her out.

Just recalling the story. Not that that applies to YOUR situation... LOL

[Asker]

It’s a small company, there was 4 people in the office, including 1 myself so 5. They another location with a little bit more. But I’m not offended if they ask me to leave and watch what I’m doing. It’s a tech company so they want to make sure I won’t steal anything, they know I won’t but that’s it. The last guy who worked there quit and just left midday and took an Uber back home. I think the guy hated the company and didn’t like how he was treated. Oddly enough, I didn’t bring the car to work that day. So when I left I called an Uber to pick me up and head back home as well. It’s not a big deal. I was essentially going to quit first wk of January to earn extra cash between two jobs. But whatever, I learned never tell your employer anything. No need to give a two week notice if you won’t use them as a reference in the future. I think it’s petty on the president’s end to act that way. He makes one person to a two person job so he makes more money in his pockets. Not sure why he would be annoyed by me taking another job that offered more money. Money dictates life, we need it.

[ArrowheadSW]

Ah OK. Yeah I guess I can see why he would have you leave right away because like you say, it is a tech company and they don't want you to take trade secrets, etc. But the president should have been more polite about it.

[Asker]

Meh, I didn't care about politeness. I was on the computer at the time when I got called in to speak to him. I had a feeling what the president of the company was going to say regarding what I told my supervisor I plan to quit the company in a few months. Near the end the president said, I want to thank you for your hard work, you're a cool guy, and I thought you would have a different reaction. He thought I was going to lose my shit and tell him off or spill the beans on the company work environment. I told him, you have to worry about your company first but at the same time I have to worry about myself as well. Again, I think companies big or small or fairly stupid because they don't care if they lay off one individual or a mass amount of people (ex: 2008 Great Recession in the US). I've always believed people have to look out for their own best interest when it comes to work. For some reason he wanted my email/phone number before I left, I gave it to him. He told me he respects the fact that I am leaving and not burning bridges. Not sure what that means. It wouldn't surprise me if they called me back and said, hey do you want to work here for a month or two til we find someone.

[ArrowheadSW]

Ah OK interesting. That was cool that he respected the fact that you were not burning bridges. He liked that you weren't leaving in anger.

[DryGermanGuy]

In developed countries companies can actually not do what they want. 🙄

[abc3643]

Happens all the time.

[Jmmmfi4]

DOESN'T surprise ME

[jahaims]

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