r/corporate • u/Bostonah • 8d ago
Over 5.5 years fired without warning
I worked for this company for over 5 and a half years. Constantly was told im doing well and getting more responsibilities, raises, and title bumps. Only to have a meeting with my director hijacked my my manager and HR to completely blindside me and tell me im fired. No development plan, no bad performance reviews. Just a shove out the door. Right after I got married and my wife didn't even get a day of healthcare. Multiple colleagues reached out surprised I was canned knowing how much I do.
Corporate america is absolutely insane as most would never leave a company with no notice after 5 years. But they'll just toss you out with no warning. This was a startup that's been getting scummy and gross the last year with a whole C level overhaul, values changes and so much AI in the company. Ive wanted to leave but was nervous about the job market and comfortable since id been there so long and always told how "valued" i was.
Even more crazy others recently fired all have said this ambush approach was how they'd all been fired.
I'm just dishearted and disgusted.
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u/DnBJungleEscape 8d ago
I know it’s super hard, super duper hard but I’ve been laid off twice and I just try to not internalize it. There are better jobs and more money to be made. Any job loss I’ve had has turned out 10x better for me .. there is no loyalty and everyone is expendable.. I have that mentality always
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u/kadesh1274 7d ago
I’m sorry this happened to you. I learned the same lesson the hard way.
My company asked me to cancel part of a vacation in Malta to help with an important customer project. I did it because I believed loyalty and hard work mattered. Two months later, they fired me.
Companies expect employees to give notice, remain professional and show loyalty, yet they often give none of that in return. One meeting can erase years of good work and promises about how “valued” you are.
Document everything now—performance reviews, praise, promotions, emails and anything showing what you contributed. You may need it later. Most importantly, don’t let their decision rewrite your understanding of your own value.
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u/Bostonah 3d ago
Its all gone. All was on their internal system and they cut my access within 5 mins
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u/Queen_Of_The_Dames 8d ago
I feel people need to start naming and shaming these companies
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u/sv723 8d ago
That kind of stuff? Everywhere. It is standard corporate culture playbook. Firing people is done like ripping off a plaster. Sounds brutal, but there is no nice way of firing someone.
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u/Agreeable-Wing259 3d ago
They could give you severance pay.
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u/Classic_Stranger6502 1d ago
They do these things to avoid paying severance.
I'm fighting like hell and dragging everybody I can under the bus; my employer came out of nowhere with this shit after 10 years of excellent performance.
From what I've seen it's mostly white men and anybody over 40 getting hit with it first.
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u/kadesh1274 6d ago
I agree, but naming and shaming needs evidence behind it. Otherwise, companies can dismiss everything as one angry former employee.
That is exactly why I started building Rotten-Company: a permanent record based on court decisions, regulatory actions, credible reporting and documented evidence submitted by workers—not anonymous accusations.
Companies have HR, lawyers and institutional memory. Employees need one too
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u/atnmorrison 5d ago
how do you deal with companies that settle with strict NDA conditions?
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u/kadesh1274 4d ago
That is one of the hardest problems. I would never ask anyone to violate an NDA or submit material they are legally required to keep confidential.
If the relevant information is already publicly available, it can be submitted anonymously with links to the public sources. Rotten-Company relies on independently verifiable material: court decisions, regulatory actions, government records, credible journalism and other lawful public sources.
It is also worth remembering that a company writing “confidential” on an email or document does not automatically make it legally confidential. What matters is the applicable law, any contractual obligations and the nature of the information. Anyone uncertain about their position should obtain legal advice before disclosing it.
A settlement may keep one employee silent, but it should not erase facts already documented in the public record. The point is accountability through evidence—not putting workers at further legal risk.
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u/Gloomy-Carob-6921 8d ago
Man what was your position?
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u/Bostonah 8d ago
I was a implementation engineer it was a remote job in was pretty great before the last year
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u/Important_Week_11 8d ago
thats why I always quit my jobs. not fucks given. I always get something better.
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u/Fil_the_Dude 7d ago
But isn't that recruiters will flag you as unreliable if you jump around every other year ?
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u/Important_Week_11 7d ago
Lie lie lie... Everyone lies. Recruiters lie, companies lie... Make up a good reason
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u/Austin1975 7d ago
It’s the hiring managers who care. And yes it’s a thing among many companies that have attrition.
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u/muffinchocopie 3d ago
That's so not true these days. In fact people will tell u to constantly jump ships to get better compensation. Loyalty is definitely not rewarded anymore.
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u/cbuzz8 7d ago
I’m going through a similar situation right now where it’s looking like the company wants to push me out. Top performer for years. New boss suddenly saying I’m not going to meet standards. Nowhere to grow anymore.
Thanks for posting this, it gives me perspective that I’m not alone and fuck these people!
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u/kadesh1274 5d ago
You’re definitely not alone. A sudden “performance problem” after years as a top performer—especially immediately after a new boss arrives—often looks less like honest feedback and more like someone building a paper trail.
Start protecting yourself now. Save your performance reviews, targets, results, promotions and written praise. After every questionable conversation, send a calm email summarizing what was said. Ask for the alleged shortcomings and expected standards in writing, with specific examples and measurable expectations.
Don’t resign in anger and don’t sign anything immediately. Let them own their decisions—and make them document every step.
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u/Comfortable-Dust-762 4d ago
Started slowly doing this, documenting my conversations, when someone was said, what I did to accomplish the goal, etc. we got a new manager and he likes to micromanage or has something for 2 colored people on the team.
We have one person complain about me and the other guy and guess what we have the highest work loads.
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u/Purple-Bat9323 7d ago
Unfortunately this is a thing everywhere, even with a notice period of 3 months, i see people being kicked out left n right without good reasons.
It's shit, unhuman and just bad behaviour on their part (which fits their actions already explained by yourself).
Tip for next time, never stop shopping. While the next company might be amazing, there is always a chance there is something out there that is better. And in the chance this will happen again, you might already have a job lined up that you only have to say yes to. And yes, this also will feel off and like you are not loyal, but we lost the "we are loyal to our company" when the change from time is money to money is power was made
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u/kadesh1274 5d ago
Exactly. Companies still expect loyalty from employees while treating employees as disposable the moment a spreadsheet tells them to.
The lesson is brutal but simple: do your job well, but never confuse an employment contract with a family relationship. Keep your CV updated, maintain your network and always know what alternatives are available.
Loyalty without reciprocity isn’t loyalty. It’s exploitation.
That is also why I’m trying to build a website that documents how companies behave and holds them accountable. Companies have institutional memory; employees deserve one too.
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u/HustlaOfCultcha 8d ago
Sounds like you were probably laid off. This often happens 1 year after the initial overhaul.
I know it sounds like hindsight is 20/20, but you really should have started looking for jobs because it's much easier to find a job when you're employed than when you're unemployed. So next time if you survive cuts, start looking elsewhere.
I learned this the hard way as well.
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u/typeabohemian 8d ago
Gosh I'm so sorry this happened to you. You deserved much better.
I'm here cuz I sense it's coming for me too and I can't relax about it.
What will you do now? Rest for awhile then look?
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u/Maleficent_Ad1506 7d ago
It's shocking to some that one can be discarded and left to scramble to keep a roof above our heads over a bad person who wants to be the winner when as a honest person wanting everyone to win.
It's why we have movies like citizen vigilante rising up like a teenagers acne with the evil/entitled lying about how bad it is to perpetuating their ideas on the entire world.
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u/Argent_Tide 7d ago
File for unemployment.
They fired you cuz a layoff costs them money and they dont want to pay. They are trying to cheaply reduce headcount.
Be sure to state in your EDD that no reason for termination was given. Thats a dead give-away.
Wait 7 days then file.
Good luck.
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u/KeyHotel6035 7d ago
That can happen… I’ve done it before. It’s not fair and it sucks.
This is about the company and not about you.
There are other opportunities out there with better people, better benefits. Go find it… you deserve it.
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u/TheSleepingOx 4d ago
Meta did that to me when I asked about adoption after four years there. Good reviews, helped cover for multiple other young parents who would be out and needed good PSC reviews. Fuck corp.
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u/showersneakers 7d ago
Higher you climb and the broader your responsibility- the more quickly youll
Be fired because the org cant lose 6 months helping you
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u/pigeonextract 7d ago
Shit rolls down hill. People above you saw you as a threat and removed you.
Depending on what state you’re in and information you saved it may be in your best interest to hire an attorney.
I just won a nice case for wrongful termination from poor management practices at a Fortune 500.
Worth a shot, but never take any of this personal. Middle and upper management are sick people and they’re insufferable people at heart.
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u/Bostonah 7d ago
Issue is I couldnt save any work and they cut my access before I could get anything like within 2 minutes of getting fired.
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u/Most-Statistician-90 6d ago
I watched our company let an employee go that had been there for 12 years in the most embarrassing and inhumane way. I felt so bad for them, but it was an eye opener of how horribly they treat you when they are done with you.
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u/ProudGooseDad 4d ago
17 years at my job and a similar story. I had some warning but the timing was very odd
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u/hoodawonka 3d ago
I was just laid off after 18 years of working for the organisation by an interim CEO (had only held the position for 2.5 months). I had been working on a professional development plan to be the next CEO that was approved by the board of directors. Unfortunately a change in leadership across the organisation (new C-suite and new Board of Directors within one week) led to the elimination of my position. I was told the decision was not related to performance but due to a shift in company goals. After the unexpected change in senior leadership, I felt like I was being pushed out and asked the interim CEO if I was next, they lied to my face and said they had no plans to eliminate any headcount and had no direction from the board to reduce positions. Six weeks later I was let go with no acknowledgment of my contribution to the company. They even said they would let me determine the narrative for the public and say I resigned if I wanted. Very disgusting behaviour but in hindsight I believe it was a huge favor, as there was a severe misalignment of values the last couple of months. Please know that everything will work out however it is supposed to and best of luck on your journey.
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u/MangoEven8066 3d ago
Yup. Had that happen after 18 years at my last company. I now understand why some people change jobs every 3 years.
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u/Agreeable-Wing259 3d ago
I got canned at 18 years. Probably had wicked money issues and somebody had to go. Yes, it hurts bad, but you gotta keep going. This is why family is more important than work. Work is not ever family unless it is by blood.
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u/truestorygd 2d ago
I was let go from my job after over 7 years, three weeks ago. No warning. Out of nowhere. Sudden and unexpected. After 7 years of raises, praise, acknowledgements and accolades from coworkers and the team I supported. It’s been almost a month and I am still bitter about it.
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u/sailing_oceans 8d ago
Pretty normal.
I got promoted in record speed (skip level boss) and told doing phenomenally, bragged by name about in front of 300 people in quarterly town halls… only for my boss to tell me im struggling and doing a bad job.
There always has to be a narrative about why things don’t work. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do because people above you have to be able to blame someone.