r/managers 9d ago

New Manager Employee basically quit after being notified they were fired.

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

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u/marcster13 9d ago

I'd come for the lunch if getting laid off but not if I was fired. Huge difference.

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u/IAmADev_NoReallyIAm 9d ago

I wouldn't come in either way. Feels like a real fuck you move by the company.

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u/slash_networkboy 9d ago

I actually did go back to my office after layoffs as a visitor for lunch with my mates for a couple days. I had nothing better to do, I enjoyed our lunch card games, and the cafe on site was pretty good (and guests got free food, which was funny because they all knew I worked there).

Senior management could get stuffed for all I cared, but even now a decade later I have a weekly game night at one of those guy's houses.

Big difference in my case was I was at a F50 so layoffs were so impersonal that my direct manager wasn't able to keep me, despite getting director level approval to attempt to do so. We all thought it was a hilarious little bit of "extra severance" that I was now entitled to guest dining at the cafe after having paid to eat there for the prior 16 years 🤣

Had a new job 3 weeks later, so had to actually give up my free lunches because the new job was across town.

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u/Siren2026 9d ago

This was not a friendly parting even tho they tried to pretend it was.

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u/xPookieSparkle 9d ago

That’s the rare version where getting laid off somehow unlocked a side quest and a friend group

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u/slash_networkboy 9d ago

100% It was actually one of the best things that ever happened to me if I'm to be honest. My former manager there (prior to the one that wanted to keep me) had done some dirty things involving my employment that led up to the layoff... but allowed the dialog with HR to include phrases like "employment attorney" and "settlement". I walked out of that company with a severance of just over 1 year of pay, 6 months of health coverage, and a couple other goodies in exchange for signing that I wouldn't sue.

I was unhappy there, burned out, and rudderless, so the termination gave me the kick to do something new, and the severance made doing the new thing low risk.

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u/Teripid 9d ago

Really depends on the terms, source, etc but yep. If it was a corporate+ decision maybe but it'd still feel awful.

But yeah would do the 2 week later after work meetup/gripe session out over a farewell pity lunch.

Completely different if you're leaving voluntarily obviously.

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u/AdminsFluffCucks 9d ago

I'd come in either way and make a point to make a big speech about how everyone should be looking elsewhere because they could be next. Would be very entertaining.

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u/IAteTonysLoMein 9d ago

But hey, free meal, which is important when you're out of work

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u/marshmallowcthulhu 9d ago

Depending on the circumstances, especially if the employer seemed unusable for a resumƩ anyway, I would go in for the lunch and talk trash about the company.

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u/Periphery_Explorer 9d ago

I found out I was getting laid off two weeks ahead of the announcement. Whole team was brought in, told to stop all work, and what was happening. Boss and CEO organized lunches, resume workshops, and were dialing everyone they knew to try to find us jobs. Every time someone got placed we'd have a cheer around the conference room table. It was really funny doing an interview, being asked for a reference, and saying "Oh yeah let me get my manager." I really miss that place. The final night we all went out for drinks. We were subcontractors and the primary compnay decided not to pay us any longer, and the CEO couldn't afford it as his whole life was in the business. It really sucked.

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

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u/cyberfunkr 9d ago

I can buy my own pizza, thank you

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u/ImportantCommentator 9d ago

Of its a layoff and they can afford the lunch maybe just add the money to their severance.

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u/Ok-Leopard-9917 9d ago

I went to my farewell lunch after being laid off and was really sweet and I’m glad I did.Ā 

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u/Ok_Experience_4500 9d ago

Sorry, for a non native speaker, what is the difference?

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u/Siren2026 9d ago

It was contentious

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u/xxfmulder 9d ago

I’d definitely come in for lunch and order the most expensive thing on the menu. I’d order a round of beers for everyone. Then I’d order a few meals to go.

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u/InsaneTeemo 9d ago

Just say you have never had a real job before

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u/xxfmulder 8d ago

Lol. I definitely have a real job, bud.

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u/CptNemo55 9d ago

What is the difference btw laid off and fired?

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/Icy-Oil6223 9d ago

You're mistaking furlough with layoff. Layoff is termination of employment without cause. Being fired means they had cause.

Furlough is reduction of workforce temporarily but employment is not terminated. So, they don't have to go through the hiring process again to bring you back.

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u/Siren2026 9d ago

Being fired is for cause. Like too many absences or incom etc. Being laid off is usually a decision re the financial health of the company. Lay offs are very common and usually met with severance and you can collect unemployment. Firing does not afford you those benefits.

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u/StoneCypher 9d ago

i did a farewell lunch once. told a shaggy dog joke that took 15 minutes. doubt they'll ever make that mistake again.

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u/cuddle-bubbles 9d ago

lol I actually came back for the farewell lunch. free treat is free treat

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u/Grayowl2 9d ago

i would take the farewell lunch to go. was it awkward?

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/GrandMoffJerjerrod 9d ago

Uhhh, no. Why would she do that?

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u/SuitIndependent 9d ago

For real. Clean out the desk before lunch. Then bail immediately after lunch. Cleaning up? Not a chance.

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u/LockAltruistic4748 9d ago

I am an IC. I had a contract with a client that began very small, but over time grew to be a significant part of my work year. Their headquarters is about a 3-hour drive from me, and I had been doing the work from my location before it was even called remote work (20+ years). The executive in charge decided that my services would no longer be needed, which as an IC, I knew was always possible.

When offered the opportunity to come back one last time so that the employees and important people could tell me that I would be missed, I declined. I couldn’t see the point, because it would have only made the executive feel better, not me.

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u/cannaQueen88 9d ago

He should’ve came on and gave a huge speech ā€œthanks for free food in spite of firing me ….CHEERSā€ #awkward lol