An employee automates a 6-hour job into 1, is fired; Reddit post about train swap request goes viral | Today’s news
An employee has sparked an online debate after claiming his employer scrapped their role after automating most of their day-to-day duties, only to ask them to train the person hired to replace them.
The employee is now refusing to help with the handover, raising questions about workplace loyalty, the growing role of automation, job security and whether workers should be expected to train their replacements after being fired.
The issue gained attention on social media after a user shared a screenshot of what appeared to be a discussion on Reddit with the title: “My employer is asking me to train a person to replace me after I’ve automated most of my daily tasks. Am I wrong to refuse?”
The post drew mixed reactions, with some users supporting the employee’s decision not to help the company after losing their job, while others argued that completing the handover is part of professional responsibility, especially if the employee continues to receive salary or severance pay.
Why does the employee refuse to train his replacement?
According to a discussion shared on Reddit, the employee has automated most of their routine daily tasks, apparently making their work more efficient.
However, the employer subsequently decided to eliminate the employee’s role and asked them to train the person to take over their duties.
The request reportedly didn’t sit well with the employee, who questioned why they should help the organization transition to a replacement after the company decided to drop their services.
The situation raised the larger question of whether employees who automate their jobs risk making their own positions redundant, only to be expected to transfer the efficiencies and knowledge they’ve gained to someone else.
The employee’s refusal also sparked debate over whether a company can reasonably expect employees to cooperate with the transition after deciding to fire them.
Reddit users are debating whether employees should train their replacements
The discussion divided Reddit users, with several arguing that employees should not be expected to train someone to take over their job without additional compensation.
One user questioned the logic of helping an employer replace them, while another suggested the decision ultimately came down to whether the employee wanted to maintain a professional relationship with the organization.
“You get parachuted either way, so the question is, do you keep the bridge or burn it?” one read comment.
Another user argued that employees should consider the financial consequences before refusing a transfer.
“Usually layoffs where they ask you to train a replacement offer an incentive. At least training someone will give you a few more weeks of pay while you watch,” the user commented.
A similar sentiment was expressed by another Redditor, who said that continuing to work during the transition could provide additional time to look for another job while collecting a salary.
“Because it will allow you to keep your job much longer,” was another comment.
Some users also pointed out that refusing to cooperate could mean losing severance pay or other financial incentives offered as part of the severance agreement.
One redditor shared his personal experience of being laid off and receiving six months of salary and insurance, arguing that such benefits could pay off a short handover period.
Some users argue that knowledge transfer is part of professional responsibility
Others took a different stance, arguing that training colleagues and imparting knowledge are normal workplace duties.
One user said that managers and leaders are expected to develop people with similar or better skills, adding that sharing expertise can multiply an employee’s contribution.
“Training people to have a similar skill set and talent to yours or better is what managers and leaders should be doing. That’s how you really multiply your efforts and impact,” the user wrote.
Another redditor said that employees should consider colleagues continuing to work with a replacement.
“There are people you still care about who will work with your replacement. Do what you can for them, take a clear conscience with you,” the comment read.
One commenter suggested that staff could limit the sharing to basic information rather than sharing every efficiency or shortcut they have developed.
“Train them enough to do the job. Keep any shortcuts or workflows you’ve created to yourself,” the user suggested.
Reddit users share experiences with pre-layoff training replacements
Several users also shared experiences of being asked to hire or train their replacements before they leave their organization.
One Redditor said they hired their own replacement and trained people to take over their entire department after the company decided to outsource the team to India.
The user reported that the transition took three months and that he eventually left with an exit package.
“It’s just business. It made economic sense for the company to move the team overseas. If I hadn’t trained them, it wouldn’t have changed the facts of the situation. I made the transition as smooth as possible and got a nice exit package as a result,” the user wrote.
