A Reddit post sparked online conversation after a user claimed they were suddenly fired from their job without warning — only to have their former employer repeatedly contact them within 24 hours demanding the return of their office equipment.
A user posting under the handle DustyJames3 on the r/antiwork subreddit wrote that he was fired in an impromptu meeting where company leaders raised vague concerns about “fit” and “timelines.” When the employee asked for specific examples or performance issues, they reportedly received none.
Read also | ‘Quit in 3 hours’: Man’s viral post about low pay, long hours sparks debate
According to the post, the shooting came as a shock because the user believed they were doing well. They recently completed a major project that reportedly led to client renewals and even public praise for the company’s management. “So that was… appalling to say the least,” the user wrote.
But what happened next confused the employee even more.
Within hours of the termination, the company reportedly began sending several emails and missed calls regarding “device dimensions” that the employee needed to return. Instead of a simple request to be sent back, the user described the messages — including several from HR and one from the company owner — as persistent and urgent.
Read also | World Toilet Day 2025: Theme, Meaning, History, Facts About The Day
The post said the employee had already marked the upcoming paid leave on his work calendar and was traveling in a remote desert location with no phone service when the calls began. “I’m sitting here still trying to process the layoffs and they’re acting like I’m holding their gear hostage,” the user wrote.
Although the user planned to return all property to the company “immediately and professionally,” he said the timing and tone of the messages was “insensitive and tone-deaf.” They questioned whether the company was trying to intimidate them, cover themselves legally, or simply mishandle the termination process.
“Part of me irrationally wants to believe the owner is reaching out because someone realized the shooting was rushed or poorly handled,” they added. “But realistically it’s probably just another angle to pressure me about the return process or verify my location.
The post generated widespread engagement, with several Reddit users sharing similar experiences. Many have suggested that companies often hyper-focus on recovering assets immediately after termination for compliance or financial reasons. Others said the sudden firing, combined with the urgent demands for equipment, could indicate an internal misunderstanding or fear of responsibility.
Read also | “95% of all fin influencers are actually creating confusion”: Manish Pandey
The user ended his post by asking, “Has anyone dealt with this before? Is this normal? Are they trying to intimidate me? Legally covering up?”
The thread continues to receive responses from workers around the world, reflecting broader frustrations with opaque workplace practices, sudden layoffs and poor communication during offboarding.
The Internet is responding
One user wrote: “Tell them to send you a pre-paid shipping label and you’ll return it. Don’t box it up and return it on your own dime.”
Another user wrote: “You want to return items by registered mail because you want proof that the items were received. Too many people return items or send them back and the company later claimed they didn’t because Dave at the front desk or Sue in the stores didn’t let the appropriate person know that the items were returned.”
“Let them sweat. Enjoy their angst. Don’t make them a priority. Let them know you don’t care about them. You know they’ll get their junk back. It’s obvious they care as little as they can about meeting your needs, so don’t you dare meet theirs,” wrote a third user.
