Person Told They’re Replaceable Gets Fired, Company Realizes They’re Not That Easy To Replace

Most of us were told growing up that if we’re dedicated to our jobs and have an excellent work ethic, we’ll be rewarded with promotions, raises and appreciation from our employers. But the harsh reality of the working world is that no matter how many times a company claims that you’re “family,” they can still toss you out the very next day.

One woman learned this painful lesson after she was abruptly laid off from the job she had dedicated so much time and energy into for years. But things ended up working out for her after karma came for her former employer. Below, you’ll find the full story that was shared on Reddit, as well as some of the replies readers shared.

This woman was abruptly laid off from the job that she had dedicated years to

Woman employee carrying a box of office items outside a building, looking concerned after getting laid off.

Image credits: alexandrumusuc / freepik (not the actual photo)

But things ended up working out in her favor when her former employer’s biggest client tracked her down

Employee laid off during company restructuring then successfully poaches the biggest client from former employer.

Text excerpt describing managing company’s biggest client, focusing on employee relationship and account details.

Alt text: Text about employee's exit interview and HR planning to redistribute responsibilities after employee gets laid off.

Text showing a person freelancing after being laid off and receiving a LinkedIn message from a former client’s marketing director.

Alt text: Text describing an employee’s replacement failing a major campaign with wrong demographics, missed deadlines, and poor creative work.

Young woman excitedly talking on phone, likely representing employee poaching company’s biggest client after getting laid off.

Image credits: benzoix / freepik (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt showing a message about a freelance client exploring other options after employee gets laid off and poaches client.

Text excerpt showing someone explaining how they poached a company’s biggest client by handling strategy, creative, and media buying in-house.

Alt text: Employee gets laid off text message about poaching company’s biggest client and lost account knowledge.

Text image showing the phrase about trash taking itself out, symbolizing an employee laid off then poaching the company’s biggest client.

Text explaining a laid off employee addressing non-compete clause while becoming a freelance consultant.

Young professional discussing business charts with colleague, illustrating client poaching after employee gets laid off

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt describing an employee poaching company’s biggest client after being laid off, highlighting client outreach and company response.

Motivational quote about realizing value after being laid off, highlighting employee resilience and client poaching success.

Image credits: inkiered0604

About 1.5 million workers in the United States are laid off every month

Stressed employee sitting at desk with packed box after being laid off, representing employee and client poaching conflict.

Image credits: hryshchyshen / freepik (not the actual photo)

We all know it’s incredibly hard to land a job nowadays. There’s too much competition, not enough opportunities, and companies are notorious for putting applicants through multiple rounds of interviews where they’re required to complete intense tasks only to email them later claiming that they “weren’t a good fit.” But unfortunately, even if you have a job, you’re not necessarily safe from the threat of unemployment.

According to DemandSage, approximately 1.5 million workers are laid off every single month in the United States. And over a fifth of companies are expected to lay off some employees this year. Meanwhile, 61% of workers between the ages of 18 and 34 admit that they feel immense pressure at work and have experienced layoff anxiety.  

As far as why companies cut employees out like this, Indeed explains that it’s often about company relocation, a business closing, reducing costs or caused by an acquisition or merger. At times, layoffs can also be explained by decreased operations, outsourcing options, a loss of funds, canceled projects, seasonality or an increase in technological advancements.

So how are workers supposed to react when they’ve suddenly gotten the rug pulled out from under them through a layoff? Well, Sandra Sucher, a professor at Harvard Business School who studies layoffs, told CNBC that it’s important to maintain a positive mindset.

Don’t blame yourself, as your layoff wasn’t personal. And don’t feel ashamed at all, as it’s extremely common for employees to be laid off in the current market. In fact, it’s estimated that 40% of workers in the United States will be laid off at least once in their career.

Contrary to what some companies assume, layoffs aren’t always good for business

Three stressed employees sitting at a table with charts and laptop, showing concern over client and company issues.

Image credits: Drazen Zigic / freepik (not the actual photo)

“Everyone understands this is no longer a scarlet letter to be worn,” Sarah Rodehorst, the chief executive of the human resources company Onwards HR, told CNBC. “It is a fault of the economics that are happening right now. It is the fault of a lot of the decisions that companies have made along the way.”

At the same time, companies should understand that layoffs are not always a good business decision. Forbeswarns that layoffs can seem like an enticing move to immediately reduce costs, but their long term impact can be detrimental. Layoffs often mean that the company has lost institutional knowledge and expertise, just like in this particular story on Reddit.

Layoffs can also exacerbate employee burnout when workers are expected to take on additional tasks or are worried that they might be next. Employees may become disengaged from their work if they feel undervalued and replaceable, which can take a huge toll on their performance.

And this doesn’t only impact company morale. Layoffs can also lead to a decline in customer satisfaction, if clients are no longer receiving the same quality service. And it can damage the brand when disgruntled former employees open up on social media about how the company they gave years of their life to tossed them out on a whim.

Thankfully, the woman in this story was able to find something much better after being laid off. But sadly, that won’t be the case for everyone. We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. Then, if you’d like to read another story from Bored Panda discussing similar workplace drama, look no further than right here.  

Readers applauded the author for getting her happy ending, and she joined in on the conversation to share a few more details

Commenters discussing an employee laid off then poaching company’s biggest client, highlighting corporate karma and value lost.

Screenshot of a forum discussion about an employee who kept client contacts after being laid off, leading to client poaching.

Reddit user warns about non-compete clauses after employee gets laid off and tries to poach biggest client.

Text post showing a comment about an employee laid off who poaches company’s biggest client, discussing client responsibilities.

Comment on a forum discussing an employee laid off then poaching the company’s biggest client, highlighting boldness to call back.

Comment text about non compete clauses after an employee gets laid off, questioning their validity if the employee was terminated.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment about an employee laid off and how they manage new roles by contacting former coworkers.

Comment explaining satisfaction when companies face consequences after an employee gets laid off and poaches biggest client.

Comment on legal risks of non-compete agreements after employee gets laid off and poaches biggest client.

Comment text on a white background, discussing a reaction to an employee laid off and poaching a company’s biggest client.

Reddit user discussing being laid off and potential legal issues around position elimination and rehiring others.

Text comment on a social media post discussing an employee laid off who then poaches company’s biggest client, criticizing company decisions.

Comment praising the post author, with text "This is outstanding. Well done, OP." displayed in a simple interface.

Comment on a forum post by Fast-Builder-4741 expressing support for an employee who gets laid off and then poaches company’s biggest client.

Some even had similar stories from their own workplaces to share

Alt text: Text recounting an employee's story of being laid off and later poaching the former company’s biggest client.

Comment about employee laid off, then poaching company’s biggest client and taking contract and team for higher pay.

Comment discussing an employee who gets laid off and then poaches the company’s biggest client by publicly tagging new clients.

Comment on Reddit about an employee laid off who then poaches company’s biggest client, sharing personal experience.

User comment screenshot discussing experiences after being laid off and starting an agency, highlighting employee laid off and client poaching impact.

Text excerpt discussing career growth after being laid off and success in acquiring major clients post-layoff.

Comment discussing freelancing success after being laid off, highlighting freedom and replacing corporate salary.

Text post about a top employee getting laid off then poaching company’s biggest client after being replaced by boss’s son.

Text describing an employee getting laid off, then poaching the company’s biggest client after leaving.

Comment discussing employee laid off and challenges with non-compete agreements after poaching biggest client.

Comment about an employee laid off and poaching the company's biggest client, discussing stubbornness and consequences.

User comment expressing relief after leaving a toxic workplace where employee gets laid off then poaches company’s biggest client.

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