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Getting fired is hardly an enjoyable moment. And unemployment is no joke. But some of the reasons that people got fired are completely dumb and unfair!

When Hashtag Roundup asked people to share the weirdest ‘and then I got fired moments,’ they delivered. We invite you to scroll down, upvote the #andthenIwasfired stories that left you speechless, and share if you’ve been through something similar in the comments, dear Pandas. If you do find yourself getting fired for throwing out your boss’ coat like some of these people, it’s essential to realize that even though losing your job is stressful, you will be able to find work again. But there are steps that you need to take in the meantime.

Bored Panda reached out to Dr. Eddy Ng, the James and Elizabeth Freeman Professor of Management at Bucknell University, and spoke with him about what to do if you finally find yourself without a job. Scroll down for our interview with him, as well as for our chat with Jeff Dwoskin who runs the Hashtag Roundup community together with his wife, Robyn.

#1

And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

1helpamerica Report

Tiny Dynamine
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Totally. Always stand up. If you know you are 100% right and they are wrong, you can get them shaking with fear.

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    #2

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    jvgraz Report

    Tovah Roche
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would have walked away saying "see you in court."

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    #3

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    gpdno Report

    Two Silly Pups
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My God, America at it's finest... lacking understanding for basic human emotions but always heading towards unlimited gains....

    Monika Soffronow
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Please, Americans, VOTE! it doesn't have to be like this.

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    Hexenfox
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I got fired from my job several years ago after my boyfriend tragically died in a car accident. They gave me two days off and expected me to forget about it. I cried a lot at work so they came up with a lame excuse to fire me

    Kim Morrison
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was depressed while my grandma was dying and after several weeks had to take time off to go to her funeral. The casino I worked for fired me the day after I came back.

    deanna woods
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am sorry that you had to go through that and then put up with your uncaring employers.

    Omag
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I live in egypt and labor rules only gives us 3 days off for grieving

    Kady Maree Mcgrath
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm sorry for your loss I hope you are feeling better

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    Demongrrrrl
    Community Member
    Premium
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My stepmother died, and her funeral was on the other side of the country. My boss tried to deny me bereavement/compassionate leave because she wasn't my mother. Fortunately, the company's policies said that I could. I knew he would try to block it, so I copied that page and gave it to him. He was not pleased, but he had to let me go.

    Bacony
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Bloody CorporateCo...

    Sharon Madsen
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    down arrow is for this nasty employer. Home Karma gets him!

    Missy Barton
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thank God for the job I have now. My husband died three months after I started and I know, if I'd still been at my previous job (where I'd been for 11 years) I would have absolutely been fired for mourning.

    giovanna
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm really, really sorry for your loss. It's very unfair that you have been treated this way.

    Ritika Gupta
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Awwww I am sorry for your loss. People really need to be more empathetic.

    Vicky Zar
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We have special payed leave days for situations like these. Death, birth..... regardless of how many payed vacation days you have (which is 25-35)

    Colleen Garland
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some jobs apparently aren't worth it. Screw them.

    I I
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    BASTARDS!!!!!!! If i lost my wife of 30 years i'd be crying till i died

    Kay Lee
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is very tragic, but there is not enough background information. Did his wife die in August and he was still crying in office in October, while important deadlines are missing? If he was crying in the office right after she died in August, why did he go into office in the first place? Or did he give the company a proper notice of leave of absence but got denied? Or was there any breach of contract? There seem to be many factors you have to consider..

    Sue Knerl
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I got 3 days off when my husband died. Couldn't have anymore time cuz I had no vacation.

    Rustyn Birch
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Awful. What happened to empathy in this country?

    Wendy C
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is disgraceful! Also, I am so very sorry for your loss.

    Sandra Llewelyn
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't understand why anyone doesn't rise up against this sort of behaviour. Take a stand.

    Lisa Chambers
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow their lack of empathy is astounding.

    Anna Repp
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I asked for a half day off at work for my best friend's funeral and my boss was like "But you already took a day off last week for you other friend's mom's funeral!" Oh, I'm so sorry that my loved ones die so inconveniently, without thinking how that would affect this great corporation of yours!

    Susan Price
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am so sorry they treated you like that. Some people are inhumane and lack even basic understanding of emotions. Be well ♥

    Justin Seagull
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    This comment has been deleted.

    Sue Hazlewood
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow, when my mother died because of family issues as well I was not in a good place. My work told me to take the same amount of time as this guy took, and on full pay. Such different treatment.

    Misstaken138
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Same here. My mom passed away and I was devastated. My boss gave me a month off paid and always made sure I had her birthday off and the day she died off. I was blessed to have a boss that cared about me.

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    Stephanie Did It
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My last employer gave employees a max of 2 days bereavement leave. Imagine having to go back to work 2 days after a death; that's not even time enough to arrange a funeral!

    Charlie Bey
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Am so sorry for your loss. Similar thing happened to me; I asked to take leave to be by my dying grandmother's side (am the only grandchild she has) and was asked by my bosses if I had other family members who could be there instead whilst insinuating I could lose my job if I went ahead.

    Jennifer Desko
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Awe..I’m sorry u went thru that..

    AuntB44
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm so sorry that happened to you.

    ML
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sad for the situation, glad that you are not working in that shithole anymore

    Sue Clifford
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Vicki Zar - You can have your Communism.

    ArhomR
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It’s a compassionate society that treats it’s members with respect and kindness. Wish I lived where @VickiZar lives.

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    Sue Clifford
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am so sorry for your loss and what they did was heartless.

    Felicity Lemon
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You had a wife who was 16?! 😮Still sorry for all your losses.😭

    Quazmodic
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    6 weeks IS too long. I also realize that we're all different. But If you INSISTED on it, then the result is fair enough.

    FifiPanda
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We don't know the circumstances.. there couldve been a lot of complications. Did they have young kids, etc. Hd lost his spouse of 16 years- 6 weeks for a leave of absence doesn't seem too long, in my opinion.

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    Sian Rider
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    SIX WEEKS! I took less than two weeks off when my husband died. Lovely boss and fellow staff. I wasn't about to let them down just to wallow in grief. Mind you, I think we of the older generation are made of tougher stuff. I might have cried myself to sleep at night, but daytimes I owed to others and i made sure they got full value.

    FifiPanda
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    With sincere respect, I don't think making generalizations (positive or negative) about generations is a bit ridiculous. (I'm Generation X, for the curious). I've known lazy Boomers & Millenials, & incredibly hardworkimng of both. We don't know this man's circumstances, or his age- it seems unfair to judge him without that knowledge. I think its great you were able to handle the loss of your husband (My sympathies, too) so strongly. But please be mindful not everyone can do that. Stigmitization or judging the way others grieve only makes it harder. I say all of that meaning well

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    Arno Nüüm
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I didn't even know it was possible to marry a 16-year old.

    abby smink
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not saying it's right, but I've never seen a just job give 6 weeks for a family death. We're allowed 3 days/shifts.

    sino8r
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Not to be insensitive but I'm not surprised. Six weeks for bereavement is a bit extreme even if it's a significant other of many years. Best way to deal with death is to distract yourself with work, hobbies, friends, family, etc. Can you imagine not having a job and dealing with a close loved ones death? It would horrible stuck at home surrounded by their possessions, constantly reminding you and having little purpose in life.

    Odd Survivor
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    6 weeks is way too much, even if a beloved wife died

    Odd Survivor
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    6 weeks is way too much

    Vicky Zar
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Thats US Capitalism. I take my "Communism", thank you very much.

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    Dr. Ng said that more and more people are tweeting about being let go involuntarily because of the hardships created by the pandemic. "If you are fired, ask for the reason why you are let go. If it's wrongful dismissal, you may have recourse based on employment law. Tweeting about this in public may win you some public sympathy but it may not be helpful," he gave some advice on what (not) to do if you do lose your job.

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    "If you were involuntarily let go through no fault of your own, ask your employer about other possible opportunities. Build a community to help you find work—professional and social networks, family, former colleagues and headhunters or placement services," the professor said.

    He added that word about people losing their jobs gets out, so you might want to think about controlling the narrative on why you got fired. That way, you can steer clear of any inaccuracies or rumors. "Depending on where you are, your former employer may disclose this fact, and the reasons why you have been let go. You may wish to discuss this with your former employer. Hence, maintaining a cordial relationship may be advantageous to you," he said.

    #4

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    Steph_A_Nanny Report

    Adam C
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    so you are basically fired for doing your job?

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    #6

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    67Teresaray Report

    Scagsy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fired for being a decent human being

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    Meanwhile, Jeff, who has been running the Hashtag Roundup community for 5 years, told us that Hashtag Roundup constantly run tags throughout the day, hoping to bring a bit of joy to people's lives. "We strive to make Twitter a fun place to be. That entails coming up with ideas for hashtags that resonate with people either currently or at some point in their lives."

    Jeff added that it's not uncommon for their hashtags to have thousands or even tens of thousands of responses and reach millions of people. You can check out the Hashtag Roundup app right here.

    #8

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    rosaclemente Report

    Karin Jansen
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Amnesty International? Really? You'd think they'd know better.

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    #9

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    wagatwe Report

    Rainbow Panda
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish it was: I told my employer a coworker abused me #AndThenTheyWereFired 😏

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    The Balance Careers expert blog that focuses on career advice explains how you should do your best to not beat yourself up after losing your job. You should also avoid making the situation worse by getting into heated arguments with your superiors. Feeling angry is natural; spreading that anger to everyone around you is not. Instead—try to focus on the future.

    That includes finding out from your (former) employer about severance pay, benefits, unemployment, and references. Even if it’s unpleasant dealing with someone who just dropped a bomb on your life, it’s vital that you get that information so that you can move forward. You need to know when you’ll receive your final paycheck. And you want to make sure whether the references you might get will be neutral. Knowledge is power, after all.

    #10

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    xeno_mortis Report

    Anne
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I assume you did put in a compensation claim for being hurt and then sued them?

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    #12

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    queerterpreter Report

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    Meanwhile, the Ladders website has some further career advice. It’s best to make something good of a bad situation, so look at losing your job as an opportunity to move on to bigger and better things. Since you’ll have some downtime, try out a bunch of different activities while you’re sending out resumes: give volunteering and freelancing a try and consider signing up for some classes to improve yourself.

    While losing your job can seem like the end of the world, it doesn’t have to be when you face the challenge head-on and have a plan of action.

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    #13

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    sheepycutie Report

    Scagsy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well done you, calling out Starbucks - scumbags

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    #14

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    ko_cloverava Report

    StinkyMonkey
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was fired for taking a holiday I was legally entitled to because I asked for it three months in advance and they never gave me the OK even though I constantly chased them about it. According to Dutch law if your employer does not give you an answer to your holiday request within two weeks you're entitled to take it and your employer has to cover any costs if they tell you after this deadline that you can't go. I couldn't complain about it either, since I had a 0 hour contract and they just didn't schedule me in until my contract ended.

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    #15

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    RobotShlomo Report

    Scagsy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's Richard Gere in Pretty Woman for you

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    #16

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    LBY3 Report

    Vicky Zar
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In other countries you could not get fired for that.

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    #18

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    jswilliams1962 Report

    #19

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    kat_every Report

    Hans
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is one case where you could discuss whether the employee was not right. Some jobs clearly state overtime requirements but also compensate well for them. If this would be the case, complaining was unjustified.

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    #20

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    timhasissues Report

    Rabbit Carrot
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Funny but yeah don’t turn up to work all boozy.

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    #21

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    andecate Report

    deanna woods
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If the coworker was being annoying and you asked him nicely, I don't see a problem with telling them to shut up.

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    #22

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    SteelHester Report

    K O
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why would someone be fired for this, it's so odd

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    #23

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    AnnKoontz4 Report

    Porto DaMartinica
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here it is, the one non-bootlicking comment you were looking for

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    #26

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    GeneralCattis Report

    Rabbit Carrot
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How is that office supplies? I don’t think it should be a sackable offence, more a don’t do that again kind of thing, but they’re defo not office supplies!

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    #27

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    DerfBackderf Report

    ADHORTATOR
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    at least you were not in North Korea #AndThenIWasShot

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    #28

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    berevega19 Report

    WilvanderHeijden
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are a lot of companies and enterprises that won't allow romantic relationships between co-workers because of the drama when they have a quarrel or break up.

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    #29

    And Then I Was Fired Hashtag

    MsJadeDreamer Report