Career-Ending Mistakes
We all make mistakes at work, but there are some unfortunate people who managed to mess up so monumentally their whole career was ruined in an instant.
From badmouthing their bosses on speakerphone to falling asleep in meetings, these people took to Reddit to share the most hilarious and embarrassing mistakes that put paid to their career aspirations.
After reading this, you’ll thank your lucky stars that none of these have happened to you.
1. Inside Job?
I was working at a builders’ merchant. A customer calls to place an order over the phone (not unusual) and wants to give me the card details there and then (red flag).
I initially refused but another member of staff vouched for them as they were regulars.
I put the order through, knowing that whoever came to collect would need to come into the office for their paperwork before loading so we would have them on CCTV if it did turn out to be suspect…but there was one major problem—the yard crew didn’t follow the process. When a van turned up for the goods, they loaded it all up and sent them away without asking for any kind of ID or manifest.
The payment card was later reported as stolen and the staff member who vouched for the customer denied even being in that day, which was a lie as she never took time off. I got fired and everyone else got to keep their jobs.
2. Take A Chill Pill
I worked in retail pharmacy for 10 years.
One day in the drive-thru, we had a belligerent patient. The guy's doc sent his script to our other chain about 1.5 miles down the road. We were on the same street, and our addresses get mixed up all the time. No biggie, give me 10 minutes and I'll have it ready…
But the dude just starts laying into me for no reason. He calls me an idiot, says he knows where his doctor sent it, and that I'm a lazy, lying piece of garbage, etc, etc.
After a few MINUTES going back and forth, with this guy yelling loud enough in my drive-thru that other staff inside the store can hear him, I tell him he needs to leave and find a new pharmacy.
The guy lays into me again and refuses to leave. I tell him, "Leave or I'm calling the authorities".
Apparently, that was over the line for my company. There was no interview with HR. No discipline. No suspension. They just straight up fired me about 3 weeks later after an "internal investigation".
3. Sold Out
I led and recruited a sales team. One of the female sellers admitted that our CEO was being inappropriate with her. I got her to confess to our Sales Manager.
Then I found out that more of our female staff had similar experiences so I rallied them as I needed evidence before proceeding.
The CEO got an ear full from HR and then proceeded to pressure all his female victims until one of them dropped my name. I get fired.
4. Had To Save Face
My boss misunderstood something I said, thought I meant to resign, and told the president that I was leaving. Rather than simply admit a silly mistake had been made, I was chastised for "putting them in a pickle"
and let go -- after 11 years of service.
