Starting a new job can feel overwhelming. You need to adapt to new coworkers, a different work environment, and find a suitable workflow. While this can be exciting, some individuals quickly create problems for human resources. On the platform r/AskReddit, users shared stories about the fastest firings they witnessed, and some of these accounts are quite surprising. Here are some examples to avoid if you want to keep your job.
One person started on January 4 but did not show up that day or answer phone calls. They came in the following day and explained that they did not want to begin work on a Monday.
A teacher recounted an experience with a substitute. The substitute only lasted one period before leaving and never returned. The teacher received a call from the secretary, who informed them that the substitute had run out for coffee but later confirmed that he quit after just 45 minutes in the classroom. He mentioned he preferred to return to his previous job at a prison.
On the same day he began working, another employee was told to wear safety glasses and a dust mask while cutting chipboard due to health concerns. He refused and called the person advising him a coward. The operations manager overheard this exchange and fired him within the hour.
Finding the right candidate for a job can be difficult. A global survey from CareerBuilder indicated that about 74% of employers have hired someone who was not a good fit for the role, with the average cost of a bad hire estimated at over $14,900.
One case involved a new employee who stole a sandwich from the break room that was clearly labeled as belonging to the HR director. This happened shortly after the HR director had given him a tour of the office, and he was escorted out by security before his company laptop had even completed its initial update.
In another story, a college delivery worker had a new hire quit after just 45 minutes of riding along with him on the first day. The new hire had not even started any tasks yet but decided that the job was not for him.
At a big box store, a new cashier completed a few days of training, but within 30 minutes of starting on the floor, she was caught taking pictures of customers’ credit cards and texting them to her sister, who was using them for online purchases. She ended up in a police car within an hour of starting her actual work.
In a different incident, a new employee drove aggressively through the underground company parking lot and almost hit the managing director. When the director asked him to slow down, the new hire told him to mind his own business. He did not last until lunchtime.
One new hire closed a deal with a client during his first week, impressing his coworkers. However, after the client left, he realized he forgot to get their signature on the pre-contract. He forged the representative’s signature, and this was discovered within a day, leading to his immediate firing.
While being let go on the first day is unusual, these stories highlight the challenges of hiring the right person. What are your thoughts on these accounts?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Mantas Kačerauskas