You won’t believe what this boss asked a fired employee to do—Would you put up with it?
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We’ve all heard stories about questionable bosses, but this one really takes the cake—and it’s got people everywhere shaking their heads in disbelief.
Imagine being let go from your job, only to have your former boss come crawling back a week later, asking for a favour. Sounds like a bad sitcom, right? Well, for one unlucky worker, it was all too real.
The drama unfolded when UK workplace expert Ben Askins, who’s made a name for himself by sharing jaw-dropping tales of workplace antics, posted a text exchange that’s since gone viral. The messages were sent in by a worker who’d just been shown the door, only to receive a rather cheeky request from his ex-boss.
'Hey, I know this probably isn’t the best time to ask, but we’re struggling with the new ticketing process. Is there any chance you could come in and run the new guy through it?' the boss texted, apparently unfazed by the fact he’d just fired the person he was now asking for help.
The worker’s response was priceless: 'Are you having a laugh? You fired me last week?' (We can almost hear the incredulity through the screen!)
But the boss wasn’t done yet. He doubled down, insisting, 'It shouldn’t take you long. I know this is awkward, I promise you will get a coffee for the favour.' A coffee! For coming back to help the person who replaced you? If only caffeine could pay the bills.
To his credit, the worker didn’t slam the door shut. Instead, he agreed to help—but on his own terms. 'Remote is fine, but half a day’s pay? This will only take a few minutes,' the boss protested. The worker stood firm: 'That is the deal.' Eventually, the boss caved, but not without a parting shot: he was 'disappointed' the worker was 'playing it' that way.
Ben Askins, the workplace expert, didn’t mince words. He called out the boss for 'really pushing his luck' and reminded everyone that the worker had absolutely no obligation to help. 'The fact that he is charging is just completely okay. He is giving up his time, he really doesn’t have to do it,' Askins said, adding that expecting free labour from a former employee is 'absolutely ridiculous'.
The online community was quick to rally behind the worker. 'Half a day? I’d charge them my ‘consultancy fee’ and it would be astronomical,' one person wrote. Another said, 'I wouldn’t even answer the message.' And perhaps the most pointed question of all: 'But why would the boss replace a competent worker with an incompetent one in the first place?'
It turns out, this isn’t as rare as you might think. Several people chimed in with their own stories of being contacted by former bosses desperate for help after they’d left. One person shared, 'I was texted by my previous manager months after leaving a job asking if I could come back to cover some shifts as they were really short staffed.' Another added, 'I also got this call from my last boss. I would want the money first.'
Why Do Bosses Make These Requests?
It’s a head-scratcher, isn’t it? Why would a boss let someone go, only to ask for their help later? Sometimes, it’s a sign of poor planning or a lack of understanding about how much value an employee brings to the table. Other times, it’s simply desperation—when the new hire can’t quite fill the shoes of their predecessor, the boss realises (a little too late) just how much they relied on the person they let go.
Know Your Rights (and Your Worth!)
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, remember: you’re under no obligation to help a former employer, especially if you’ve been let go. If you do decide to lend a hand, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask for fair compensation. Your time, experience, and knowledge are valuable—don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
If your old boss called you up after giving you the boot, would you help out? Would you charge a fee—or would you tell them to take a hike? We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories!
Have you ever been asked to help out after leaving a job? Did you say yes, or did you stand your ground? Share your experiences in the comments below!
Imagine being let go from your job, only to have your former boss come crawling back a week later, asking for a favour. Sounds like a bad sitcom, right? Well, for one unlucky worker, it was all too real.
The drama unfolded when UK workplace expert Ben Askins, who’s made a name for himself by sharing jaw-dropping tales of workplace antics, posted a text exchange that’s since gone viral. The messages were sent in by a worker who’d just been shown the door, only to receive a rather cheeky request from his ex-boss.
'Hey, I know this probably isn’t the best time to ask, but we’re struggling with the new ticketing process. Is there any chance you could come in and run the new guy through it?' the boss texted, apparently unfazed by the fact he’d just fired the person he was now asking for help.
The worker’s response was priceless: 'Are you having a laugh? You fired me last week?' (We can almost hear the incredulity through the screen!)
A boss was criticised after asking a recently fired worker to come back and train their replacement, offering only a coffee as thanks. Image source: Hunters Race / Unsplash.
But the boss wasn’t done yet. He doubled down, insisting, 'It shouldn’t take you long. I know this is awkward, I promise you will get a coffee for the favour.' A coffee! For coming back to help the person who replaced you? If only caffeine could pay the bills.
To his credit, the worker didn’t slam the door shut. Instead, he agreed to help—but on his own terms. 'Remote is fine, but half a day’s pay? This will only take a few minutes,' the boss protested. The worker stood firm: 'That is the deal.' Eventually, the boss caved, but not without a parting shot: he was 'disappointed' the worker was 'playing it' that way.
Ben Askins, the workplace expert, didn’t mince words. He called out the boss for 'really pushing his luck' and reminded everyone that the worker had absolutely no obligation to help. 'The fact that he is charging is just completely okay. He is giving up his time, he really doesn’t have to do it,' Askins said, adding that expecting free labour from a former employee is 'absolutely ridiculous'.
The online community was quick to rally behind the worker. 'Half a day? I’d charge them my ‘consultancy fee’ and it would be astronomical,' one person wrote. Another said, 'I wouldn’t even answer the message.' And perhaps the most pointed question of all: 'But why would the boss replace a competent worker with an incompetent one in the first place?'
It turns out, this isn’t as rare as you might think. Several people chimed in with their own stories of being contacted by former bosses desperate for help after they’d left. One person shared, 'I was texted by my previous manager months after leaving a job asking if I could come back to cover some shifts as they were really short staffed.' Another added, 'I also got this call from my last boss. I would want the money first.'
Why Do Bosses Make These Requests?
It’s a head-scratcher, isn’t it? Why would a boss let someone go, only to ask for their help later? Sometimes, it’s a sign of poor planning or a lack of understanding about how much value an employee brings to the table. Other times, it’s simply desperation—when the new hire can’t quite fill the shoes of their predecessor, the boss realises (a little too late) just how much they relied on the person they let go.
Know Your Rights (and Your Worth!)
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, remember: you’re under no obligation to help a former employer, especially if you’ve been let go. If you do decide to lend a hand, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask for fair compensation. Your time, experience, and knowledge are valuable—don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
If your old boss called you up after giving you the boot, would you help out? Would you charge a fee—or would you tell them to take a hike? We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories!
Have you ever been asked to help out after leaving a job? Did you say yes, or did you stand your ground? Share your experiences in the comments below!
