Elon Musk's "Twitter" takeover is not the most exciting thing to hit the internet. We've also got people sharing their reasons for getting fired from previous jobs. And we've put together a list of the unfair, the justified, and the plain weird.
There's the employee who thought it would be fun to fish in the company's duck pond and another that got fired for refusing to share a sandwich with the boss. But that's only the tip of the iceberg.
High as a Kite
We thought everyone understood that it isn't okay to consume intoxicants during a work day, except when such substances are needed for medical purposes. ButValeire didn't get that memo.
She was high out of her mind when she showed up to work and decided she didn't feel like doing anything. She was also brave enough to walk up to her supervisor and announce that she wouldn't be working that day. Is anyone surprised that Valerie soon joined the unemployment line?
Sleeping In
The main idea of work is that a person is hired to perform some duties and then gets paid for the effort. But some people are simply not up to the task. Or at least, they feel it's more worthwhile to lay in bed all day and enjoy a restful nap.
In keeping up with the trending #WhyIGotFired hashtag, Saldana revealed that he got fired for not showing up to work. Isn't that the most shocking news you've ever heard?!
Playing Pretend
A Twitter user was working at a furniture store once when he was inspired to play a game of pretend. Like the games children play but on a much grander scale. Following that sudden burst of inspiration, he pretended to be a manager and laid off two employees.
Drunk on his newfound yet nonexistent power, he gave three other employees a raise. But his fantasy world came crashing down when the actual manager showed up and gave him the sack.
All Hail the King
Not everyone will get along with their co-workers, and that's okay. But there's one line that should never be crossed. And that's making a higher-up the brunt of your jokes. One Twitter user learned that lesson the hard way.
Everyone at work had given their CEO the nickname "King Idiot," and it had become somewhat of an inside joke. But it wasn't so funny when the CEO overheard someone calling him by that name. As expected, someone lost their job immediately.
Sword Fight at Old Navy
Old Navy is one of the oldest clothing retailing companies in America. Of course, clothing isn't the only thing the multinational corporation offers to the public. A visit to any of their outlets would prove as such.
One thing you wouldn't find, though, is a couple of employees sword-fighting with the arms of the mannequins. Because if Walton is to be believed, their manager wasn't too happy the last time he discovered footage of two employees play-fighting within the store.
Panera Boxing Matches
Many of the stories in our stash are from employees who were trying to have fun at work. Sadly, those in charge didn't share their sense of humor. Take Bake Ross, for example. Their story is one of the funniest on this list.
The way the story goes, Ross formed the habit of putting bread bowls on his hands and having "bread bowl boxing matches" with another cashier. Is it surprising that Panera didn't take too kindly to such antics?
Robot Voice
"Starbucks" employees are renowned for writing the wrong names on people's coffee orders. If the name isn't misspelled, then a completely different moniker is written. Guess we can add mimicking robots to their long list of transgressions.
Jake Williams is a former "Starbucks" employee who used to call out the names of drink orders using a robot voice. Some customers likely enjoyed having their orders called out with a fake mechanical intonation, but Williams' boss didn't find his antics funny.
Too Long a Nap
Anyone with half a brain would say that a proper sleep schedule makes all the difference in an effort to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But one should always know better than to fall asleep at work, of all places.
Heather took things too far when she stretched out on the floor of her office and slept so long that she got locked in the main building at the close of the work day and security had to let her out.
Don't Shoot
The monotony of work is one reason why many employees get bored even before stepping foot in the workplace. So we can't exactly blame people for trying to find the fun on an otherwise uneventful day.
Hinroia South was adding sour cream to a customer's nachos when he held his hands up and pretended he was at gunpoint. She thought it would be fun to 'pretend' to shoot him by squirting sour cream onto his chin. Management didn't get the joke.
Wrong Location, Right Job
Ned must have been excited to be finally employed. Too excited, in fact, that he went to the wrong location on his first day. When someone from work called to ask about his whereabouts, he insisted that he indeed went to work.
Of course, the people at his real job didn't believe him because no one had seen him sign in. That's how Ned lost his job on the first day. But here's the twist, he was hired at the new location.
Happiness Overdose
Amanda Hawkes' story is one that had us more puzzled than amused. Because why would anyone think it's a good idea to lay off an employee because they're always in a good mood?
At the same time, we can't make any snap judgments because Hawkes wasn't kind enough to share what sort of business she was in. All we know is that she was let go because management believed she was too happy and her laughter was a daily problem.
Robbing the Wishing Well
The wishing well is an idea born out of European folklore to describe a pool of water with the power to grant wishes to people in exchange for coins.
One Twitter user worked at a Chinese restaurant with one of those installed. Until he was caught taking coins out of the well. He explained that he was trying to take back his wishes because none of them had come true so far. But management was only concerned with the theft.
Blowing Chunks
Ever wondered what chickens go through before they end up in the supermarket? Probably not. Anyway, chickens are plucked in a factory with the help of a handy machine called a picker.
But there are also humans doing the grunt work along with the machines. And clearly, not everyone is made for such labor. Kim Niffen wasn't. Which is why she puked all over the conveyor belt at her factory and tried to pretend it didn't happen. She failed, of course.
Networking at a Bar
Networking is the act of interacting with others to exchange information with them and develop contacts that will eventually be useful in a professional or social setting. Apparently, it's quite a useful skill for human survival.
But there are rules about how and where one can network. So Maria Sedillo wasn't too happy to find her boss 'networking' at the bar down the street while his employees were moving to a new office. Too bad she got fired for speaking out.
This Isn't Tuna
For those who don't know, "Subway" is a fast-food franchise that specializes in the sale of sandwiches, wraps, and drinks. And one time, they had to let go of a worker who was giving the restaurant a bad name.
The employee revealed on Twitter that he used to write notes on the wrapping paper informing customers that the tuna in their sandwiches wasn't tuna. Of course, the manager didn't find his efforts amusing, and he was fired the next day.
I Don't Need a Roommate
Bex was working for a family-owned jewelry store while in college. It was a good job, and she enjoyed having some extra cash to spend on her interests. But trouble came calling when the son of her employers got admitted to her school.
He failed to get an apartment before the fall semester. To save him from being stranded, his family asked Bex if she could allow him to share her small apartment. She refused and was suddenly out of a job.
Delay and Denial
Establishments often have clock-in machines installed so they can keep track of when employees arrive at work. Punctuality is key, and workers are always encouraged to make it to work on time or face the consequences.
Kimberlee Patterson tried to beat the system by bypassing the clock-in machine and entering through a different entrance. She denied arriving late but retracted her statement after being made to watch the footage of her entering through the service entrance. She was fired afterward.
Bartending 101
It seems a few bartenders have lost their jobs for failing to keep their hands off the drinks. One woman finished her training and was put behind the bar to put what she'd learned to the test.
But people kept buying her shots to celebrate her new job, and she couldn't figure out how to say no. By the end of the night she was so trashed that she puked on her trainer and then slipped in it while trying to apologize.
Prank Gone Wrong
Here's a tip for the next time you think of making someone the subject of a prank. Make sure they have a sense of humor, and it won't result in a job loss.
Maybe if Robert had considered this, he wouldn't have photoshopped the new CEO's head, along with its combover onto a "Hair Club for Men"' print ad and then pasted it on his office wall. When the CEO walked by and caught sight of the ad, he wasn't amused.
I Need a Raise
Julian is one of those employees who are unlucky enough to be employed at an establishment that doesn't value workers' time. So not only did he have to do his work, but he also had to carry the workload of everyone else.
To make matters worse, the people in charge refused to hire more employees. In the end, Julian had to work more than 16 hours a day. He got fed up and asked for a raise but got the sack instead.
Housesitting Done Wrong
A principal would need to have a lot of confidence in a student's capabilities to be comfortable giving one the responsibility of looking after his house while on a trip out of town. Mandie Andrews was the chosen one during her high school year, but she misused the opportunity.
Andrews took the opportunity to host a huge house party. She would've gotten away with it too if the neighbors hadn't ratted them out for blocking his driveway with too many cars.
Free Dry Cleaning
Even with a washing machine in almost every apartment or home nowadays, dry cleaning services still get a lot of business. This is partly to do with the fact that certain fabrics require special care while washing, and not everyone is patient enough to figure it out.
Someone made the mistake of hiring a Twitter user who couldn't figure out how to work the credit card machine. So they just kept giving people free dry cleaning. Thankfully they were finally fired.
Ruby Tuesday
"Ruby Tuesday" may be the title of that Rolling Stones song released in 1976, but the focus of this post is the multinational food retailer in America. But feel free to check out that tune, anyway.
William was working as a busboy in a Ruby Tuesday outlet, but he was too lazy to wash the dishes and would always toss them away. We think anyone who's willing to waste resources freely is certainly undeserving of a job. Do you disagree?
Funny Running Into You Here
It's sometimes easy to forget that the people in charge are also employees. Yes, they get more pay and more responsibilities. But they're also open to the prospect of skipping work to watch their favorite artist perform.
One fellow called in sick to attend a concert, and while there, someone bumped into him and spilled their drink all over him. As he turned to begin cursing them out, he realized that the culprit was his boss. Guess who got fired.
Fried Chicken Over Everything
Not everyone is going to be confident and outgoing in social settings. And that's okay. But depending on the role one is employed to perform at work, it's always best to develop interrelation skills beforehand.
Someone couldn't work up the courage to show up to a meeting because it would require her to speak in the presence of others. So she hid in the bathroom while eating fried chicken. At least getting fired meant she no longer had to attend meetings.
Drinking From the Competition
Some companies build their entire brands on trying to be better than the competition. And this rivalry trickles down to their consumers. We see it well in the iPhone versus Samsung rivalry and the Pepsi versus Coke version.
One Twitter user revealed that it's a no-no to drink Coke while working at Pepsi, and frankly, we're not surprised. But she couldn't help that the former was her favorite beverage. So she got fired for trying to pour it into a Pepsi can.
The Sock Bandit
Ever heard of a boss who controls the color of socks his employees wear to work? Neither had we before coming across a tweet from @goobadooba2. Apparently he once worked with a boss who hated black socks because they made his employees look sad.
So he made it mandatory for all workers to only show up in vibrant colored socks. But being a rebel, this guy decided to wear striped blue and black socks to work everyday. He got fired for being annoying.
The Two-For-One Special
Kyle Simpson was a cell phone salesman for AT&T in the early '00s. And he worked out of Vail, Colorado. The signals in the mountains were awful, though, so they didn't get much business.
Simpson figured out how to earn some cash on the side by offering hemp to customers who came to buy cell phones. He may have very well been the original inventor of the "Two for one special," but his business flopped after a customer ratted him out.
Drinking on the Job
There's tailgating which means to drive too closely to another vehicle. And there's the tailgating that describes the act of hosting a party where drinks and meals are served out of the back of a parked vehicle.
One Twitter user did the latter. So the next day, when her boss asked for a drink of water, she grabbed what she believed to be a water bottle out of her cooler and handed it over. But it turned out to be vodka.
Concert Shenanigans
It's one thing to call off work because of an ailment and another to do so because you've scored tickets to an Imagine Dragons concert. For Alexia Greider, it was the latter. And interestingly, she wasn't the only guilty one.
Turns out Greider was supposed to cover her boss' shift when she skipped out to attend the concert. Imagine her shock when she ran into the boss in the crowd. By the next day, Greider was out of a job.
Accounting Error
Shannon Mulvey had picked up her last paycheck but somehow her boss was under the impression that she hadn't. He also refused to believe her even after she insisted she'd been paid.
So Mulvey took the paycheck to the mall for a much-needed shopping spree. Nothing like a little retail therapy to soothe the soul. Of course, her soul got very troubled weeks later when the accountant found the error and told her she'd be fired if she didn't refund the cash.
Beating the Game
The difference between giving in a notice at work, and getting fired matters when you're searching for a new job. So it's annoying that some employers try to beat the game by firing their workers before their two weeks are up.
Susie McDevitt was working as a cashier at a restaurant when she told the owner of her plans to quit. Imagine her shock when he called her in on her last day to say he was firing her for talking too much.
Not Wet Enough
Janitors deserve more credit than they get. Because they perform one of the most vital responsibilities in the world, and are almost always unappreciated.
Shi Robison was working at an establishment once when her boss decided to do a routine inspection. And after feeling the toilet brush with her bare hands, her boss decided it would be wetter if it had truly been used to clean the toilet bowls. So though Robison lost that job, we think she dodged a bullet.
Bad Influence
Remember that bit about keeping intoxicants out of the office? Well, it appears a lot more people learned that lesson the hard way. Yash Jahnani had done well during an office meeting so he decided to celebrate with a joint.
Interestingly, his boss walked in and joined in the celebration. They shared two joints and a few laughs before parting ways. The next day Jagnani was fired for being a bad influence on others. Yeah, we didn't see that coming either.
Not a Freebie
The verdict is still out on whether or not bartenders are allowed to drink on the job as it depends on the state laws or the policy of the bar.
This bar had a "one for you, one for me" policy which meant every customer could buy a drink for a friend and get one free. Unfortunately, Chris assumed it meant he could get a freebie for every drink sold. And that's how he got fired on his first night.
Rein In Your Anger
Anger is a pretty unsettling emotion and without the ability to control it, people may find themselves losing out on important opportunities. Robert Carradine can tell you all about it.
He'd stayed up all night learning his lines hoping to get through his scenes with one take. Several takes later, and after an interruption from an airplane, he was so frustrated that he blew up at his co-star who messed up his own lines. That's how Carradine lost that gig.
Wrong Woman For The Job
Not all jobs are made for everyone just as not everyone is made to do all jobs. So it's always best for people to examine tehri skill sets before applying for jobs. Dixie Rose didn't do enough research before applying to work as a dishwasher.
And in the end, she only lasted for two whole days before getting booted out. She was so bad at washing that she kept soaping up the wrong things. On day two, she washed the celery in the dishwasher.
Bad Joke
There are so many comedians on this list who thought it was a good idea to hone their skills at work. But all they got in return was a letter of termination. Guess no one appreciates a good joke anymore.
We found a tweet from someone who was put in charge of decorating the Christmas tree at work. He thought it would be funny to write things like "Help, I'm hanging on" and "Just hanging around" on each of the ornaments.
Sick but Not Sick Enough
Tyler Hughs got fired because he decided to skip work to attend a friend's birthday party. But when he put his plan into motion, he never considered that he would run into his boss.
Well that's exactly what happened. His boss was so shocked to see Hughs hale, hearty and well enough to party. And to save face, Hugh insisted that he was feeling better. In response, the boss told him he was fired. We hope the party was worth it.
Should've Said Something
Gas leaks are dangerous for many reasons, one of them being that they can build up into an explosive concentration, causing a fire hazard. And we don't need to go into detail explaining why a fire hazard should always be avoided.
@SaraMamaBearTN shared that she once worked at a dry cleaners with a leaky boiler. The gas made her pass out and when she woke up on the wet floor, was accused of not saying anything about the 'invisible' gas.
Why Hire a Bad Cook?
Correct us if we're wrong but isn't the essence of hiring a cook to work at a restaurant to ensure that they can prepare the meals on the menu? So how was it that Karen Castor was able to land her first job at a restaurant even though she didn't know her way around the kitchen?
On her first day, she made eggs with sugar instead of salt and lost count of how many people got sick. Hopefully, she's now a better cook.
A Burning Passion
Still, on the topic of unqualified employees, it's hardly cost-effective for employers to hold onto people who keep underperforming. So with stories like Evy's, we can't help letting out a sigh of relief that she was finally let go from the job.
Evy had done a bad job on a task when her boss asked her if she wanted to keep working there. She told him she had a passion for not dying of hunger. It wasn't a convincing argument.
Potato Salad Anyone?
David Gawkowski was a member of the working population right from highschool. But it appears he signed up for the wrong job. His work at the supermarket deli counter meant he needed to use the slicers to cut the processed meats.
Unfortunately, Gawkowski was terrified of using that implement with its thin-bladed knives. So each time a customer asked for some cold cuts, he would tell them they shouldn't buy that because the meat was bad and offer some potato salad instead.
I Don't Believe You
Ever had to call into work asking for a day off? Chances are, not everyone has had good experiences asking for time off to deal with an illness. Because not all bosses prioritize the wellbeing of their employees.
One Twitter user shared the story of a friend who called into work to say she was sick. The manager didn't believe her though so she responded that she was calling in drunk instead. Guess he believed that because she was fired.
Sound the Alarm
There's a reason why restaurants have an opening and closing time. It's to prevent customers from showing up at odd hours and refusing to leave. Still, there's always a group of customers who remain seated long past the closing time.
A Twitter user had such an experience while working at Applebee's. They were meant to close by 11pm, but it was 12:30am and one group still refused to leave. So he pulled the fire alarm to get them out.
Never Upstage the Clown
Some kids find clowns adorable while others think they're the stuff of nightmares. Of course 'Pennywise' from Stephen King's horror novel "IT," hasn't helped erase the perception that clowns are frightening monsters. But that's beside the point.
We're more interested in Lane Porter who worked as a sidekick to a clown at a kid's party. Her chipmunk suit was such a hit but sadly, she was fired at the end of the day for being more entertaining than the clown.
Get Your Own Sandwich
Even corporations decided to join in on the trend hashtag, so when we saw a tweet from "Wonder Bread," we couldn't resist adding it to the list. According to their Twitter account handler, they got fired for refusing to share the other half of their sandwich with the boss.
A hilarious story, no doubt. But we all know that was just an attempt to advertise that they bake America's favorite bread, and everyone wants to get a bite out of it.
Bible Theft
Did you know that the Bible is the best-selling book of all time? Over five billion copies have been sold since it was first written. Many new versions and translations are still being written at this time.
And like every other famous book, there's bound to be people who would go to extremes to get their hands on one. But even that doesn't explain why an employee at Lowell Benjamin's dad's bookstore kept stealing Bibles before he was caught and fired.
Misplaced Aggression
When employers are experiencing troubles at home, they ought to figure out how to handle their issues rather than taking them out on their employees. Unfortunately, not every boss has figured out how to do that.
One unlucky Twitter user revealed that he was fired for refusing to change lightbulbs using broken equipment. His boss took the refusal to mean that he didn't care that he was going through a nasty divorce and sacked him for not considering his feelings.
No One Likes a Funny Guy
Jordan seems like the sort of guy who likes to make the people around him laugh. But though his comedic skills are admirable, they're best utilized in a setting different from the Mexican restaurant he once worked at.
The day after winning employee of the month, Jordan approached a table of women who asked him what was good on the menu. He replied jokingly that he had no idea because he didn't enjoy Mexican food. No one found that funny.
Sleeping on the Job
Bosses can fall asleep on the job. But while they can scold employees for taking unauthorized naps, employees don't have that same privilege. In fact, calling a boss out for making such a mistake could very well mean the end of employment.
A Twitter user shared the story of his dad who once worked at a mattress store. Dad found his boss sleeping on one of the mattresses during a busy work day. He got fired for waking him up.
How Dare You Find a Better Job?!
Not all employees would be happy to see their employees move on to bigger and better opportunities. It's a sad reality of life that not everyone will be happy to see you thrive. We've all just got to get used to it.
Maggie Dewane was graduating college when she got a job offer from the government. But when she tried to put in her two weeks notice at the restaurant she worked at, the owner fired her on the spot.
Can't Come to the Phone Right Now
When Taylor Swift said that she couldn't come to the phone right now on "Look What You Made Me Do," she must’ve had a pretty good reason. But Kristina Collins did not. While working at a call center, she would answer the phone and then it herself on mute.
She got found out after her boss noticed that there were a lot of silent calls on her end and as many repeated "Hellos" on the customer's end before they hung up.
Not Anonymous
It's normal for companies to have routine surveys to examine how well employees are performing and what changes ought to be made to increase efficiency. And sometimes these surveys come in the form of anonymous questionnaires.
Unfortunately, not everything tagged anonymous is truly that way. One Twitter user made the mistake of assuming she was safe while filling out a form about her boss. The responses must have been traced back to her work computer because she was later fired.
Oops!
Imagine enjoying a two-week long vacation in a scenic location, content in the fact that there's a job waiting back home. Then the two weeks run out and it's time to get back on the grind. Only, there's no office to go to because you've been fired.
That's exactly what happened to Arné Dunckers. She forgot to press send on her two-week leave confirmation mail, a mistake that later cost her the job. So she returned from vacation to meet a surprise.