I think it’s common knowledge that some corporate baddies out there care more about money than their employees. It’s hardly surprising when you look at the world, which is so obsessed with capitalism that people even sell their souls to get rich.
Speaking of such toxic companies, this one had the audacity to fire an employee for being “expensive.” Little did they know, their decision would add more fuel to the fire, because he was ready with a more pricey comeback. Read on to uncover how the company fell flat on its face!
More info: Reddit
Sometimes, corporate life can be pretty cruel to those who work really hard for them
Image credits: Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
The poster has been working in a company for the past 7 years as a technical director, often helping clients from multiple regions
Image credits: rammmyb
Image credits: fauxels / Pexels (not the actual photo)
A couple of weeks back, he was ambushed with severance papers by management, who claimed he was getting too “expensive” for them
Image credits: rammmyb
Image credits: Edmond Dantès / Pexels (not the actual photo)
He clapped back with the “golden parachute” clause, where they were obligated to pay him a year’s salary, plus his projected bonus
Image credits: rammmyb
He also increased his consultancy rates as they kept giving him work, but the final blow is that he’s joining their biggest competitor
In today’s corporate drama, the original poster (OP) tells us how he taught a witty and expensive lesson to his large company. He has been working with them as a technical director of Southern Europe for the past 7 years. However, his position was more than that, as he also helped out with clients in Eastern Europe and the entire LATAM region.
It sounds like a pretty high-profile role, so naturally, he was getting a big, fat paycheck, which is what got him into trouble. He had traveled around 750 miles for a meeting, but after it was over, his boss singled him out to his office. Here’s where the plot thickens, because waiting for him were also the HR director with the local country manager, and he immediately sensed an ambush.
They told him that they were “restructuring” and he was “too expensive” for them. OP sarcastically retorted that he wouldn’t be so costly if he weren’t bringing in so much profit for the company. However, when they pushed the severance papers, he reminded them about a clause that he had signed. It stated that they owed him a whole year’s salary, plus his projected bonus, if they let him go.
Despite all this drama, they kept giving him more work, so he revealed his new consultancy rates of €1,500 per day and €800 for a half day. Well, that shut them up quickly, but OP was yet to deliver his final blow. Since they fired him without cause, the non-compete clause in his contract is void, so he is joining their biggest global competitor!
Image credits: Kampus Production / Pexels (not the actual photo)
To get a deeper understanding of the corporate world and how such “golden parachute” clauses work, Bored Panda got in touch with HR specialist Nicola Dias. She claimed that these contracts are pretty common for senior executives, especially in big companies or fast-changing industries. Generally, it’s a way for them to attract top talent, she added.
Our expert also explained, “When a company says someone is ‘too expensive,’ especially if they have been doing a great job, it’s really important to think things through before letting them go. Ethically, it’s about treating people with respect and fairness, and honoring their contributions instead of just looking at the money.”
As per the expert, if it’s really about cost-cutting or restructuring, there are usually smarter, kinder options to explore first. Nicola stressed that letting someone go should be the last resort, not the first move, because how they treat one person sends a message to everyone else. In this case, it’s obvious that they just want to let go of a loyal high performer without rewarding him, she commented.
“This can seriously damage a company’s culture in the long run. People start to feel that hard work and dedication don’t really matter. It may lead to lower morale, less trust in leadership, and a sharp drop in motivation. Over time, it creates a culture where employees become more guarded, less engaged, and more likely to leave at the first opportunity,” Nicola summed up.
Well, it seems like the company just sparked more trouble for itself by firing the poster. Netizens heartily applauded him for handling it so wittily, and claimed they would love to see the management’s faces when he joins their competitors. I bet that will be a fun sight! What are your thoughts about the story? Feel free to type them away in the comments below!
Folks online couldn’t help but applaud him for his epic comeback, which cost the company way more than what they had anticipated
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