In a strange twist of workplace irony, a former director who was laid off nearly a year ago found himself back in the spotlight—not as an employee, but as someone his ex-boss now needed help from. The incident came to light after the former employee shared his story on a social-media forum, detailing how the CEO who once terminated him had reached out months later with a favour.
The man had been part of a small company that was acquired, prompting a management overhaul. Despite meeting his performance targets, he, along with the IT and finance directors, was let go as part of a broader restructuring led by the new CEO. At the time, his severance offer was minimal, but he managed to negotiate a better package with the help of a lawyer.
Eleven months on, an unexpected email arrived from the same CEO. The reason? Several company email accounts were still tied to the former director’s phone number via two-factor authentication (2FA). The CEO was now wondering if he could help resolve the issue!
Having failed to get over the bitterness of his sudden termination, the former director consulted his lawyer once again. He was advised not to respond, as the issue should have been manageable internally by the company’s IT team. Moreover, the email raised concerns about legitimacy, especially considering the disarray left by layoffs of key departments.
The post quickly gained traction online, with many expressing support for the former employee and criticising the CEO’s audacity. The incident draws attention to the way exits are often mismanaged without thought and the risks organisations take when letting go of crucial personnel without proper transition planning.
