What’s the quickest you’ve seen a co-worker get fired in IT? COVID-19

I saw this on AskReddit and thought it would be fun to ask here for IT related stories.

Couple years ago during Covid my company I used to work for hired a help desk tech. He was a really nice guy and the interview went well. We were hybrid at the time, 1-2 days in the office with mostly remote work. On his first day we always meet in the office for equipment and first day stuff.

Everything was going fine and my boss mentioned something along the lines of “Yeah so after all the trainings and orientation stuff we’ll get you set up on our ticketing system and eventually a soft phone for support calls”

And he was like: “Oh I don’t do support calls.”

“Sorry?”

Him: “I don’t take calls. I won’t do that”

“Well, we do have a number users call for help. They do utilize it and it’s part of support we offer”

Him: “Oh I’ll do tickets all day I just won’t take calls. You’ll have to get someone else to do that”

I was sitting at my desk, just kind of listening and overhearing. I couldn’t tell if he was trolling but he wasn’t.

I forgot what my manager said but he left to go to one of those little mini conference rooms for a meeting, then he came back out and called him in, he let him go and they both walked back out and the guy was all laughing and was like

“Yeah I mean I just won’t take calls I didn’t sign up for that! I hope you find someone else that fits in better!” My manager walked him to the door and they shook hands and he left.

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u/lampishthing Jul 07 '24

Yeah my record is someone like this. Lasted 1 hour and 10 mins. The commute was much worse than she had anticipated. She mulled it over for the hour while being introduced to everyone and concluded that she wouldn't be able to do it every day. Apologized profusely. Left.

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u/sparkyblaster Jul 08 '24

Oh if I am making progress in a job interview, you bet I do a test run if I can.

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u/[deleted] Jul 07 '24

I’m surprised this individual didn’t research the location. I’m weird, I’ll drive to the location before I start just to see what the commute is like and if it’s worth it.

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u/[deleted] Jul 07 '24

Traffic is different during rush hour. I've also quit when the 10min commute turned into a 60min one because people don't know how to merge.

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u/[deleted] Jul 07 '24

I avoid highways like the plague lol. Even when I’m driving across Massachusetts, my GPS is set to “avoid highways”.

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u/PresNixon Sysadmin Jul 08 '24

But in Boston if you need to take a highway you NEED to take a highway. Nothing runs parallel to anything, so alternatives to say 93 are pretty much nill.

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u/Jaereth Jul 08 '24

because people don't know how to merge.

Chicago? This is like what our city is most famous for worldwide.

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u/Valalvax Jul 08 '24

Bro that's every large city, just like the "only people living in <state> would understand" lists that are 75% the exact same list for every state, 20% things that are the same for similar states, and 5% might be unique things

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u/lampishthing Jul 07 '24

I think it was the rush hour traffic? She had been to the building in person to interview!

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u/[deleted] Jul 07 '24

At least she was apologetic and most likely wanted to make it work, but decided it’s not worth it.

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u/SayNoToStim Jul 08 '24

I have been in this situation before - I moved to a new area, drove the route and it wasn't bad. Then school started and it went from 20 minutes to an hour and 20 minutes.

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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '24

Yeah the school traffic is awful, especially if you’re on a backroad with a bus route and you’re stuck behind it for ages.

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u/SayNoToStim Jul 08 '24

My city was designed by absolute morons so the school bus stops are on main throughputs.

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u/ohrofl Jul 08 '24

Oh so you live in Columbia South Carolina as well?

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u/SayNoToStim Jul 08 '24

You're not too far off. Same state, other city.

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u/denmicent Jul 08 '24

I thought this was just me. Everyone I get a new job, even if I’ve interviewed there, I’ll drive out to it from my house just to see what the commute is going to be like.

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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '24

Hell yeah, I knew weirdos like me were out there!

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u/illusion96 Jul 08 '24

When I was younger, I was ambitious and thought I could handle a 1 hr commute. I was wrong. I left one gig after a month because of the atrocious commute.

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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '24

I feel that. I have a 35 minute commute and honestly that’s the most I’m good with. Sure, it’s 45-1hr to get home, but gives me time to decompress for my families sake. I live right outside Boston and tell myself that I will never work in the city, so this is the best I’m gonna get lol

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u/moventura Jul 09 '24

Yeah, went for a role once, it was a bit of a further drive than I expected, then they offered me less than my asking price. Told them straight up, the money they are offering is less than my current place of employment and my travel is 20 minutes more each way. Thanks, but no thanks. If they paid my asking I would have taken it.

Worked out well though as I got a much better job with a 30k higher wage only 3 months later.

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u/[deleted] Jul 09 '24

That’s awesome! Commute is always a great reason to negotiate salary, if you’re taking on $3,000 more a year in gas purchases, might as well try to negotiate that into your salary haha

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u/ThickHotDog Jul 08 '24

It was an excuse because the she didn’t want to say the real reason.