Even decades of loyal service cannot always shield employees from sudden job loss. Many workers dedicate years to a company, mentoring colleagues and supporting teams, yet corporate decisions can abruptly end even the longest careers.
A Reddit user recently shared a case on the Anti Work subreddit about his manager, who had served the same company for over fifty years, being dismissed without any severance or farewell.
The user shared, “My boss who has been at our company for over 50 years was just terminated without a separation package. This is a man who everyone loved and he treated everyone fair. He was the person who also found me and offered me my job which has changed mine and my families lives for the better. He also supported sending me to get certifications that he made the company paid for so I owe everything I have to him.”
The post also reveals the impact the manager had on his colleagues. Over the years, he guided staff, arranged professional training, and helped them advance their careers. The Redditor expressed deep gratitude, crediting much of his own success to this mentor’s support.
The situation changed following the company’s acquisition by a multinational firm. In October, the new management announced a round of layoffs, with dismissals carried out in early December. Employees affected at that time received severance pay. The Redditor’s department was spared during this initial round.
In early February, the manager was put on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). The company said it was because of quality problems in the field, even though these were mostly not part of his daily work. On paper, the costs of these issues were linked to his department, making him an easy target to fire.
The user further explained, “Well today they decided to fire him active immediately because he didn’t live up to the PIP expectations but gave him the ‘decency’ to not walk him to the gate. Yes he was older and I do agree that people in their early 70s need to pass torch to the younger generation.”
Many employees suspected the PIP was used to create a paper trail allowing the company to avoid paying severance. According to the Redditor, “We all think they just wanted to save money by not giving him separation pay because of the ‘paper trail PIP’ and I feel disgusted at my company. They gave people who worked here for 2 years a package in December but not him today. They knew they wanted him gone and could have done this during the layoff wave but wanted to save money by doing it later.”
The Reddit thread went viral, with many users commenting on the wider implications for corporate loyalty. One user commented, “I remind everyone, companies aren’t people and don’t deserve loyalty.” Another said, “Company loyalty died a long time ago. Its strictly transactionary.”
A user explained, “You’re absolutely right. As petty as it might sound, that’s just the reality of it. When leadership decides to cut out 50 years of experience to save a buck, they don’t get to act shocked when things start falling apart. If they start asking why stuff isn’t getting done, the honest answer really is that the guy who handled that isn’t here anymore. You can’t erase that much institutional knowledge and expect business as usual.”
Others suggested legal or practical action for the dismissed manager, “My dad went through a nearly identical situation. He should get an attorney. They might take 30+% but that looks like a pretty easy age discrimination case.”
“Speak to your former boss. Tell him to charge the company for any help they ask for. 1000x his last rate of pay payable upfront. No Severance package,” commented a user.