A Reddit post from user u/btwife_4k on r/work has sparked outrage and debate after the user claimed they were injured on the job, and then fired, under circumstances many readers described as “blatantly retaliatory.”
According to the post, the incident happened during a normal workday in the office. While btwife_4k was on the phone with a client, a bookshelf positioned behind them suddenly tipped over and fell. The impact broke their arm and sent them to the floor. What followed was pain, shock, and instinct.
“I started swearing. A lot,” the user wrote, explaining that the client was still on the line when the accident happened. They were later taken to the hospital, treated for the injury, and took time off to recover.
When they returned to work, however, they were met with a surprise, termination.
The reason given by the company wasn’t the accident or the injury. It was the language they used while injured — described as “inappropriate,” especially because it occurred during a client call.
“No mention of the fact that a piece of office furniture fell on me,” the user wrote. “No concern about workplace safety.”
Reddit reacts: ‘This looks retaliatory’
The post quickly gained traction, with hundreds of comments urging the employee to seek legal help. One of the top comments, from u/SentimentalScientist, suggested the firing may have been an attempt to derail a workers’ compensation claim.
“It sounds like they’re trying to stave off the workers comp claim,” they wrote, advising the user to retain an employment lawyer if the company resisted.
Others questioned how the accident happened in the first place. u/Rabid-kumquat and u/disturbedandbored both pointed out that office bookshelves are typically expected to be secured or anchored, raising concerns about workplace negligence.
“That bookshelf should have been anchored to the wall,” one commenter noted.
Several users emphasized that swearing during a sudden injury is a natural reaction. u/caryn1477 called the firing “crazy,” while encouraging the employee to immediately file for workers’ comp and unemployment.
A recurring theme across the thread was legal strategy. Multiple commenters — including u/freecain and u/Sitcom_kid — stressed that the employee should prioritize an employment lawyer, not just a personal injury attorney, given the overlap between workplace injury, retaliation, and potential wrongful termination.
“This is not a good look for them,” one commenter said, describing the firing as something that could be seen as punishment for getting hurt on the job.
More than just an injury claim
What stood out to many readers was the timing. Being fired shortly after a workplace injury, especially one caused by falling office furniture, raised red flags. Commenters argued that even if a company has conduct policies, enforcing them in this context could be seen as unreasonable or pretextual.
By the end of the thread, the consensus was clear: document everything, file a workers’ compensation claim, and speak to an experienced employment attorney as soon as possible.
As one commenter bluntly put it: “No point in being loyal to your company if they aren’t loyal to you.”