[croquemonsieur]

When I graduated I really struggled to find a job. It took 18 months and the first job I got was a small place. I was hired directly by the owner and I had one colleague. On the last day of the first week, the owner took me to lunch and said, "we are going to fire [the other employee] and you will do his job". I was gobsmacked. I quit when we got back to the office. Fire the other person if you want, but don't make me complicit.

What a shitty way to start my shitty career.

[chalcolithic]

> struggled to find a job. It took 18 months

> I quit when we got back to the office.

Wow. Just wow.

[sharts]

Integrity is rare. Wow indeed.

[KeplerBoy]

Is it really unethical to replace employees?

I'm not invalidating your decision, maybe that owner really was an asshole, but I don't think the move in itself is deplorable.

[croquemonsieur]

I think it was unethical to do it like that, yeah. And you're right I don't know the history between the two of them, so I can't say which was the asshole. But I do think I'd have been an asshole had I stayed after learning that.

[SlightlyLeftPad]

I agree, it’s equally likely that the person they were trying fire was an asshole too.

[croquemonsieur]

I've written/read the word asshole so many times, I'm reminded of Spaceballs!

But you're right, I didn't know them enough to judge who was in the wrong. I think that was the problem. If he'd just fired the guy without telling me, I'd have been surprised but there wouldn't be anything I could do. Instead, he effectively gave me a choice: stay and someone you barely know loses their job, or leave.

[j-bos]

Yeah that is an odd way to handle it, almost like the owner didn't want to fully own their decision.

[listenallyall]

Gale Boetticher?

Unlikely (because he's dead), but... small place, hired directly by the owner, exactly one colleague, told (over a meal) you're going to take over his job.

[jacquesm]

Apparently not, but even if you probably shouldn't reveal identities if the OP didn't do it already.

[dullcrisp]

Not the place for deep cuts sadly

[croquemonsieur]

No, I'm afraid not. Sorry.