As company seeks ex-employee's help, 11 months after sacking him, Internet suggests, 'Charge them a bomb'

Nearly a year after being let go from their role as a director at a small company, a former employee found themselves caught off guard by an unexpected email from their old employer’s CEO—the same individual who had terminated them. The sudden message stirred up lingering resentment and reignited the emotional turbulence surrounding the layoff. The situation was shared anonymously on the popular subreddit r/work, where it quickly gained traction and drew widespread attention.

The former director had joined a small firm that was later acquired, triggering major restructuring. As part of that shake-up, leadership changed, and within a year under the new CEO, the director was let go—despite having met all assigned targets. Since then, nearly 11 months had passed without contact. But out of nowhere, the CEO reached out, requesting assistance. The reason? Apparently, two-factor authentication for a number of crucial company email accounts was still tied to the former director’s phone number.

Although the message appeared to be a simple technical request, it immediately reopened emotional wounds. The layoff had not been a smooth process. The former director, along with the heads of IT and finance, had all been dismissed with minimal severance. Seeking justice, the director enlisted the help of their brother-in-law, an employment lawyer, who sent formal demand letters and negotiated a severance nearly four times the initial offer.

According to the director’s Reddit update, all exit protocols had been followed—severance paid, benefits concluded, and company property returned. The CEO and controller had confirmed that nothing further was expected from either party. That made the surprise email all the more jarring. Seeking advice, the former director contacted their lawyer again, who warned against engaging. He suggested it could either be a scam or a sign that internal IT systems were still in disarray, especially since the IT director had also been let go on the same day.

Online reactions came swiftly. Many users advised monetizing any assistance provided, suggesting hefty consulting fees for the unexpected ask. One user encouraged a fee of $500 per day with a two-day minimum, while another drafted a sample response outlining hourly rates, emphasizing professional boundaries and the importance of compensation.

The overall sentiment was clear: the former director owed the company nothing, and if they chose to respond at all, they had every right to treat the interaction as a paid consulting opportunity. For many, the incident underscored how corporate relationships can sour and how professionalism often clashes with unresolved emotional fallout.