A woman was fired from a new job before she even had the chance to show up, all because of conflicting start dates from her company’s own HR department. The story, first shared on Reddit by user Alice14_VS, has blown up online, with people questioning how fair the system really is and whether bosses should be held accountable when their own errors cost someone a job.
Here’s what happened. The employee got an official offer letter saying her first day would be September 2, 2025. Later, she received a follow-up email from HR. That email was crystal clear. It stated her start date was “Monday, September 22, 2025,” bolded and underlined. Naturally, she trusted the HR email since it came after the offer letter and emphasized the new date.
But when September 2 rolled around, the company sent her a termination notice, saying she had failed to show up on her first day. Shocked, she reached out for answers. The HR representative admitted the error, flat-out saying, “that was my mistake.” Still, the company stuck by its decision. They refused to let her start on September 22, bluntly telling her, “you’re still fired and good luck.”
The situation has sparked debate about workplace accountability and at-will employment. Most U.S. jobs fall under at-will rules, which means companies can end employment at any time for almost any reason. But legal experts say this case could be different. Attorney Amy Epstein Gluck noted that firing someone over a miscommunication caused by the employer’s own documented mistake could open the door to a legal challenge, especially if the worker suffered financial or career setbacks as a result.
Online, people were furious. Many pointed out that the company didn’t even bother to call or check in on September 2 before firing her. Commenters said this showed not just poor communication, but a deeper organizational problem. Some even suggested this kind of behavior should serve as a warning sign to anyone considering working there.
The employee herself said she had been in touch with both past and current employees to see if the situation could be fixed. Unfortunately, her final update suggested the company wasn’t budging. Experts say anyone in this position should save all communications and think about speaking with an employment lawyer to explore possible remedies.
For now, the case stands as a viral example of how one HR mistake and a company’s unwillingness to correct it, can cost someone their job before it even begins.
