Wife Says”Thank You For Quitting!” To Me,laid Off At 59.later, Many Clients Contracts At The Company

The Abrupt Dismissal

“Mr. Roberts, you have been fired.”

“Well, why?”

“It doesn’t matter why. The decision has been made.”

One day, when I was thinking I’ve only got a year before retiring, a young manager moved into my department. One day, he called me over and abruptly announced that he was firing me. I asked him why, but he refused to answer, and I had to give in.

I felt lost and told my wife about what happened. My wife looked surprised. I went to the office the next day to pick up my belongings and found it in disarray.

A Dedicated Career

My name is Stephen Roberts. I’m an ordinary worker at a securities firm. I joined this company at 30 years old, and I’ve worked hard here for the past 29 years. I was only a year away from retiring.

“Mr. Roberts, I’d like to speak with you about this handover. Let’s see, are you talking about this client?”

“Yes. I’ve been assigned this company, and I’m not sure how we should handle them. I think it’s better to have an in-depth meeting with them. They are extremely cautious because this is not a small transaction. It would go smoothly if we can alleviate their concerns during our meetings.”

“I see. Thank you so much.”

As I approached retirement, I was delegating my responsibilities to my subordinate. I was relieved to have a break in my work and was eager to devote the rest of the year to internal projects.

The New Manager

Then one day, someone transferred from Tokyo to our department. The branch manager introduced me to the man, and I noticed that he was still a young employee. A new employee has moved to a department? I wondered why a new general manager has just been transferred to our department.

He said his name is Taylor Norris.

“Please introduce yourself.”

“I have recently been assigned to this department and promoted to manager. My name is Taylor Norris. I am still young, but I will do my best to lead you all in the same manner that my father led this company. I am excited to work with you all.”

Hearing the surname Norris reminded me of the CEO’s son’s existence, and he is the CEO’s son. I was convinced he was the CEO’s son and that he had been appointed to the unusual position of department head at the age of 25.

Unreasonable Demands

“Who created this report?”

“I did indeed.”

“Why is the document in this format? Can you make it more readable?”

“The format for this document was decided beforehand, and I only followed what was decided.”

“What? I don’t care when it was decided, but can’t you revise it? If I find it difficult, I believe my father, the CEO, will find it more difficult.”

“Do you give speeches like that in front of the president?”

“I sincerely apologize.”

“If I succeed my father as president and was presented with this document, I wouldn’t want to read through it. Please make documents that will catch my attention.”

He would mention his father whenever he would speak. I know that new manager is the CEO’s son, but he is so arrogant. He simply assigns the work to us and then leaves it to us.

The other day, he complained even though I made a document exactly as he said, and whenever I mentioned anything, he would bring up his father’s name, so it’s difficult to talk to him. People will complain. In fact, I heard him mention his father’s name several times. I didn’t pay attention to him because I was going to retire in that year.

The Termination

“Mr. Roberts, could you please come in here for a moment?”

“Can I assist you with something?”

“Let’s talk in private in the meeting room.”

“Certainly.”

I returned after my lunch break to resume my work, but I was immediately summoned by the manager. I wondered what I had done wrong as I was suddenly summoned to a meeting. Was it about the new client, or was there an issue with a previous client, or was it something more serious? I had no idea what I had been summoned for.

“Sir, am I in any trouble? Is this something else entirely?”

“No, it’s just a different matter.”

I asked what the meeting was about but wasn’t told any details and was asked to come to the meeting room. So, as I went to the meeting room, I was thinking about why I was summoned.

“Well, please have a seat,” he said.

“Yes sir.”

“I’m going to be direct, Mr. Roberts. You’re fired.”

I was taken aback by the abrupt announcement of my dismissal and found myself at a loss for words. As he speaks, the manager holds out the termination letter from across the table, but I’m trying to remember what I’ve done, so his voice has gone right past me. I tried to ask him why and managed to wring a voice out.

However, the manager did not provide the specific reason for the dismissal but simply replied:

“This matter has already been decided.”

Unsatisfied with the answer, I repeatedly asked for a reason, only to be brushed off with:

“It’s a decision that’s been made. You were retiring next year anyway, so why not think of it as an early retirement?”

“No, but it’s still a year away, and I’m still physically capable of working as hard as anyone else.”

“I heard you’ve already completed handovers and you don’t do any outside work, do you? You’re physically too old, aren’t you?”

“That is not correct.”

“In any case, it has been decided that you’ll be fired, so leave the rest to us young people.”

“That’s not fair. I’ve…”

“Don’t you know who I am, Mr. Roberts? I could even tell the CEO if I wanted to. My decision is the same as the CEO’s.”

The manager then left the room. I was left in a daze, unsure of what to do. After that, I had no choice but to return home, left speechless.