Archive · 1 Jun 2025
Laid Off Employee Asked for Help By Former CEO
Imagine you used to work at a company, and they fired you.
Almost a year later, the CEO emails you asking for help because they need access to old work accounts, and your phone number is linked to them.
The person is understandably frustrated, feeling used after being laid off.
People online are debating if the ex-employee should help, and if so, if they should charge a lot of money.
Some say to ignore the request, others suggest a paid consulting arrangement to ensure fair treatment.
This story highlights the importance of respect, even after someone leaves a job.
A former director was laid off by a company after being acquired.
Nearly a year later, the ex-director received an email from the CEO.
The email requested help with recovering access to work accounts.
Two-factor authentication was still linked to the ex-employee's phone number.
Reddit users offered advice on how the ex-employee should respond.
- Who
- Former director and the CEO who laid them off
- What
- A former director was asked by their former CEO to help regain access to work accounts.
- When
- Approximately 11 months after the director was laid off.
- Where
- Not explicitly stated, but a smaller company
- Why
- The CEO needed assistance with account access tied to the ex-employee's phone number.
Former Employee's Perspective
Company's Perspective
Obligation to help
Former Employee's Perspective
The former employee feels no obligation, especially without compensation, given the circumstances of their termination.
Company's Perspective
Company likely believes the former employee has an obligation to help due to previous employment.
- Company Status
- Small company acquired
- Ex-Employee's Role
- Director
- Time since layoff
- 11 months
- Person requesting assistance
- CEO
- Reason for request
- Recover account access
- Where the story originated
- Reddit post