Woman was offered a promotion, then lost her job days later as 15% of staff were cut — one detail about the decision devastated her
With layoffs becoming increasingly common, job security feels uncertain. But it hurts even more when your company makes big promises and then decides you're no longer an asset. For one Reddit user, who goes by u/WiseBroccoli2, a surprise meeting with her CEO turned what she thought was a career milestone into a devastating blow. In a post shared on Monday, August 24, 2026, she shared how her company offered her a promotion, only to let her go days later. The way it happened left her completely blindsided.
The woman shared that she had been working remotely for a small tech startup for just over a year. On Monday, she was up for promotion with a promised raise once pending contracts closed in October. The next day, she was asked to book last-minute work travel, hoping it would show she was ready for more responsibility. However, by Wednesday, she was told to cancel it because the travel budget had been cut. On Thursday, she discussed a project with her boss, and the same night, she received an invite to a meeting with the CEO for the next morning. During the call, she was told, “You are great; this is not a reflection of your work, but we are not in the financial position to keep you at this company.” Later, she learned that 15% of the company had been laid off, and even her direct supervisor had no idea she was being let go. The employee felt betrayed and worthless.
She had received the role after much struggle, and it was a crucial element that kept her home running. She said her husband’s health insurance was tied to the position, and losing the job meant losing half of their household income. It also came at a difficult point in her career: after leaving the military in 2025, she had worked hard to finish her degree, complete a Google internship, and network her way into the corporate world. The CEO had consulted no one before deciding she was no longer an asset. The experience left her questioning how quickly a company can change its view of an employee.
Stories like hers are becoming more common as companies continue layoffs. A May 7 report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that U.S. employers announced 83,387 job cuts in April, 38% more than in March. Tech companies made up the biggest share, with more than 33,361 job cuts in April alone. So far this year, organizations have announced more than 300,749 job cuts, while hiring plans have also slowed down. For workers like the woman in this case, it is not just the loss of a role, but their lives being turned upside down. Viewers criticized the company for their negligence. u/lili-spiderlily wrote, "You’re much more than an ‘asset.’" u/Extension_Radish_139 added, “Hope they go under queen.” u/lAngenoire offered some perspective, saying, “It’s not you! I know so many people being laid off from tech startups.”
You can follow u/WiseBroccoli2 on Reddit for more content on lifestyle.
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