An Australian father has spoken out after being ‘fired’ just weeks before Christmas.
Melbourne father-of-two Eric revealed during his six-month probationary interview last week that he had quit his job with the company.
In a video shared on social media, Eric claimed he was fired for refusing to engage in “office politics” while working at the company.
Eric explained that he was hired on a six-month full-time contract, with the possibility of renewal once his probationary period ended.
“You want to know what the craziest thing that just happened to me is. Your son just lost his damn job,” he said in the video.
The video also included a secretly recorded clip of the exact moment he was fired during a conversation with his manager.
She praised Eric’s work ethic, attitude and teamwork.
‘You do have good positive points. We see you raising your hand to help people. You are very hands-on. You’re also a team player,” she told Eric.
‘The role itself is not an easy role, you actually did quite well. You tried, you did your best.”
Father-of-two Eric (pictured) was fired from his job at the company during his six-month probationary meeting
However, his manager explained that they had ‘had several discussions’ and decided that his contract would not continue.
“At this stage, unfortunately, we cannot actually proceed with the contract,” she said.
“It wasn’t an easy decision, but (you don’t fit into) the kind of role we actually need for the company right now.”
Eric responded and told her, “Diversion sometimes happens for a reason.”
The manager then gave him a hug.
“Now it’s time to chase my dream,” Eric told his social media followers.
“Last night I wrote in my journal, ‘Dear God, when will I know when it is right for me to quit my job?’
“I kind of had a feeling it was coming.”
Eric speculated on the reasons for the decision, noting that he had expressed concerns about low wages halfway through his probationary period.
“I was doing well, just getting harassed for all my mistakes and making big deals out of it,” he wrote.
‘They want cheap labor who don’t know their value. I said the pay wasn’t that much.
“So even if I had stayed just a little bit, I would have worked even harder for a few hundred dollars extra a week.”
He now plans to spend his time working on his side job and selling T-shirts through his company Cruzado.
“So if you want, buy a T-shirt or a phone case. I’m working on designing pants, but it’s still a long way to go. Life goes on.’
The video sparked criticism of the company’s decision, with many viewers wondering why Eric was fired despite his positive feedback.
“Not once did she say what you did wrong,” one person commented.
“That HR lady didn’t understand why you were fired in the first place,” a second person said.
A third added: ‘All I heard was that you are good in your role. So now I’m confused.’