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I think these types of situations usually take another approach, but it usually takes a level of emotional control, forward planning, and social engineering of our own bosses that is somewhat foreign to us. It doesn't occur to us in the moment, and it isn't a quick solution either. As in, you can't simply use it as a get-out-of-jail-free card; it needs to be carefully orchestrated over a long period of time.
The answer is to be willing, do all that is expected of you, quickly and without problem, slowly distancing yourself from the things that are unrealistic expectations, while simultaneously still becoming invaluable to leadership.
This is, really, where politics come into play. Politics really are just what we have orchestrated and synthesized for ourselves socially on a level that stretches and warps the fabric of facts and re-stitches the thread of truths. (Legendary items, btw.) Being good at something isn't nearly as important to standing in the workplace as being perceived as having those same talents.
This, of course, won't help you in the moment and doesn't help the intern in the story here, but over time will get that water off the simmer and allow you to hop out, or however that apologue is supposed to go.
Our ability to come across as the successful, experienced person that we are is, perhaps, something that we could all think about and spend a little more time working on.
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Got fired from my internship because I said no to a Sunday meeting once
An employee examines his belongings after being fired.
Image is representative, not actual subjects.
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"Still trying to process what just happened honestly.
I’m a college student doing an internship while managing my own expenses. Hostel rent, college fees, food, everything. I’ve been working since [my] first year, so I don’t really have the luxury to casually lose income.
For months, I worked properly. Stayed late when needed. Did work outside my role. Even handled coordination for other people sometimes because things were messy and someone had to do it. Saturday, [I] also worked overtime finishing tasks that weren’t even originally mine.
Never said anything."
This intern, who shared their story under the user name Ok-Wrongdoer-843, shared how they had been dismissed from an internship that they were doing to finish off their college degree and get some valuable work experience. They had gone above and beyond every step of the internship, but whatever they contributed only led to increased expectations from the employer.
They have supported themselves through the entirety of their university days, living in the dorms in order to reduce costs and scrape by. The intern refers to this as a “hostel,” but I believe there is a possible mistranslation of English as a second language here, as dorms make the most sense, especially in the context of their being a “mess” or cafeteria located in the accommodation, as student dorms normally have.The low pay of the internship made the strain of this effort increasingly difficult, finding it hard to get by despite working long hours and weekends.
The mess hall at the dorms where they lived was closed on Sunday. When they suddenly found themselves with a last-minute video call. They told their manager they would be available soon but needed to pop out to grab a quick bite to eat first.Their unwillingness to jump immediately when asked meant that they came back to their access already revoked.
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Image is representative, not actual subjects.
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"And the funny thing is, till one day before all this, everything was apparently “good.”
Then Sunday comes. Official holiday.
Suddenly, there’s a meeting planned for 3:30 PM. I agreed initially. Later, I messaged saying I need to go eat first because my hostel mess is closed on Sundays and I literally have to go outside for food.
That’s it. That’s the crime, apparently.
Then came the lectures about “ownership” and “prioritizing work.”
Like, sorry I needed food?"
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An artistic expression of the inner turmoil of the intern, who is struggling with the demands of their education and work.
Image is representative, not actual subjects.
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"Next thing I know, my company access gets removed completely. No actual discussion. No proper call. Just removed quietly like I did something horrible.
What annoys me most is the hypocrisy.
Startups keep saying “we’re a family” and “we value ownership,” but half the time, they just expect 24/7 availability from interns getting paid the bare minimum.
You work extra? Normal. You sacrifice weekends? Expected. You say no once or become unavailable for one hour? Suddenly, your attitude is the problem.
And this wasn’t even some senior high-paying role. It was an internship."
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This screenshot was shared by the intern of the following exchange between themselves and their manager.
This was a screenshot of the alleged exchange with their manager, that the intern provided when they shared their story.
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"I genuinely think some people confuse leadership with control. If an intern saying “I need to eat first” hurts your ego so much that you fire them the same day, then maybe the issue isn’t ownership.
The worst part is I actually trusted these people. That’s what stings more than losing the role itself.
Now I’m just hoping they don’t try to avoid paying the stipend for the month after taking full work till the literal last day. Because if that happens, I honestly might publicly name the company. I’m tired of this culture where interns are treated as disposable the second they stop acting endlessly available."
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A young intern sits on the steps outside the office with his belongings after being fired, his papers fly thrown through the air around him.
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welcometotheTD
"Internships are a gate to keep poors out."---
outerproduct
"Looks like you dodged a bullet to me. You don't want to be there."---
SiegfriedVK
"Sorry OPWay too often, the intern is just treated as a disposable temp."
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l2ulan
"Stop working for free."---
elch07
"You gave them everything. You need food in order to survive. That was asking too much of them."---
Early-Light-864
“Why would you tell them you're going to get food? Just get food and be back by 330”
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