Fired, Then Hired for Double: The Delicious Petty Revenge of a Stressed-Out Developer
There’s nothing quite like the moment your manager—who just laid you off—comes crawling back, desperate for your help. It’s the kind of scene every overworked tech employee dreams about: the tables turned, the power dynamic reversed, and your worth suddenly, finally, recognized (at least in terms of dollars). One Redditor, u/raytheist, lived this fantasy for real, and the results? Pure, petty revenge gold.
Let’s set the stage: a lone developer, a manager who couldn’t tell a mouse from a modem, and a project teetering on the brink. When the axe fell, it should have been the end. But sometimes, getting fired is just the beginning of the best kind of payback.
The Layoff No One Saw Coming (Especially Management)
Our hero’s journey starts in the trenches of software development, battling tight deadlines and tighter resources—all while dealing with a “manager,” John, so tech-illiterate he’d probably ask if you could download more RAM. The stress was real, the support nonexistent, and the only thing holding the app together was the developer’s sheer willpower.
Cue the sudden, all-hands meeting: “Pack your stuff. Turn in your badge.” As u/raytheist describes, it was a heady cocktail of panic and relief—panic because rent waits for no one, relief because, well, no more John.
But the kicker? Before the developer even left the building, John sidled up with an awkward question: Would they be interested in coming back as a contractor… to finish the very job they'd just been sacked from? The audacity. The corporate desperation. The lack of a backup plan. It was like watching someone set their own house on fire, only to realize the fire extinguisher was out in the moving truck.
Double or Nothing: When Spite Is a Negotiation Tactic
In the chaos of job loss and rushed resumes, sometimes your subconscious takes the wheel. So when John called back a week later, ready to offer a “perfectly reasonable” contract rate, our developer’s mouth went rogue: “I can’t do it for that. I’d need double.”
That’s right—double. Not for the benefits, not for the laptop, not for the headache. Just because. As u/raytheist later admitted in the comments, “It was just something I reflexively blurted out because I was still mad.” Sometimes, petty revenge is less a plan than a primal urge.
Reddit loved this moment. Top commenter u/TwoMoreSkipTheLast cheered, “That’s where you rake them over the coals… you get PAID or they can kick rocks.” Others, like u/Apprehensive-Care20z, pointed out that, in the US, doubling your rate when switching from salaried (W2) to contractor (1099) is usually just break-even after factoring in lost benefits and new self-employment costs. “To actually turn the screws on management, ask triple,” they advised. But even double was enough to make John “go pale” on the phone.
Sweet, Sweet Vindication (and a Dash of Karma)
The story could have ended with our hero groveling for the contract, but life had other plans: a promising interview, a better job offer, and the realization that sometimes, letting a toxic company twist in the wind is the real win. When John finally called back—elated that management had agreed to the doubled rate—the developer got to deliver the ultimate power move: “Sorry, John. I can’t do it. I’ve got something else lined up.”
This wasn’t just satisfying for the storyteller; Redditors basked in the schadenfreude. u/BarneyPoppy summed it up: “That is SWEET!! Good for you!!!!!!!!!!” Others, like u/CoderJoe1, admitted they’d have been tempted to string John along just to watch the company flounder. But as u/thenord321 and u/GroovyYaYa wisely pointed out, sometimes the healthiest revenge is to simply move on—and not waste any more energy on those who never valued you.
Even the aftermath was poetic: As u/raytheist shared, the company’s fortunes tanked, with stock plummeting and the business eventually getting delisted. “Is that good? 🤣” the OP quipped. As for our developer? The new job turned out to be a decade-long career with friends and colleagues that lasted to the present. Talk about landing on your feet.
Lessons from the Frontlines: Value, Vindication, and the Power of Walking Away
Reddit’s wisdom didn’t stop at the applause. Several comments offered real-world advice for anyone facing a similar crossroads. As u/Apprehensive-Care20z pointed out, always remember the hidden costs of going from employee to contractor. Benefits, tools, and office space aren’t free, so don’t sell yourself short. u/Martin_Aurelius broke it down further: his own compensation as an automation technician nearly doubled once you include benefits, so demanding more isn’t greed—it’s survival.
And for those who worry about burning bridges or being “too petty”? Sometimes, as the community agreed, your only mistake is not demanding more. Or as u/curtludwig shared in a parallel story: “In the end I got 4x what I would have made… I knew how much the company had budgeted for the video and I spent all of it.” If they’re desperate enough to come crawling back, you’re worth every penny—and then some.
The Best Revenge: Living Well (and Helping a Friend)
The final twist? When another developer friend was hired to finish the doomed app, our protagonist didn’t leave them hanging. Despite the urge to let John and the company reap what they’d sown, u/raytheist stepped up to help their friend get oriented, answering questions and offering support. Petty revenge is sweet, but helping good people is sweeter.
So, next time your boss undervalues you, remember this story. Sometimes the best negotiation lever is knowing your worth—and being ready to walk away. And if you’re ever tempted to blurt out “double or nothing,” maybe listen to your subconscious. It might just know what you’re truly worth.
Have you ever had a manager come crawling back after letting you go? What’s your favorite story of workplace revenge or unexpected vindication? Share your tales in the comments below—because sometimes, the best stories are the ones that almost got away.
Original Reddit Post: It'll cost you more than that.