Former Temp Says The Company Terminated Him After Secret Interviews, Then Recruits Him Back For Less Pay Until He Demands “No Less Than $30”

In 2023, a former temp named Kuro7510 found himself in a peculiar situation after his six-month stint at a certain company came to an abrupt end. Hired through a temporary agency that turned out to be less than transparent, he was initially thrilled to score $25 per hour, especially considering he had to navigate a new software that only a few employees were familiar with. Kuro7510 quickly adapted to his environment, becoming proficient enough to work with minimal supervision by the third month.

The work environment, however, was starting to show cracks. The company enforced a mandatory community service day, requiring employees to drive 40 minutes with no reimbursement for gas. During that day, there was also obligatory prayer—an aspect that didn’t sit well with everyone. As Kuro7510 progressed in his role, he had conversations with his supervisor about his performance. While he felt confident about his job, he noticed his supervisor seemed more inclined to dwell on the shortcomings of those who had come before him.

Things began to take a turn when Kuro7510 saw his position being advertised on job boards like Indeed. He approached his supervisor, who feigned ignorance about the job posting. This was just the beginning of a series of red flags that made Kuro7510 reconsider his future with the company. His suspicions deepened when he accidentally walked in on his supervisor interviewing a candidate for his position—a conversation that was quickly denied.

During a regional meeting, a lead engineer emotionally expressed gratitude for being part of the company, which seemed to further solidify the peculiar culture. This was also the moment Kuro7510 noticed a fellow temp dressed in a way that caught his attention. She had been hired through the same agency but seemed to draw a stark contrast in her professionalism once she became a full-time employee. The difference in attire raised eyebrows, leading Kuro7510 to question whether appearances played a role in job security at the firm.

By the eighth month, Kuro7510 received the dreaded call: his contract was terminated. Despite the shock, he remained level-headed and managed to find another job just two weeks later. Fast forward to the present day, and he received a call from the company that had let him go, extending an offer for an interview based on his impressive resume.

However, this time there was a catch. The recruiter offered him a wage between $21 and $23.75 per hour—substantially lower than what he had previously earned. Kuro7510 wasn’t about to let that slide. Armed with experience gained since his departure and a current offer from another company on the table, he asserted that he wouldn’t accept less than $30 per hour to return to a place that had once discarded him.

This newfound assertiveness left him wondering whether he had acted reasonably or if he crossed a line. “AITAH for telling my old company that if they wanted to rehire me, they’d have to pay me more?” he pondered. His situation struck a chord with many readers who had experienced similar dilemmas in the workplace.

The story highlighted not just the complexities of navigating temporary work, but also the nuances of professional relationships and self-worth in a competitive job market. It was a tale of resilience in the face of uncertainty and a testament to the idea that sometimes, standing your ground is necessary—even if it comes with risks.