Getting fired is never easy, but how it’s done can make all the difference. In October 2025, Target announced it would eliminate 1,800 corporate roles (roughly 8% of its global corporate workforce) just weeks before the holiday season. The news came via a company-wide memo, leaving many employees blindsided and scrambling right before the holidays. While layoffs are sometimes necessary, the method of delivery can either preserve dignity or crush morale. Here are five ways companies have fired employees that are just downright heartless.
