How to get fired from a public accounting job without legal consequences
Public accounting employees looking to leave their jobs sometimes consider getting fired rather than resigning to see if they can qualify for unemployment benefits. Navigating this transition raises questions about how to part ways with an employer legally and whether termination affects unemployment eligibility compared to quitting.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since September 2026.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Quit the old fashioned wayDid this help you?
- 2Researching specific state unemployment rules regarding termination versus voluntary resignationDid this help you?
- 3Applying to another job and not mentioning the terminationDid this help you?
- 4Switching from public accounting to a different type of accounting jobDid this help you?
- 5Leaving the short stint off the resume and explaining employment gaps differentlyDid this help you?
- 6moving on quickly to a new and better-paying jobDid this help you?
- 7considering consulting an employment lawyer for a wrongful termination lawsuit or settlementDid this help you?
- 8Filing a grievance with the school and asking HR in writing for specific allegations and supporting recordsDid this help you?
- 9Discussing the matter with the state workforce commissionDid this help you?
- 10Finding a lawyerDid this help you?
- 11Starting to work for yourselfDid this help you?
- 12Switching companies or rooms where your value is better recognizedDid this help you?
- 13warning others to think twice before joining the firmDid this help you?
- 14seeking validation from others online who have had similar experiencesDid this help you?
- 15Seeking reassurance from online communities or support networks.Did this help you?
- 16Reminding yourself that a single bad job fit does not erase years of accumulated experience and skills.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Then one day the new VP fired me for saying, “we train auditors on accounting.””source ↗
“The reason they gave on video chat wasn’t the same as the separation paperwork…”source ↗
“It stated I mismanaged real estate taxes (not payments, the accrued real estate taxes account on the balance sheet) and refused to do a direct order from the VP.”source ↗
“Spent 5 years in corporate being told, “For the amount of money you make/for what we pay you, we expect better work” and “For your title, we expect zero mistakes.” Got fired at the first firm I ever worked for.”source ↗
“Any ideas? How to get fired without getting any legal consequences?”source ↗
“How do you come back from being fired from your first accountant job? I got fired due to lackluster performance and I am trying to figure out how to move forward and get another accounting job.”source ↗
“After only eight months of work, they decided to terminate my employment, and they refused to explain the reason why.”source ↗
“During my eight months there, I never had any performance or behavioral meetings, warnings, or anything that would have indicated that there was an issue.”source ↗
“knew a few people who got the same silent treatment and boot out the door with zero explanation”source ↗
“Even though I know in my bones this place is not a good fit for me long term given this type of culture, it still feels unfair and abusive and I'm scared of what comes next and embarrassed for the part I have to own.”source ↗
“I don't even know if I want to try to keep doing this work I have devoted so much of my adult life to mastering--this has sucked a lot of the joy out of it, and without joy, it's just hard.”source ↗
“Feeling very scared and lost, could use some support.”source ↗
“Can you get unemployment if you’re fired? I’m wondering if getting fired is better or resigning.”source ↗
“The school has not identified the date, class period, specific words attributed to me, or what “extra points” means. I have not received the witness accounts or other evidence it relied on.”source ↗
“The termination is also affecting my unemployment benefits. I have discussed the matter with the Texas Workforce Commission, but I cannot identify the incident the school is relying on from the information provided.”source ↗
“I am also concerned about my Texas teaching certificate. How can I find out whether the school has reported this allegation to the Texas Education Agency, and what should I do if TEA contacts me?”source ↗