It's the note no one ever wants to get -- an email from human resources unexpectedly telling you to show up to a brief meeting. Sometimes the note comes with no context at all; other employers may use language to let you know that the meeting is important and serious and, most of all, mandatory. As the employee, you already know what's going to happen: you're going to be told that you're losing your job. It's an awful experience, and hardly a laughing matter.

Unless you make it one.

Just ask Joshua Jack, who, in 2019, was working as an advertising copywriter for FBC, an advertising agency. But one day, he got the email. It told him to show up the next day for a "serious" meeting with HR -- and that he didn't have to come alone. Losing your job is difficult, and under local law, employers have to make certain accommodations for those receiving the bad news. One of those accommodations is that the impacted employee (that's HR-speak for "fired person") can bring a shoulder to cry on. Specifically, per the BBC, "the human resources department at FCB New Zealand encouraged [Jack' to bring a 'support person' to help cushion the blow, an option that is legally required in New Zealand."

Jack was sure that the meeting would be his final one at FCB, but he must not have been too upset by the news. While most people would bring a friend or relative to the meeting (or go it alone), Jack decided to do something different. Here's a picture from the meeting, below.