# He Faked His Mom’s Death to Get Out of Work

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bad-hire-podcast-7361470/he-faked-his-mom-s-death-to-get-out-of-work
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bad-hire-podcast-7361470/he-faked-his-mom-s-death-to-get-out-of-work.md
Podcast: [The Bad Hire Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bad-hire-podcast-7361470)
Published: 2026-06-25T16:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebadhire/episodes/He-Faked-His-Moms-Death-to-Get-Out-of-Work-e3l78ed
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/105bd3598/podcast/play/121921421/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-5-24%2F426732502-44100-2-5605c7c0e75aa.m4a
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-bad-hire-podcast-7361470/episodes/he-faked-his-mom-s-death-to-get-out-of-work
Duration seconds: 1822

## Resource

What happens when an employee claims his brother died, his mom passed away, his car was stolen, and he got COVID multiple times… only for everyone to discover it was all a lie? In Episode 38 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Morgan, and Emma react to listener-submitted stories involving fake credentials, viral firings, toxic high performers, and one employee whose excuses became more unbelievable with every passing week. This episode also features leadership expert Robert “Ducey” Staub, who shares a cautionary tale about bypassing the hiring process and bringing in a toxic employee who nearly turned an entire team against him. You’ll hear: – The student newspaper that exposed a principal’s fake degrees – A viral Cloudflare termination that sparked internet outrage – Why diploma mills continue fooling employers – A leadership expert’s biggest hiring mistake – The dangers of hiring based on instinct alone – An employee whose lies spiraled completely out of control These stories aren’t just entertaining—they’re lessons in accountability, integrity, and why hiring shortcuts rarely end well. 💸 Think you’ve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: • Character issues eventually reveal themselves. • Verification matters more than assumptions. • Toxic high performers can damage entire teams. • Hiring shortcuts often create expensive problems. • The more lies someone tells, the harder they are to maintain. ⸻ Connect with Us: 🌐 Website: TheBadHire.com 📧 Email: team@thebadhire.com 📱 Instagram: @thebadhirepod 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/thebadhirepod 🎵 TikTok: @thebadhirepod 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thebadhire — Sponsored by BChex: Need better background checks? BChex makes hiring safer, faster, and simpler. From visitor management…

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