The Bad Hire Podcast

Ken Monroe
  • 4.9 (8)
  • Careers
  • Updated Weekly

The best stories about the worst employees. Hosted by Ken Monroe, CEO of Bchex, The Bad Hire Podcast unpacks the funniest, strangest, and most shocking hiring stories from offices, job sites, and teams everywhere. From outrageous résumé lies to first-day meltdowns, these tales will make you laugh, cringe, and say, 'there's no way that's true.' Not just for HR or recruiters — it's for anyone who's worked with that coworker or made a hire they'll never forget.

  1. 4d ago

    She Faked Her Child’s Death for Money

    What do you do when an employee tells everyone she adopted a child, lost everything in a house fire, and then tragically lost the child — only for HR to discover that none of it ever happened? In Episode 48 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Nathan, and Kylie break down another round of unbelievable workplace stories — from a new employee lighting a cigarette next to 10,000 liters of acetone to a worker who leads police on a high-speed chase and decides the best place to hide is his own office. But one story takes things to another level. A well-liked warehouse employee convinces her coworkers to donate money after a supposed house fire. Weeks later, she tells them her adopted child has died, and they rally around her again. Then HR uncovers the truth: there was no adoption, no fire, and no child. You’ll hear: – A new hire who lights a cigarette next to 10,000 liters of acetone – An employee who publicly trashes his new company on his first day – Jason Bivins on a high-performing recruiter who becomes toxic to everyone around her – A Subway manager who catches two employees stealing in two completely different ways – A new hire who ignores safety policy and sends a semi-trailer sliding off the dock – An employee who fabricates an adoption, house fire, and child’s death to collect money from coworkers – A drunk new hire who shows up 12 hours early for his first shift – An employee who leads police on a high-speed chase straight back to work – A workplace situation where red flag after red flag eventually leads to an uninvited cross-country trip Key Takeaways: • Safety training only works when employees actually follow it. • A high performer can still be destructive to the culture around them. • Early red flags can become much bigger problems when they form a pattern. • Trust and compassion can unfortunately be exploited. • Past experience doesn’t give someone permission to ignore company policy. 💸 Think you’ve heard worse? Submit your Bad Hire story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. ⸻ 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 to employee monitoring—BChex has you covered. www.bchex.io — 🎙️ Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.com

    She Faked Her Child’s Death for Money

  2. Sep 2

    She Faked a Carjacking to Get Out of Work

    What do you do when an employee calls in claiming she was just carjacked and needs the entire week off… only for her boss to call her actual phone 30 seconds later and hear, “Hey, I’m driving. Who’s this?” In Episode 47 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Morgan, and Nathan break down another round of unbelievable workplace stories — from an employee who intentionally shot himself with a nail gun because of a wasp to a senior developer caught downloading five years of company source code onto his personal USB drive. The Bad Hire - Episode 47 - Video .txt This episode has fake emergencies, terrible judgment, security disasters, and hiring lessons that prove sometimes the truth is stranger than anything you could make up. You’ll hear: – A production worker who shot himself in the hand with a nail gun trying to kill a wasp – A client referral who conveniently left out a serious felony conviction – An employee who faked an entire carjacking to get a week off – Alexandra’s perspective on why broken hiring processes create bad hires – A Sonic employee who handed a customer’s used drink directly to a health inspector – An IT employee who dropped a monitor, then cursed out his manager before the manager could even react – Judith’s reminder of why you should never skip that final reference check – A senior developer caught copying five years of proprietary source code onto a personal USB drive – Why background checks can uncover information an interview never will From ridiculous split-second decisions to potential threats to an entire company’s intellectual property, Episode 47 is a reminder that hiring is about much more than finding someone who interviews well. 💸 Think you’ve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: • A great interview can’t reveal everything about a candidate. • Reference checks are worth finishing — even when the first two are perfect. • Security policies only work when employees actually follow them. • How someone reacts to a mistake can reveal more than the mistake itself. • Strong hiring processes require both HR expertise and department-level knowledge. ⸻ 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 to employee monitoring—BChex has you covered. www.bchex.io — 🎙️ Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.com

    She Faked a Carjacking to Get Out of Work

  3. Aug 26

    He Blew $4,000 on the Company Card His First Day

    What do you do when a brand-new employee gets a company credit card on his first day… disappears at lunch… and comes back with $4,000 worth of suits, ties, and shoes? In Episode 46 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Emma, and Kylie break down another round of unbelievable workplace stories — from an employee with an impossible streak of family emergencies to a seven-figure executive who simply never showed up for his first day. This episode proves bad hires can happen at every level. You’ll hear: – A new manager hit with one unbelievable excuse after another – A recruiter’s experience inside an incredibly toxic staffing company – An employee who accidentally exposed confidential company work on social media – A new hire who spent $4,000 on clothes using his company card – A seven-figure executive who ghosted his own welcome event – An employee who went to lunch, went home, and casually returned days later – A publishing employee who stole more than 1,000 unpublished manuscripts – Two retail employees accused of stealing nearly $44,000 in merchandise – And an employee who paid to run a background check on his own manager From ridiculous first-day decisions to sophisticated schemes that lasted years, these stories show just how unpredictable hiring can get. 💸 Think you’ve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: • A great interview doesn’t guarantee a great employee. • Clear policies mean nothing if employees choose to ignore them. • Bad hires can create security risks far beyond poor performance. • Senior-level hires can flame out just as spectacularly as entry-level ones. • Sometimes the biggest red flags appear immediately. ⸻ 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 to employee monitoring—BChex has you covered. www.bchex.io — 🎙️ Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.com

    He Blew $4,000 on the Company Card His First Day

  4. Aug 19

    Her Text to Her Boss Got Her Fired

    What do you do when an employee going through an incredibly difficult time starts crossing the line with her much-younger manager? In Episode 45 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Morgan, and Corey break down another round of unbelievable workplace stories — including a $1.7 million fraud scheme, an employee with increasingly ridiculous excuses for being hours late, and a new hire who takes her relationship with her manager way too far. The stories range from funny and bizarre to genuinely difficult situations where compassion and accountability collide. You’ll hear: A new hire who misrepresented whether she could physically handle the job Candidates claiming degrees they hadn’t actually earned yet A state employee who helped funnel $1.7 million through fraudulent claims Why one recruiter always calls the third reference An employee who blamed her GPS for being hours late every day An employee claiming her catalytic converter was stolen — while working for an EV manufacturer A CEO whose compassion for a struggling employee eventually came back to hurt him A grieving employee who crossed a major boundary with her younger manager A teacher who completely ghosted before his first day — then filed for unemployment These aren’t just crazy stories. They’re lessons about verification, boundaries, accountability, compassion, and what happens when organizations ignore warning signs. 💸 Think you’ve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: Compassion and professional boundaries have to coexist. References are only useful if you actually call them. Employees with financial authority still need oversight. Repeated excuses eventually become a pattern. A great résumé doesn’t guarantee a great hire. ⸻ 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 to employee monitoring—BChex has you covered. www.bchex.io — 🎙️ Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.com

    Her Text to Her Boss Got Her Fired

  5. Aug 12

    He Planted a Digital Bomb Before Getting Fired

    What happens when a software developer spends years secretly building a “kill switch” designed to cripple the company the moment he’s fired? In Episode 44 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Nathan, and Morgan react to some of the most unbelievable hiring stories yet—from a programmer who sabotaged his employer with malicious code, to fake nurses who fooled healthcare systems, and a CEO who finally fired the most entitled employee he’d ever managed. These stories prove that hiring the wrong person can cost far more than just a paycheck. You’ll hear: A developer who planted malicious code that activated after he was terminatedA CEO’s most satisfying firing after years of entitlementA fake nurse who worked at more than 40 healthcare facilities using stolen credentialsAnother healthcare worker who used someone else’s license number to get hiredWhy proper background checks and credential verification matter more than ever These aren’t just crazy stories—they’re reminders that trust, verification, and accountability protect organizations from catastrophic mistakes. 💸 Think you’ve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: Insider threats can be more dangerous than outside attacks.Great technical skills don’t replace integrity.Credential verification saves companies from massive liability.Hiring shortcuts can have life-changing consequences.Every organization needs strong hiring and background check processes. ⸻ 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 to employee monitoring—BChex has you covered. www.bchex.io — 🎙️ Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.com

    He Planted a Digital Bomb Before Getting Fired

  6. Aug 5

    She Stole for 10 Years Before Anyone Noticed

    What do you do when your top employee disappears without a trace… only to discover weeks later that he was secretly in witness protection? In Episode 43 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Nathan, and Morgan react to some of the wildest workplace stories yet — from a trusted employee who quietly stole hundreds of thousands from a newspaper, to a disappearing salesman whose real identity shocked everyone, to multiple real business owners sharing the worst hires they’ve ever experienced. This episode is packed with fraud, unbelievable disappearances, hiring lessons, and behind-the-scenes stories from business leaders who’ve lived through it. You’ll hear: – A business manager who embezzled money for nearly a decade – A salesman who suddenly disappeared… because he was in witness protection – A law firm owner on learning to become a better manager – An employee secretly skimming affiliate commissions – A bookkeeper who stole $2.1 million using a church member’s identity – A communications executive caught stealing coworkers’ credit cards – A first-day employee who spent an hour on speakerphone during training These aren’t just unbelievable stories—they’re reminders that trust must be earned, oversight matters, and sometimes the craziest hires aren’t who you expect. 💸 Think you’ve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: • Trust should always be paired with accountability. • Internal controls can prevent devastating fraud. • Great résumés don’t guarantee great employees. • Leadership requires self-awareness and constant growth. • Sometimes the strangest stories are completely true. ⸻ 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 to employee monitoring—BChex has you covered. www.bchex.io — 🎙️ Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.com

    She Stole for 10 Years Before Anyone Noticed

  7. Jul 22

    She Used 20 Fake Names to Get Hired

    How does someone use 20 aliases, seven Social Security numbers, and fake credentials to get hired over and over again? In Episode 42 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Morgan, and Emma react to some of the most unbelievable hiring failures yet—including a fake nurse who treated thousands of patients, a hospital employee who stole millions in medical supplies, and a school district that knowingly hired a teacher awaiting trial on multiple felony charges. From shocking fraud to failures in background screening, these stories reveal what can happen when hiring safeguards break down. You’ll hear: A fake nurse who used stolen identities to work across multiple statesA hospital employee who stole millions in medical suppliesA police department evidence manager stealing time from taxpayersA school district hiring someone awaiting felony chargesA security company sabotaged from the inside by its own schedulerWhy verification matters more than ever in today’s hiring environment 💸 Have your own unbelievable hiring story? Submit it at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: Verify credentials—not just license numbers.Never skip your hiring process because you’re under pressure.Internal sabotage can be just as damaging as external fraud.Small hiring shortcuts can lead to massive consequences.Strong background screening protects employees, customers, and organizations.⸻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 to employee monitoring—BChex has you covered.www.bchex.io—🎙️ Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.com

    She Used 20 Fake Names to Get Hired

  8. Jul 15

    The Worst Fake Résumé We’ve Ever Seen

    What happens when a “perfect” candidate can’t even flip a piece of toast? In Episode 41 of The Bad Hire, Ken, Morgan, and Emma react to another round of unbelievable listener-submitted hiring disasters—from fake résumés and sleeping employees to toxic managers and candidates who lie about where they’re from. This episode is packed with stories that prove a polished résumé means nothing if the skills—and character—aren’t real. You’ll hear: A chef whose entire résumé was fabricated An employee who literally slept under her desk A manager who promoted himself while the real boss was away A fake local who got caught in seconds during an interview An employee who disappeared after inventing excuse after excuse A culture-killing salesperson everyone was warned not to hire Every story comes with practical lessons about hiring, leadership, and why skipping your hiring process almost always comes back to bite you. 💸 Think you’ve heard worse? Submit your story at TheBadHire.com for a chance to win $10,000. Key Takeaways: Skills should always be verified—not assumed. Great résumés don’t replace real assessments. Character issues reveal themselves quickly. Following your hiring process protects everyone. One bad hire can impact an entire team. ⸻ 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 to employee monitoring—BChex has you covered. www.bchex.io — 🎙️ Submit your own bad hire story for a chance to win $10,000 at TheBadHire.com

    The Worst Fake Résumé We’ve Ever Seen
See All (49)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

The best stories about the worst employees. Hosted by Ken Monroe, CEO of Bchex, The Bad Hire Podcast unpacks the funniest, strangest, and most shocking hiring stories from offices, job sites, and teams everywhere. From outrageous résumé lies to first-day meltdowns, these tales will make you laugh, cringe, and say, 'there's no way that's true.' Not just for HR or recruiters — it's for anyone who's worked with that coworker or made a hire they'll never forget.

Information

  • Creator
    Ken Monroe
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ken Monroe
  • Show Website
    The Bad Hire Podcast