“How long have you been working for the company?”/“Ever since the boss threatened to fire me.”

An old joke has a new company employee ask an old company employee, “How long have you been working here?” The old employee responds, “Ever since they threatened to fire me.” (That is, the old employee had tried to avoid work.) The joke has been printed on many images, including a 1989 Frank and Ernest comic strip by Bob Thaves (1924-2006).
 
The office joke is an old standard. “How long have you worked at the Swivel company?”/“Ever since old Swivel threatened to fire me” was printed in the Los Angeles (CA) Times on November 21, 1927.
       
   
Newspapers.com
21 November 1927, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “Cheerful Chaff” by TImes Readers, pt. 1, pg. 14, col. 1:
“How long have you worked at the Swivel company?”
“Ever since old Swivel threatened to fire me.”
Mabel Richmond, 4949 Highland View.
 
Newspapers.com
1 March 1929, Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent, “Post-Tonic,” pg. 6, col. 3:
“Young lady, how long have you been working around here?”
“Ever since the boss threatened to fire me.”
 
Newspapers.com
3 May 1930, The Bee (Danville, VA), “Scoop’s Colyum,” pg. 4, col. 4:
Harold—How long have you been working for the firm?
Gladys—Ever since the boss threatened to fire me.
 
13 August 1931,The Wall Street Journal (New York, NY), “PEPPER and Salt,” pg. 8, col. 5:
“How long have you been working for this company?”
“Ever since they threatened to fire me!”
 
Google Books
Biscuits, Fleas, and Pump Handles
BY Zig Ziglar
Dallas, TX: Update
1974
Pg. 255:
When asked how long he had been working for his company, his reply was a classic “Ever since they threatened to fire me.”
 
Newspapers.com
13 October 1978, The Argus (Rock Island, IL), “Donald Duck” comic strip, pg. 20, col. 5:
“HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING FOR UNCLE SCROOGE?”
“EVER SINCE HE THREATENED TO FIRE ME!”
   
Newspapers.com
19 March 1983, Lead (SD) Daily Call, “Riddles ‘n Giggles,” pg. 7, col. 7:
TED: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING HERE?
ED:  EVER SINCE THE BOSS THREATENED TO FIRE ME.
 
Newspapers.com
11 August 1989. York (PA) Dispatch, “Frank & Ernest” comic strip by Bob Thaves, pg. D15, col. 1:
“HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING FOR THE COMPANY?”
“EVER SINCE THEY THREATENED TO FIRE ME!”
     
Google Books
The Bathroom Joke Book
By Russ Edwards
Saddle River, NJ: Red-Letter Press
1993
Pg. ?:
Conversation by the water cooler: “By the way, Joe, how long have you been working here?” “Ever since they threatened to fire me!”
 
Google Books
Trump:
How to Get Rich
By Donald J. Trump with Meredith McIver
New York, NY: Random House
2004
Pg. 30:
Question: “How long have you been working here?” Answer: “Ever since they threatened to fire me.”
 
Twitter
FunnyOneLiners
@Funnyoneliners
Ernest asks Frank how long he has been working for the company. “Ever since they threatened to fire me.”
RT @webgeekcom
3:53 PM · Jan 27, 2010·Twitter Web Client
 
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/Peakey0823 May 12, 2018
A coworker is showing a new hire around.
A coworker is showing the latest company hire around the office. “How long have you worked here?” the new hire asks. “Ever since they threatened to fire me,” the coworker answers.
     
Facebook
Joke Of The Day
May 24, 2021 at 6:23 PM ·
Working At the Office
Business Jokes
Submitted by merk
“How long have you been working at that office?”
“Ever since they threatened to fire me.”
 
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/crazyfortaco May 25, 2021
“How long have you been working at that office?”
“Ever since they threatened to fire me.”