The job market is rough and chaotic, but your mental health, dignity, and boundaries are always worth fighting for. You might not always be able to inspire positive change at your toxic workplace, but you can decide that enough is enough and leave a truly horrible situation.
We are featuring some of the most dramatic and jaw-dropping stories of employees quitting from across the internet. These workers shared the last straw that finally forced them to say “bye” to the jobs and bosses they hated, and their brutal honesty is refreshing. Scroll down to read about their experiences. And if you needed a sign to finally prioritize your well-being and work-life balance, this is it.
#1
It was actually a job I loved. But when I asked for a raise they said it was plenty already for a woman. I didn't stay much longer.
51points
#2
When I found an office memo to my boss advising that the male paralegals who had less experience and education than I did made more money. Particularly [trashy] because we were the labor and employment section! When I turned in my notice, my boss said why didn't you just talk to me I would have made it right. I said he should have made it right when he saw the memo.
47points
#3
I was a senior director at a large insurance company. They pushed me out for a younger guy. They changed my role to a more operational management role. My bosses exact words were, "Some of your staff works M-F, some T-S, Some W-S, Some T-M, etc, some start at 5:00am, some start at 6:00am, some start at all the way up to 1:00pm. And you'll be expected to be here when your staff is here."
He literally gave me a seven day a week, 18 hour a day, job, all with a small raise.
My lawyer called it constructive termination. Basically, they gave me an undoable job to get me to quit. I sue, and I won.
He literally gave me a seven day a week, 18 hour a day, job, all with a small raise.
My lawyer called it constructive termination. Basically, they gave me an undoable job to get me to quit. I sue, and I won.
Report
47points
As Forbes stresses, toxic bosses who create corrosive workplace cultures have a massive impact on worker health, morale, and organizational performance.
“Poor leadership, bullying, retaliation and cultures of fear consistently emerge as the central drivers of toxic work environments. And the stress they generate is not just unpleasant—it is biologically harmful. Chronic stress has been linked to anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, immune dysfunction and even premature mortality,” Forbes warns.
Not all toxic managers wear their hearts on their sleeves. Some red flags are very subtle. Toxic bosses can seem charismatic, warm, and even supportive at first. Especially toward employees who comply. However, they can become hostile toward workers who “raise ethical concerns, question broken commitments or resist unfair treatment—such as selective resource removal or inconsistent standards.”
#4
I was working for an ad agency wearing many hats: art direction, copy, IT services, mentoring younger staff, etc. I was underpaid to start, for all the jobs I was doing and I hadn’t had a raise in over 7 years. The agency and its clients were very happy with the work I was doing for them, and I often received compliments from them (clients rarely give compliments). I asked my supervisor for a raise, and he said he’d have to ask the higher-ups. He got back to me a few days later saying that his boss had declined my request, adding that she said, “For that kind of money I could hire a *real* art director.”
My resignation was on his desk the next day.
My resignation was on his desk the next day.
41points
#5
6 weeks after my son was born I was written up for closing my door to pump breast milk on my lunch break.
39points
#6
I worked at a barn training horses.
Probably when the horses went from being calm to freaking out when I raised my hand in a matter of weeks.
I later walked in on my boss hitting a horse in the nose repeatedly because it didn't do what he want.
Cops were called, I left.
Probably when the horses went from being calm to freaking out when I raised my hand in a matter of weeks.
I later walked in on my boss hitting a horse in the nose repeatedly because it didn't do what he want.
Cops were called, I left.
39points
To be completely clear, everyone’s financial situation, mental health, family situation, and boundaries are different. There are no easy answers when it comes to making such important decisions as whether or not to quit your job. That being said, we are all responsible for setting, communicating, protecting, and enforcing our boundaries regarding our work-life balance. If you are watching your health go downhill due to chronic work-related stress and horrible management, it is time to make a change. And yet, this is easier said than done.
If you have decent alternative companies you can realistically jump to, some savings to act as a buffer, and enough energy to power through (seemingly endless) job interviews, you can quit a truly toxic job. Not everyone is so lucky. Many workers lack the savings, job prospects, and energy to upskill and leave workplaces and bosses that are beyond toxic. The result is, unfortunately, deteriorating physical and mental health, burnout, a lack of purpose, low motivation, and worse job performance.
#7
I was working at my job for about a year when I got the opportunity to take a vacation with my good friend paying for it. I went to my supervisor and told her about the trip nearly 3 months in advance. She seemed excited for me, went over some dates on the calendar about it and she told me to buy my plane tickets.
So, I bought the plane tickets, filled out my official time off request form. Next thing I know, I was called into the office by the manager of the company. Told my job would be terminated if I took the vacation. Supervisor was in the office the whole time. She said to my face that I never spoke to her about the trip, that she had no idea about any of it and that she never told me to buy the plane tickets and that she would never have approved anything like that. Obviously, she was covering [for herself] in front of her boss but come on. I can't stand supervisors who won't stand up for their employees.
Long story short, I had the trip of a life time and I'm still looking for a new job but hoping things will get better soon.
Before I left, my supervisor had to nerve to ask me to bring her back a souvenir, and even made specific requests about what kind of souvenirs she wanted!
So, I bought the plane tickets, filled out my official time off request form. Next thing I know, I was called into the office by the manager of the company. Told my job would be terminated if I took the vacation. Supervisor was in the office the whole time. She said to my face that I never spoke to her about the trip, that she had no idea about any of it and that she never told me to buy the plane tickets and that she would never have approved anything like that. Obviously, she was covering [for herself] in front of her boss but come on. I can't stand supervisors who won't stand up for their employees.
Long story short, I had the trip of a life time and I'm still looking for a new job but hoping things will get better soon.
Before I left, my supervisor had to nerve to ask me to bring her back a souvenir, and even made specific requests about what kind of souvenirs she wanted!
33points
#8
I went to work feeling off, and by lunchtime, I was spending more time throwing up than actually working. I had the flu. I told my supervisor that I was too sick to work and she told me NO, I had to stay. I looked at her like she had two heads and walked out. I never saw her again. I picked up my last paycheck after I recovered and had a new job the following week. This was my first 9-5 out of high school.
32points
#9
Oh this is a good one. I worked at a Dairy Queen in 2019 and I was treated like garbage. The place was disgusting and I was the only person who tried to keep it clean, I mean ice cream behind the counters, food scraps everywhere and in the 4 months I worked there they never changed the fryer grease. There were flies EVERYWHERE.
But that’s not the reason I quit.
See, I’m transgender and my supervisor HATED it. She would misgender me, call me by my deadname and generally just humiliate me in front of customers and coworkers.
The last straw for me was when she very brazenly and very loudly asked me, while I was helping a customer “Hey [my deadname] can you go get some more cheesecake squares from the freezer.” I calmly but sternly reminded her that my name was Ben and I was a man.
She just scoffed and said even louder “Well then, if you’re a man then [prove it]!” (She was easily 40 years old and at the time I was 18.)
My blood literally boiled and I took off my hat and pulled off my work shirt, (I was wearing a normal T-shirt under it) and tossed them on the ground. I said “I quit.” And walked right out.
My supervisor called me a day later trying to get me to come in and sign a write up for “insubordination” and I just told her to shove it and hung up. Nothing ever came of it and I don’t regret anything.
But that’s not the reason I quit.
See, I’m transgender and my supervisor HATED it. She would misgender me, call me by my deadname and generally just humiliate me in front of customers and coworkers.
The last straw for me was when she very brazenly and very loudly asked me, while I was helping a customer “Hey [my deadname] can you go get some more cheesecake squares from the freezer.” I calmly but sternly reminded her that my name was Ben and I was a man.
She just scoffed and said even louder “Well then, if you’re a man then [prove it]!” (She was easily 40 years old and at the time I was 18.)
My blood literally boiled and I took off my hat and pulled off my work shirt, (I was wearing a normal T-shirt under it) and tossed them on the ground. I said “I quit.” And walked right out.
My supervisor called me a day later trying to get me to come in and sign a write up for “insubordination” and I just told her to shove it and hung up. Nothing ever came of it and I don’t regret anything.
29points
Have you ever quit your job before? If so, what was the last straw that finally forced you to make such a big decision?
Who are the most toxic bosses and colleagues that you have ever worked with? How do you protect your boundaries and mental health at work?
What advice would you give to young people who are finishing up school or college and are just now entering the job market? What can they do to not just survive but also thrive?
#10
Hired someone to do a job they could not do. But because they were friends with the boss I had to do mine and the other person’s.
Got [reprimanded] because my productivity started to lag.
Took me better than two days to find another job and walked.
They mailed me my last check, which I sat on for about 6 months before cashing it, knowing it would mess up there payroll ledger.
Got [reprimanded] because my productivity started to lag.
Took me better than two days to find another job and walked.
They mailed me my last check, which I sat on for about 6 months before cashing it, knowing it would mess up there payroll ledger.
27points
#11
8 years I was at my old job and was there from the beginning when it was a small 4 man operation before we was bought out and the team grew to 30 members.
I was the sole member of my design team that kept that side of the business afloat during COVID while everyone else was on paid furlough. I gave up 3 weeks holiday just to make sure people kept there jobs and the workload stayed constant.
However the final straw was I was quite ill (sickness bug) and requested to work from home could not face the travel and sat in a warm office all day. I was told you either take the day off sick or come into the office sick so I chose to take the day off.
I chose to go in the next day still abit rough but I could manage it. A member of my design team was off so I asked where he was and I was told oh he’s sick he’s been working from home all week. Well I kicked up a fuss about it and handed my notice in.
I was also docked a days wage for being off that day even though no one else had been docked for being off sick during that month.
I was the sole member of my design team that kept that side of the business afloat during COVID while everyone else was on paid furlough. I gave up 3 weeks holiday just to make sure people kept there jobs and the workload stayed constant.
However the final straw was I was quite ill (sickness bug) and requested to work from home could not face the travel and sat in a warm office all day. I was told you either take the day off sick or come into the office sick so I chose to take the day off.
I chose to go in the next day still abit rough but I could manage it. A member of my design team was off so I asked where he was and I was told oh he’s sick he’s been working from home all week. Well I kicked up a fuss about it and handed my notice in.
I was also docked a days wage for being off that day even though no one else had been docked for being off sick during that month.
27points
#12
They fired my entire support team and still expected the work to get done without any resources.
26points
#13
I absorbed the duties of three other workers after they left. I approached the owner letting him know how much I was saving him in salaries, so requested a very reasonable raise. In exchange, I would continue to do the same work. He blew his top. He was even angrier when I quit without notice and he had to hire 4 people.
26points
#14
The final straw was a pay cut, after getting more work dumped on me.
26points
#15
Caught the owner shorting my sales commissions, and the [jerk] even admitted it. Walked away after 7 years.
25points
#16
I had a miscarriage that week, which the boss knew about as I provided a doctor's note as to why I would need the next day off unscheduled. Two days later, I'm on break at work, and my fiance came by to have lunch with me; we shared a hug and a kiss, and before I knew it, the boss was out in the lobby and chewing [me] out for "not presenting yourself in a professional manner" while wearing my Burger King uniform.
I walked out. We left Burger King right there, and went and indulged ourselves with a nice steak dinner.
I walked out. We left Burger King right there, and went and indulged ourselves with a nice steak dinner.
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25points
#17
Not work related final straw, but my mom [passed away]. About a week later I realized I did NOT want to spend any more of my life working for these nasty people. The life’s too short straw.
24points
#18
I worked at a call center. We didn't have names there, other then just when you introduced yourself to the client. To the management we were numbers. The quality reports, the break control sheats, in everything we were identified by our number, not by our name. One day my boss summoned me. A client that I had helped a few weeks before took the time to write to the company (it was a big big company) praising my job. I was given a copy of the compliment. Where the client put my name those [jerks] scratched it and wrote my number. I turned my resignation the next day.
23points
#19
Not me, but my dad, back in 1999, he was a mechanic at a dealership, now, my mom had just given birth to my little sister, and she, myself and younger brother got very sick, my mom had it so bad she couldn't get off the couch, (I want to say the flu, but I'm not sure.) My dad asked for a couple days off to take care of all of us and his boss, the service manager told him he had his priorities wrong. He quit very shortly after that.
22points
#20
I was breaking up yet another fight in the school library when the principal walked past, and didn't even look in my direction. I realized one of these days some kid is going to beat the [hell] out of me and she won't stop them.
Broke my contract and turned in my two weeks that day.
Broke my contract and turned in my two weeks that day.
21points