It’s not uncommon for bosses to take employee resignations personally, and their reactions often reveal how they view their workers. A recent example of this was shared on Threads, where a post ignited discussions about toxic workplace environments and management behaviors.
The post featured a screenshot of a boss’s message directed at three employees who had resigned, expressing frustration. The boss called the resignations “outrageous” and insisted the company provided “fair wages,” while accusing the departing employees of being “selfish.”
Post by @quitbytextView on Threads
The caption accompanying the screenshot read, “Nothing says you have to give notice. He must not understand that.” This prompted others to share their own experiences with difficult bosses and toxic work environments.
One person recounted, “I gave a month’s notice to my boss in Florida, and she told me I couldn’t leave until they found my replacement. She was then out for two weeks. I had to go to my GM to tell him I’m leaving on the day I said, and he agreed.” Another added, “People don’t quit jobs; they quit bosses. This man doesn’t see he is the problem. I quit my last job with a week and a half notice; they told me I could just make that my last day—so I did.”
A commenter described a challenging experience, stating that they were laid off from their first job and had given two weeks’ notice at their third. However, their second boss was abusive both financially and emotionally, which led them to find their third job and quit without notice. During a leave for severe uterine fibroids that caused anemia, they were forced to attend training and rearrange furniture. When they felt too weak and requested to go home, a huge fit was thrown by management before they were allowed to leave.
Another shared that, upon retirement, a big pharma company struggled to determine who should receive their laptop. Several weeks after their departure, a box was promised for returning the laptop, but it was never sent. Since the laptop contained proprietary information, it couldn’t be kept. Two months later, the laptop was returned to their former boss during a luncheon held in their honor, transferring the responsibility back to the boss.
This post has highlighted how prevalent toxic management practices are and has given voice to those who have faced similar workplace challenges.