Some jobs give us money and financial independence while some we take up because they give us the opportunity to follow our passions. But there are a few that are so toxic, that they negatively affect our mental health or burn us out. Twitter user Jayde Powell recently gave a shoutout to all those who left their jobs due to this reason saying that it requires bravery and confidence to prioritize our personal well-being.
She invited everyone to share their stories by adding, “we always tend to focus on the celebration of getting a new job, which is great, but let’s normalize celebrating when you leave a job that is no longer serving you.”
raise your hand if you have left a job because of a toxic environment and/or manager.
🙋🏾♀️
— jayde i. powell (@jaydeipowell) August 23, 2020
To those who can’t afford to quit she said, “one more thing—being able to leave a job when you want to is a privilege. So, for anyone that wants to leave their work environment but can’t (yet), don’t worry. a new opportunity will come when it’s supposed to.”
People narrated stories of being overworked, not given leaves for family emergencies, being asked to wear heels, or treated poorly by toxic managers. A few found new jobs pretty soon and others didn’t but all of them reiterated the fact that they didn’t regret leaving their negative workplace in the slightest.
I left a job in Jan and still haven’t been able to get a new one. My supervisor told me I wasn’t allowed to drink water or eat during the day during the holiday season to avoid having to use the bathroom. I got sick at work and had miss time (legally wasn’t allowed to return)
— dolphin90025🐬 (@dolphin90025) August 24, 2020
And he didn’t let me go to my other grandmothers funeral because it was busy season. When my second grandmother died he didn’t believe me and said “but your grandma already died” I got hives thinking about being there.Threw up from anxiety when I was there. Left w/out anotherjob
— dolphin90025🐬 (@dolphin90025) August 24, 2020
My last company wanted 60 hours of work in a 40 hour week. It’s so bad that the turnover rate was 3x’s the norm. I’m currently at a company where people stay. I’m supported and compensated fairly. pic.twitter.com/3F2vW1jj4y
— KozmicQueer (@kozmicg) August 23, 2020
Got a little job doing admin and payroll. Found myself doing managerial work without the title, benefits or pay. Asked to forgo overtime while working 12 hour days, working through lunch, working from home during sick days and vacations while making LESS than previous position. pic.twitter.com/erpsSPkNPD
— of Afro-Scientific Ascent (@Afro_Ascendant) August 23, 2020
My manager was a "girl boss" and a "best friend" who would call at 3 o'clock in the morning, beg me to come in on weekends and assign me to play the bad guy to other workers. When I left she was so angry that I "broke up our friendship" that she tried to prevent my transfer.
— of Afro-Scientific Ascent (@Afro_Ascendant) August 23, 2020
I worked at a high end retail store. They frequently made us clock out, lock the door, and make us do all the end of the day wrap up stuff – unpaid. Boss hauled all the women into a meeting and told us we had to stop wearing flats because flats made our calves look fat and dumpy
— Sarah Beth Gable (@PhDinProgress17) August 24, 2020
So even if you think this is reasonable, I’m talking full 8 hour shifts on our feet running from my department (2nd floor) down to the stock room in the basement multiple times a day. I was in so much pain most days I could barely get to the subway to get home.
— Sarah Beth Gable (@PhDinProgress17) August 24, 2020
When i quit my boss laughed at me and told me they wouldn’t take me back if I failed to get a new job (he assumed I would). I was employed within a week for twice the pay and worked at that job happily for two and a half years
— Sarah Beth Gable (@PhDinProgress17) August 24, 2020
My real first corporate job became so stressful after me and my boss got into after she told me to wash the dishes. We ain’t like each other that cause I straight up told her ass no. She started retaliating and doing petty shit. Had several meetings with HR. The HR lady was black
— Ms. Sassy (@Danifresh89) August 23, 2020
and became my mentor and pretty much told me nothing was going to be done because she was cool with the CEO! I started getting migraines every time I touched the workplace. I knew it was my time to go. I did curse her ass out before I left and I never once regretted it.
— Ms. Sassy (@Danifresh89) August 23, 2020
We were understaffed you the point that working a double was basically expected twice a week at the minimum. Got suspended for “excessive call offs” when I had 2 deaths in a span of 8 days in my family followed up with me catching bronchitis. Had a new job 2 weeks later. pic.twitter.com/AGld39OrZ9
— Chef Negrotaku (@CaptainSageAHo) August 24, 2020
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My manager promised to teach me how to design jewelry for her store. Would have been my first art job, was really hopeful. She ended up wanting me to take classes online on my own time while working 40+ hrs a week on her website and YouTube.
— TheMeekWarrior (@WarriorMeek) August 24, 2020
Accused me of stealing money then accused me of slacking off and using my “mental issues” as an excuse. One day he was light “you and I need to have a chat” and I said nope I’m quitting
— Madeleine (@madde_rose) August 24, 2020
My last manager was the worst. I absolutely loved my coworkers because we all worked very well together but this manager was a lazy POS and made fun of me being overweight, thought I was lying about going to school and tried to call me out on shit that wasn’t my fault.
— Eric supports BLM (@yeahkabud) August 24, 2020
My current job gives “titles” not promotions because they have never given out a raise or bonus once to any of us. I was made a lead which meant harder projects and more responsibilities for no benefit. We did however all get a 20% cut in pay bc of covid. I’m just about done.
— Steph 🌙 (@velociraptisart) August 24, 2020
🙋🏼♀️ I asked for a few days off to care for my mom after she got a major surgery to get her tumor/thyroid out and my boss said no and accused me of making up my moms cancer to get out of work. I quit on the spot
— 18+ Lara Lacey (@MissLaraLacey) August 24, 2020
🙋🏼♀️ I had a fantastic schedule and pay that allowed me to easily work on my art before I went freelance full time. Loved the work I was doing but I quit when my manager threw an object at me that hit the wall above my head and shouted F*CK YOU!
— Rio Burton (@RioBurtonArtist) August 24, 2020
I want to also add that he did this because he screwed something major up in a project, tried to blame it on me and then I provided evidence that he in fact screwed up. He got backed in a corner and had no more excuses for why he was such a fuck up lol
— Rio Burton (@RioBurtonArtist) August 24, 2020
Have you ever had to leave a role because of the office environment?