'I quit, don't call me': Teen worker quits after being threatened by boss for seeking "optional" urgent medical care

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Mar 7, 2023 12:00 PM EST

This boss threatened their teen worker and accused them of job abandonment after they sought urgent medical care for a serious infection that couldn't be ignored.

There's this thing about the presence of the word "urgent" when it comes to seeking urgent medical care, which denotes a certain pressing need to take care of a medical need that can't be delayed. It doesn't matter what obligations or other engagements you might have, your health comes first, and you owe it to yourself to make sure of that.

So, drop that shift and take care of yourself. Your boss won't be there to hold your hand or pay your wages if your medical emergency turns into a lasting disability or chronic problem; in fact, if they're the type that won't understand the absence in the first place, they'll probably fire you for that "inconvenience to their business" down the road anyways.

Keep reading for screenshots of the exchange that was posted to Reddit's r/antiwork subreddit and a selection of readers' reactions. For more, check out this worker who faced backlash from their immature boss after handing in their notice.