Update! 'I finally left [nightmare] workplace': Overworked IT employee shares how their final two weeks went at their toxic job after epically quitting

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Mar 31, 2023 10:00 AM EDT

When you are working in a toxic place, nothing is ever easy—that especially includes quitting. You either quit burning all the bridges behind you or you grit your teeth and try to leave in a way that keeps your professional status, even though your toxic managers and coworkers are making it super difficult. One IT employee needed to quit their toxic job, so they did just that. However, their last two week there were worst than heII. This was a long saga (see Part 1 and Part two) about quitting a very toxic work environment. 

After she put in her two weeks, her bosses immediately started bulling her into taking a consulting position. Maybe if she wasn't so miserable with them she would have done it, but she needed to get away from their toxicity asap so she refused. They kept bullying her and even tried threatening her with lawyers, but she stayed strong. She said it was the worst two weeks of her life, but she was finally able to leave! She is even considering blocking all her contacts from that job.

Read the entire ordeal and epic exit below. 

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  • 01
    Product - Posted by u/dazzledtamarind 7 hours ago Workplace from hell update, finally left, worst two weeks
    via u/flickr-ryan-lee
  • 02
    Font - So finally left workplace from hell, I can say last two weeks were a hell in themselves. Manager kept bugging me every 5 minutes to extend my notice another week and worst part is that it wasn't because of work but bc he had a vacation and trip that week. Everyday the harassment didn't stop. I told him I couldn't and he kept insisting to call my new employer. He ended canceling his trip.
    via u/dazzledtamarind
  • 03
    Font - They hired a temp which I'm pretty sure won't last or will burn him out like me. Manager is clueless and is already expecting temp to b everything IT up to network architect, etc which was the same w me. They expected me to be this unicorn and still pay low. Worst part is that it's not such a big place, but it's not a mom and pop. The reason this place is so scary is bc these ppl are pretty high up there. The main boss here maybe not, but his boss abroad pretty much knows presidents and h
    via u/dazzledtamarind
  • 04
    Font - I spent my last two fricken weeks documenting every single bit. Didn't sleep one night, slept till 2, 3 am every night for the two weeks, worked the weekends. I did not want to leave room open for sht coming my way.
    via u/dazzledtamarind
  • 05
    Font - I was also behind on my expense reports bc I hadn't submitted many as my expenses went directly to the cfo and they guy would fight back about every penny or halt my purchasing completely. Initially I had even started purchasing items w my money to avoid all these fights until I got a new job. Later I stopped and just stopped submitting the reports. But last days I submitted like crazy didn't want to leave room open for accusations of theft.
    via u/dazzledtamarind
  • 06
    Font - Finally completed everything in the last day. I was so tired and exhausted I ended bursting out in tears in an interview w HR and couldn't even control it. During this time lots of the "directors” or “vps" tried to get close to put themselves in a position to be able to contact me for help. How gossipy and trashy this place is, one of them called me on one weekend to get the scoop and about my new job, next day most ppl in the company all of them knew all the details, including the cfo. L
    via u/dazzledtamarind
  • 07
    Font - Next thing I know management is trying to make ppl sign work contracts in which they have consequences if break them and even when it ends they can't work for a competitor ever. As far as I know it got ugly w the ppl that they were trying to do this with. I seriously think this place would have no remorse in ruining ppls lives in the worst ways. Managers are in panic mode.
    via u/dazzledtamarind
  • 08
    Font - My manager is another clueless person. Given these circumstances I got myself a second number and blocked everyone I know still on the first. When ppl are im survival mode they will do crazy sht. One lady gave me so much work to complete for some huge project and while I could have not done it. I was trying to avoid more drama or them trying get their lawyer to sign some crazy consulting trap.
    via u/dazzledtamarind
  • 09
    Font - I think HR also told them of my crying breakdown, so they kind of held back in fear of some tragedy or legal action. Next day they were so "nice" and put their "weaponry" down as if finally would allow me to go freely. The lawyer also tried to be so nice.
    via u/dazzledtamarind
  • 10
    Font - So anyways I'm out from hell. I was their only IT resource for anything going from user support to network, servers, applications, cloud, you name it. And I wasn't even at that level of expertise. I used to be w a big IT dept and sold this off and was left as the only one. Whole other IT stayed with the other company. I wasn't given an option.
    via u/dazzledtamarind
  • 11
    Font - One of the crazy managers working in some project was already asking about where I'm staying positioning herself to knock at my door if she needs me. She doesn't have my address but knows the city I live in. Of course I won't open or will set a restraining if she ever tries that after I tell her I Won't help and warn her.
    via u/dazzledtamarind
  • 12
    Font - So yeah def don't want to do consulting for such a place. It eases my mind that finished. all documentation and handoff. That's a 5,6 ppl job and the manager still thinks it's a one person.
    via u/dazzledtamarind
  • 13
    Font - 1z1z2x2x3c3c4v4v - 6 hr. ago I spent my last two fricken weeks documenting every single bit. Didn't sleep one night, slept till 2, 3 am every night for the two weeks, worked the weekends. I did not want to leave room open for sht coming my way. WTF Bro. You were not obligated to do this. Once you leave, you are gone. No shit can come your way.
    via u/1z1z2x2x3c3c4v4v
  • 14
    Font - Dhaism 5 hr. ago . Yeah f that. If a company is respectful I will do everything I can, within reason, to make the transition smooth in my last weeks. This bullsit though? Naw, they get passwords and a see ya never. hands boss paper with global admin credentials "passwords are in $passwowrdmanager notes/documentation OneDrive/OneNote." and non-finalized are in my
    via u/Dhaism
  • 15
    Font - DaCozPuddingPop - 7 hr. ago Good on you for leaving with far better professionalism than most people would have. I would have ABSOLUTELY threatened a lawsuit for an unsafe work environment and just walked out. Glad you've gotten the hell out of there man.
    via u/DaCozPuddingPop
  • 16
    Font - Positive Bubbles. 5 hr. ago SOE Engineer I've learned even if people leave or stay, documentation doesn't always get read. I've been told alot to be autonomous constantly even if I ask a question once proving I've exhausted all other options yet they don't notice when I get asked to spoon- feed people..
    via u/PositiveBubbles
  • 17
    Font - There's definitely double standards in this industry and I was told in my case it's not cause I'm female, but I don't think it's conscious bias. Almost every job I've been in I've been Higher performer, and it really passes off brown nosers and insecure workers. So yeah, it sounds like you're a high performer who just gets more work the more you get done. I'm starting to work at a slower pace because I had covid 3 weeks ago. My health is important
    via u/PositiveBubbles
  • 18
    Font - Not YourNanny · 6 hr. ago . You give notice because it's the professional thing to do. But there's a limit to the value of that professionalism. First time they got out of line, I'd have told them if they did it again, I'd be gone. Second time, I'd be gone, on the spot.
    via u/NotYourNanny
  • 19
    Font - And rather than lie about where I was going, I'd tell them point blank, "I'm not telling you that, because it seems like you'll go out of your way to sabotage the new job. Don't bring it up again, and make certain nobody else does either, if you want the rest of my two weeks." On the other hand, from the sounds of it, I'd never have lasted long enough at the company to become that valuable to them anyway. I'm fairly picky about who I'll work for.
    via u/NotYourNanny
  • 20
    Font - malikto44 4 hr. ago . You have to learn when to push back. I learned this at a previous MSP job. After calls from users and the ex-boss contacting me afterwords demanding I come back in, I changed my cell number. No use in dignifying them with a response. If they did push, I'd have a lawyer write up a C&D letter, but changing my cell got the point across.
    via u/malikto44
  • 21
    Font - As for documentation? I had passwords in a secure place, and when my two weeks was refused (I then quit on the spot), I didn't bother. I owed them the needed access to keep things running, the keys to the car. Other than that, I didn't need to give driving lessons tell them that they needed a BAC level above .8 for safe driving, or even tell them what a steering wheel was for. Once I give the keys to the kingdom to someone authorized, I'm done, period.
    via u/malikto44
  • 22
    Font - punklinux 1 hr. ago One of my former coworkers told me one of his former jobs was not even a new company, but he left a toxic position in one division to a much better one in a second division. Because of this his pager and directory entry didn't change. So his former coworkers and vendors called him constantly. One client was very demanding, stating that if he didn't do this work for him, his company was in violation of their SLA. No amount of, "I'm sorry, I don't work there anymore," wo
    via u/punklinux

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work-story antiwork workplace-story coworkers i quit sysadmin quit workplace IT-job quitting employment
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