'They didn't like that': Ten workers quit on the same day after having their requests ignored

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jul 6, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

Everyone has been a part of that workplace where management absolutely refuses to listen. If you send them an email asking for something as simple as a new kettle for the break room, suddenly they don't know how to read; if you try and have a meeting with them to go over requests, suddenly there's no room in the schedule; corner them in the break room that still has a broken kettle, and suddenly they've never used their ears in their entire life.

Try as you might; your chances of getting through aren't great. 

This worker shared one of the wildest workplace stories we've ever seen on Reddit's popular r/antiwork community, telling of how they and their coworkers walked out of their job after repeated requests that escalated when management refused to take them seriously. After setting an ultimatum with HR, the workers walked out after giving effective notice, stunning the HR department, which hadn't taken the ultimatum seriously. The worker then describes the ensuing fallout and resolution of their incredible account of events. 

Read on to see screenshots of this lengthy tale, which was shared with the popular Reddit workplace community by user u/UnoriginallyGeneric. 

Next, see this worker who was made to jump through hoops to take their PTO, which led to them quitting on the spot instead.

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  • 01
    Font - Posted by u/Unoriginally Generic 7 hours ago 12 2 Ten of us left our work on Monday, and it feels so good. (warning: long story) So, up until Monday, I was a lead shipper/receiver and forklift operator for a regional health care company. I supervised five people in my department. Unlike many industries, we never shuttered during COVID. We kept everyone throughout the pandemic. What's more, nobody caught COVID during the time due to, well...due diligence on our part, as well as having a CO
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 02
    Font - So, while the office staff was successful in negotiating raises to stay at home, we got to thinking: our cost of living has gone up. Gas became more expensive, and we still have to come in, why aren't we allowed a sizeable raise? I mean, the sales staff only have to come in one every two weeks for half a day, why should they get a big raise when we still had to drive in each day? HR came in twice a week at best, and our accounts payable/receivable person hadn't been in the office for two
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 03
    Font - Ten of us (myself, my five staff members, and the four janitors who somehow fell under my supervision, I don't know how) sat down and decided to do something about it: we brought our concerns to HR. We asked for simple things, really: a fifteen percent raise per person, as that's the average rate that the office drones got. We also asked for three extra vacation days off per person, as nobody in the crew took sick days. I asked for a new forklift, as one we had was dead, and the other was
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 04
    Font - HR scoffed at it. Proving how clueless the department is, the rep wondered why I couldn't use a forklift that wasn't dead but still running. I mentioned OSHA regulations but that flew over their heads. I mentioned how I personally arranged for the COVID shot clinics, and even though I showed them the paperwork, they thought that I was full of shit.
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 05
    Font - But when they said they didn't have the money, that's when shit really hit the fan. I looked the HR rep straight in the eye and told her that being lead in the logistics department, I knew exactly what was coming in, what they paid for it, and what they were selling things for. Yeah, I know Bills of Lading and invoices. She didn't have a response for that outside of stammering, saying that there's more it than that.
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 06
    Font - So, we left the meeting, not a dollar richer, and even more frustrated...but I did have an ace up my sleeve: one of my oldest friends from high school was promoted to VP of logistics at another company: when I informed him of my issues where we were, he said that they were looking to staff a new warehouse. We started to discuss numbers, and after a week he was able to offer the ten of us employment contracts for everything we all asked for but was denied. Fifteen percent more than what we
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 07
    Font - Contracts in hand, it was a easy sell to convince everyone to sign. Within the day everyone signed, and had a two week notice letter drafted to HR. I delivered them to HR, and after they got over the laughter, they said they wouldn't acknowledge them, saying I was committing industrial espionage. I explained that these were signed, and as I was their superior, I accepted them and wished them well.
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 08
    Font - They didn't like that. HR thought I was full of shit, and I left the office immediately. I told the crew that they didn't accept the letters, but that wasn't their problem...just carry on, do your jobs until th last day, don't talk to HR (they never came to the back, because ew, it's dirty and dusty) and on you last day, empty your locker. Fast forward to Monday: Nobody in my department shows up for work. They find the locker room empty, my office is cleaned out, and everyone's uniforms a
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 09
    Font - I hold a BBQ at the park near my house, and everyone's invited, including HR, remotely of course. HR quickly calls me, and asks why nobody is in, nobody's doing their jobs, nobody is available, etc. I explain to her thay we had an agreement, that after two weeks, the crew would be leaving. I put the call on speaker; we could hear the HR person frantically calling people in the office, asking if they knew how to drive a forklift, if they knew where the keys were, and how do shut off the al
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 10
    Font - HR said she had expected the problems to blow over, because we worked really well, and I told her that yes we work well together, but at a new place. "Money isn't everything, things are always tight toward the end of the month, it's easy to get frustrated", she said. Eventually, she panicked and offered me basically everything we asked for: but we declined telling her politely stick her head up her ass, and that we were done. I explained this was all about respect and being treated as equ
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 11
    Font - Fast forward to today: I find all our jobs posted on a few job boards: each offering the same rate of pay we earned before we left. I was informed in the office that the company owner is absolutely irate and wants to fire HR because of how this all went down. At least three of his contracts cancelled and he's dealing with a load of other issues stemming from this. Couple that with trying to hire and train two shippers, one receiver, one order picker, one experienced logistics team lead, a
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 12
    Font - I want to say I didn't enjoy how this all played out, but I can't. Sorry. By the way, how did the manager find out? I told him that we all quit via mass email two minutes before we were supposed to start on Monday morning, detailing all of this. Every single person in the company directory: vendor, customer and all, found out. That beer on Monday tasted so good, as were the ribs. Probably better than the humble pie HR had to eat, or the crow the manager ate.
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 13
    Font - robbietreehorn 6 hr. ago edited 5 hr. ago This is my favorite post on this sub, ever. Not taking two weeks notices and signed contracts for another company seriously shows how little they thought of you 1.3k Awkward-Customer . 3 hr. ago Reply Share Vote Yup, the company owner should be firing HR over this alone. ... Vote Reply Share blowninjectedhemi 2 hr. ago He should NOT have HR making this kind of decision - a P&L manager that understood the actual value of the work needed to be invol
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 14
    Rectangle - Marconi_and_Cheese 6 hr. ago This post is what antiwork sub is really about. Nice job! 560 Reply Share
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 15
    Font - Slightlyevolved. 5 hr. ago I like the "We're not accepting this." Like, bon? What part of fug AT WILL do you not understand? Reply Share 172 172
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 16
    Rectangle - NoctRob 6 hr. ago Congratulations. You stayed professional and gave them every opportunity. And you took care of your team! I hope this next job is much better! 190 Reply Share ...
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 17
    Font - Mysterious_Carrot837 - 5 hr. ago I work in transportation. Don't F*** with the warehouse staff. Warehouse and Truck Drivers are the blood of the company. No one else exists without them. 184 Reply Share Beartrkkr 3 hr. ago Vote ... Don't understand why the bean counters don't realize this. Yet they'll dole out extra money to the one that can send a zoom meeting notice so they don't have to meet in person. Reply Share...
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 18
    Gesture - busscher 6 hr. ago best post I have read on here in a long while, if i wasn't also underpaid I'd give you a reward 87 Reply Share
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric
  • 19
    Gesture - zekobunny 6 hr. ago I shed a tear. I wish I had cooperative colleagues like you at my last job. Unfortunately, now I am just a neet because I couldn't handle that place. 53 Reply Share
    via u/UnoriginallyGeneric

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walk-out workplace-stories jobs toxic-workplace tales-from-the-workplace work i quit quit employees workers quitting employment
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