'[I] told them I would not be returning to work': Young worker told by boss to accept job reassignment or find a new one, chooses the latter option

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Sep 19, 2023 9:00 AM EDT

Being a young and inexperienced worker entering the workforce for the first time is a harder experience than most of us are willing to admit—or even remember. For one thing, your lack of demonstratable experience and the lack of perceived skills that go with it will often leave you drawing the short stick when it comes to your tasks within the team, regardless of your actual capabilities. 

I can't help but feel that the biggest change that happens as you age is that other people perceive you differently and become more receptive to your ideas. This is especially hard when you're coming fresh out of education into the working world as, at that point, the possibilities of life are warm and colorful, and your contribution to the world might be endless… but this optimism soon gives way to the cold rigidity that dominates workplaces, any attempts to resist the transition making it all the more painful.

This young worker took advantage of their youthful flexibility, taking the leap and moving hundreds of miles from their hometown, where they soon landed a job as a clerk at a grocery store. Here, they ran into their first terrible manager, who reassigned their role to that of essentially a janitor. The worker confronted the manager, who challenged them to deal with it or find a new job… They chose the latter option, never returning to work… but running into their old boss sometime later for satisfying closure. 

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  • 01
    Wood - "Deal with it or find a new job? Easier than you think, bub."
    via Jon Tyson
  • 02
    Font - Posted by u/batkevn Deal with it or find a new job? Easier than you think, bub. As a young adult, I decided to move several hundred miles away on a whim without a new job lined up. Fortunately, the relatives I was living with knew a ton of people in the small town and were able to get me a job within a week at the local grocery store. I was to be a "courtesy clerk" bagging groceries and stocking shelves.
    via u/batkevn
  • 03
    Font - Immediately, I made friends with coworkers and some of the customers weren't too bad, either. However, management was a different deal. Like the HR manager who would waste a customer's time telling them recipes for the items they have and holding up the line. She would also call me from the back of the store to bag 2 items and help the man barely older than me to his car, despite him protesting.
    via u/batkevn
  • 04
    Font - There was also "John," the General Manager. John would be nice in groups, but if he got you alone, his true colors would show. He once berated me for having a 5 o'clock shadow even though I shaved right before work. My hair is dark a grows quickly... Sorry, dude. Can't help nature.
    via u/batkevn
  • 05
    Font - After a few months, the night janitor (technically early morning) quit. John decided it would now be my job to polish the floors every morning. My previous job was at a movie theater, so working from 5pm to 2am was normal. Mornings? Not my jam. This would require me to be at work by 4am. But I was told this would be for 1-2 months TOPS. I was even thrown a sweet $0.05 raise for my troubles. How could I decline?!
    via u/batkevn
  • 06
    Font - After a month I ask John how the search for a replacement is going. He says probably 2 weeks and everything will be settled. After month 2 I ask again. John says the first person fell through and suggests that maybe I know someone who might be looking for a job. I assure him that is not the case. After the third month, I was completely over it. Again, I approached John and explained that I cannot keep doing this much longer. He replies, "Not my problem. Find someone else or a new job." Th
    via u/batkevn
  • 07
    Font - A couple of days later (possibly even the same day), my relative drags me with them to go look at new cars. While discussing prices and waiting for the sales manager to respond, my, relative, and the salesperson were just BS'ing and I mentioned what John had told me about the job. The salesperson raised an eyebrow and walked away. Moments later the sales manager approached and said they were looking for a detailer and asked if I was interested. It would be a regular schedule, no evenings,
    via u/batkevn
  • 08
    Font - When I got home, I packed a bag and began driving to my hometown to visit friends. I knew I wouldn't have to work for about a week, because at midnight I called the grocery store and told them I would not be returning to work. "If you have any questions, please ask John." Epilogue: A year or so after my departure, John was mysteriously no longer working at the store. Nobody knew why as he had another 5 years before retirement. One day I had to go to the bank to deposit a check and John wa
    via u/batkevn
  • 09
    Font - Rambo-Brite 10 hr. ago "Not my problem" says the person whose problem it absolutely was. Well done. Reply Share Vote Newbosterone · 9 hr. ago It's amazing how many things are "not a problem" until it's their problem. The best response to "not my problem" is saying "challenge accepted!" in your head. Reply Share Vote ... Danielle_Zho 4 hr. ago No, no you gotta say that to their faces and promptly turn and walk away, leaving them to wonder what you're talking about Vote Reply Share ...
    via u/batkevn
  • 10
    Font - LDKCP 5 hr. ago I worked a job when I was younger and I had a "John" like manager. He was really unreasonable, but of a bully, inconsistent and generally unpleasant. If anyone complained about anything he would say "we can easily find someone willing to do it if you don't like your job, you are welcome to leave"
    via u/batkevn
  • 11
    Font - Well I kinda needed the money, but I was also planning to move to another city. I was lining up work, but it wasn't really possible remotely. I knew I'd just have to leave and trust I'd get a job in the first month or two. One day he pod me off, and he said the line about me being easily replaceable. At that point my evil plan began. I didn't need to leave, but I could leave whenever I wanted. It didn't take long.
    via u/batkevn
  • 12
    Font - I worked on a team of 5, one of my co- workers handed in their notice. Those weeks went by and he hadn't found a replacement. The week the co-worker left there was a busy Saturday and we were all supposed to work, one guy called in sick. That was my moment. What would be a 4-5 person shift, we were down to 3, I called up and said "I'm taking you up on your offer and leaving, knowing how easily replaceable I am, I won't bother working my notice."
    via u/batkevn
  • 13
    Facial expression - He was furious, his boss called me up and I told him exactly why I quit this way. It wasn't a skilled job, but anyone starting needed at least a few weeks on the job training to contribute anything productive.
    via u/batkevn
  • 14
    Font - I talked to one of the remaining co-workers and they said that day and the next few weeks were an absolute sho-show and they started answering back and getting their way because they knew he couldn't afford to lose more people. One of them quit not long after. If you spend a couple of years being a dok to someone you have a little bit of power over, don't be surprised when they use an opportunity to fox you over. Reply Share Vote
    via u/batkevn
  • 15
    Font - batkevn OP5 hr. ago When the stars align! I won't bother working my notice. In most places, at least in the US, saying, "I quit," is "notice." The whole two-week thing is a courtesy. That is unless there is a contract involved stipulating otherwise. That is why in my case I sent the email. Boom. Consider yourself notified. What I didn't include in my post was that they accused me of making them lose thousands because of my exit. My response was, "If one person leaving impacts your entire
    via u/batkevn
  • 16
    Font - Reddit AdminAreMorons 10 hr. ago Yeah, never tell someone that the item in question that is your literal job is "not your problem". It will never end well. Vote Reply Share dumbo3k 6 hr. ago I mean, it probably ended well plenty of times, where the other person would just give up complaining and do whatever it was. The problem is that every time he did it, he was rolling the dice, until it finally came up wrong. Reply Share Vote
    via u/batkevn
  • 17
    Font - waster_x 9 hr. ago I once had my previous bully take my order at Burger King. That was satisfying. Vote hotlavatube 9 hr. ago I once witnessed my bully be berated by David Hasselhoff on one of those talent shows. Vote Reply Share Vote Reply Share waster x 7 hr. ago You win. That had to feel great. Reply Share ...
    via u/batkevn
  • 18
    Font - o YOLOSwag42069Nice - 6 hr. ago You're mistake was doing a good job polishing the floor. Vote Reply Share batkevn OP 6 hr. ago My best friend and I had a conversation about that after we got our first jobs. He asked, "You ever notice how being good at your job means getting more responsibility, but you're still paid the same for people that slack off?" Epiphany moment for me. The grocery store was my second job and I still hadn't learned the skill to say "no". Vote Reply Share
    via u/batkevn
  • 19
    Font - TealSkies44 10 hr. ago Not sure why people don't think it's malicious compliance. John told him to find a new job and he did Vote . Sisi_R920 9 hr. ago W comment Vote Reply Share Reply Share
    via u/batkevn

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workplace discussion employment issues workplace-stories jobs employment-discussion job malicious compliance work i quit quit workplace Horrible Bosses quitting employment in the workplace
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