'I am withdrawing my application and employment': Employee has to recline for health reasons, gets shamed on the first day, quits immediately

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Oct 1, 2023 8:00 AM EDT

Imagine the thrill of getting hired at a new company only to be shamed on the very first day for having to recline a certain way because of health issues. This Redditor had a known disability that required them to recline on the job, but given their role and several years of experience in the field, it really should not have been an issue. Her seating position had absolutely no effect on the job she was performing, but of course, in the eyes of her traditionally-minded boss,  her appearance came off as slacking.

You would think that after explaining her condition and her need to sit this way, her boss would have backed off, but that would be too easy for your boss to admit they were off-base. So as difficult as this decision was, OP decided that there was no way she could be comfortable working in this toxic environment. However, thankfully, she wouldn't go down without a fight and decided to make her experience known via email. This email exchange is included in the screenshots below. Once again, you would think that an HR representative reading this would sincerely apologize for what transpired; instead, she just curtly accepted OP's resignation. The audacity of these people! Hopefully, OP can take some satisfaction in knowing she dodged a bullet.

Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions in the comments section. For more content like this, check out this post about a boss who refused to promote a contracted employee, fired him, and then expected him to train his replacements.

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  • 01
    Font - Hi Marissa, As I was leaving the Zoom for lunch today, ca Er "I am absolutely appalled positi at how I was treated was strai within hours of joining make your company" rin ommodate that my s a disability. Erin asked if I had disclosed this previously and I said no, because I don't
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  • 02
    Font - I had a work from home job for four hours: they told me I couldn't sit in a certain chair.
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  • 03
    Font - Hi Marissa, As I was leaving the Zoom for lunch today, Erin pulled me aside and let me know that I could not be sitting in a slightly reclined position (I had my feet up but my back was straight- I have a cardiac condition that makes this a necessity). I explained to Erin that my sitting position was to accommodate a disability. Erin asked if I had disclosed this previously and I said no, because I don't believe there is any reason why I should have to disclose my disability that has abso
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  • 04
    Font - I asked Erin if I needed to move to a different chair despite informing her about my disability and she told me that I do until HR approves of my accommodation request. I am absolutely appalled at how I was treated within hours of joining your company. I have many years of experience in veterinary care, and though the field isn't always easy, I have never faced a situation so unempathetic and unkind as I did today.
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  • 05
    Font - I am withdrawing my application and employment from this position on the basis of Erin's fundamental unwillingness to accept the accommodation I had proposed. This disability has completely upended my life and made the past few years extraordinarily difficult. The absolute last thing I need is a workplace that can't accept that I might need to sit in a more comfortable chair.
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  • 06
    Font - Christina, Thank you for letting me know. Speaking up helps us evaluate our training and provides insight. We will accept your resignation today, effective immediately. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out. Kind regards, Marissa
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  • 07
    Font - I recently took a remote position with an in-home veterinary euthanasia company because I'm two years in to a disability that I'm still acclimating to and working on accepting. I have been in the veterinary industry for several years prior to this as a practice manager, veterinary assistant, and receptionist. I am no longer physically capable of working in a normal clinic setting unless I strictly work reception -and- only have good days. On bad days, I need to lay back and elevate my fee
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  • 08
    Font - I'm telling you all this because I resigned from this position four hours after starting. The first four hours of work was a Zoom call that covered introductions and what we would be doing in training, as well as some tax paperwork with HR.
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  • 09
    Font - This was by far one of the most overbearing companies I have ever worked for, even if it was only for a moment. They have a stipulation in their handbook that says you have to ask permission to get a second job even though they only pay $15/hr. We were instructed that we couldn't help elderly clients look up somewhere else to go if we couldn't help them "for liability reasons" (but really they just didn't want a bad experience to come back to them).
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  • 10
    Font - They wanted to be able to visit my actual physical house to make sure my work area that I paid for met their standards. These were all reasonably sized red flags that I ignored. Four hours in to training, we break for lunch and I am asked to stay behind by our trainer, Erin.
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  • 11
    Font - Erin asks if I disclosed this disability during the interview and if it was "clear that I needed to provide a satisfactory workspace". I explained that I was under absolutely no obligation to disclose my disability during an interview and that I wasn't having any problem working from where I was sitting.
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  • 12
    Font - Erin told me I could not sit in the chair I was sitting in and that I would need to make an accommodation request in order to continue sitting there- but until then, I needed to sit in the chair that I found extremely uncomfortable. Prior to this, I had an ice pack on my chest because I was in a great deal of pain from sitting at the desk chair.
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  • 13
    Font - I thanked Erin for her time and logged off. I wrote a resignation to HR because my time and energy are far too valuable to argue over whether or not I'm allowed to create my own accommodation that has absolutely no effect on my working ability. The company in question will be reported to the EEOC for continuing to refuse to allow me to sit in a specific chair. And yes, I realize how insane that sounds.
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  • 14
    Font - I spent a solid hour sobbing to my parents about this when it happened. It broke my heart to yet again have this horrible medical condition stand in my way. But I was not going to subject myself to the humiliation of having to ask permission to be comfortable.
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  • 15
    Font - WomanNotAGirl - 5 hr. ago The fact that they accepted your resignation instead of apologizing and mitigating the situation says a lot about what kind of are 1.9k place they Reply Share
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  • 16
    Font - Loveisaredrose. 4 hr. ago They had a problem with an accommodation you made for yourself... in your own house... They didn't try to defend themselves or explain it because there's no possible way they can. There's absolutely no reason for any of them to have felt any certain way about anything you were doing at home in your own space. HR had a power trip and thought you'd just go along with it. 291 Reply Share
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  • 17
    Font - Too Much-Tuna - 2 hr. ago They wanted to be able to visit my actual physical house to make sure my work area that I paid for met their standards. This is insane. I have never heard of a more micromanaging requirement.
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  • 18
    Font - VulgarTurkey 5 hr. ago I know it is difficult, but you did the right thing. If they had requirements for how you were seated, things were only going to get worse. 263 Reply Share
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  • 19
    Font - Some-Selection1811. 4 hr. ago edited 4 hr. ago Your former employer has a way of doing business (and disregarding the law) as misguided as it is stupid. You dodged a bullet. Good luck finding a job that will appreciate you for you and as you. It exists! I'd love to see an update. I'm rooting hard for you! 243 Reply Share
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  • 20
    Font - StephBGreat 2 hr. ago I remember being 7 months pregnant at a new job. I was part time and the chairs were communal. If you didn't get there first or work there for years, you were left with the broken chairs. I asked to sit in a chair with more support and arm rests due to my pregnancy and was told by management to get a letter from my doctor. Once had that letter, they wheeled a manager chair out from an empty office for me. I guess my stomach wasn't proof enough.
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