Employee calls out narcissistic boss for tanking her own nonprofit, resigns for better job: 'I did the right thing. It feels so good'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jan 31, 2025 4:00 PM EST

Most folks who have had to deal with toxic managers fantasize about telling them the truth before triumphantly quitting. Sadly, it's not very common that employees who have found themselves in these unfortunate circumstances are given the chance to come clean to their bosses like that. Most of the time, they have to stay for the paycheck or they need more work experience before they can get a better position elsewhere. Leaving is always tempting, but it often isn't practical.

That's why it's always satisfying to come across a story where someone wasn't necessarily impulsive in quitting their job, but rather where an employee methodically and realistically planned their exit and was able to leave on their terms and with their dignity intact!

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    "My narcissist boss is so full of herself" RESIGNATION
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Before we get to the employee's decision to leave, let's start by showing proof of how difficult things were at her previous organization and how hard it was to begin the search for a better opportunity. She first shared these reservations about her position eight months prior to finally announcing her departure.

  • 02
    Long story short, I work in a skilled and technical role at a company that primarily hires through relationships, myself included. This role supports needs of nonprofits as an alternative to an executive director/finance/website development role for those nonprofits who either can't afford to have those roles on staff or don't want to.
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    They are kind people with their hearts in the right place for the most part, but they don't treat their employees as they should be treated. The pay is abysmal and their expectations and work
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    load are not possible to do in the hours allotted let alkne commensurate with the pay. After a coworker left, it became clear that it isn't worth the amount of stress that it is bringing to my life, i.e. adding their workload
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    (she was doing the work of at least two people already) to our already skeleton staff who is burnt out and overworked as it is for $20-21/hour.
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    My supervisor, after complaining that she wasn't given enough notice from my former coworker (she gave two weeks), stated that anyone that is even thinking about leaving should inform them that they are seeking other opportunities. I feel like this is not standard practice and not reasonable, but I have had mixed opinions from those who I've bounced this off of.
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    In an ideal world, I would give them lots of notice and they would either counter to keep me or understand my need to move on/up, but they don't have the money to counter and I don't like
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    the way that things are run enough to stay even if they did the work. Plus, after witnessing the negative attitude toward my former coworker who did everything that was required of them and worked so hard while they were here for $21/hour, I
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    worry that there will be backlash no matter what I do which isn't motivation for me to go above and beyond.
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  • Now, for the employee's moment of triumph! After eight months of job searching and quietly navigating the difficult task of working full-time while getting another opportunity lined up, she finally was confident enough to let loose and give her boss some honest feedback about why she needed to leave. It's the kind of transparency one hopes to achieve with a problematic manager before leaving for good. Unfortunately, the opportunities to be that honest with a soon-to-be-former employer are few and far between. So for those of us who have never had that opportunity, let's take a moment to live vicariously through this lady's story!

  • 10

    "I got another job, put in my two weeks notice a week ago, and walked out JUST NOW"

    My narcissist boss is so full of herself and can't see that she's destroying the nonprofit that she (and many more capable/educated/experienced)
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    people built. She makes good workers/people feel like they are incapable of comprehending their jobs, no matter their education or experience, and I think, takes pride in it. My anxiety is high, but I did the right thing. It feels so good.
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    Edited to add: I'm already drafting a letter to the board of the nonprofit. I've got so much buy-in both inside and outside of the building that I can use. And I
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    have a dozen people (current and former employees) willing to sign it. I so hope it will help this place move toward positive change.
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    This is an important employer in our relatively small community, and I would love to see something change.
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    RESIGNATION
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 16
    UltraPromoman That's how narcs and toxics roll. They make people quit whenever they can't unfairly fire somebody.
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    Efficient-Dirt-70... Narcs are destroyers by nature. Everything and everyone they come into contact with, they must destroy. You're dealing with
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    a mind that doesn't work right. Good for you for leaving, that's always the best bet. A narcs future will be everyone abandoning them in professional and personal life.
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    sdg2844 . Congratulations! It's a great day when you finally do the mic drop and walk out the door! On to greener pastures!
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    Reasonable-Proo... Thats the best feeling
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  • 21
    Realistic-Lunch-... When you quit, tell her "See You At The Mall", then grin evilly.
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  • 22
    SolarisWesson Go above and beyond, get reciepts before you are locked out and get other people they have mistreated on your side. Go full force and get the manager, fired and black balled. No one should do that in a nonprofit org.
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    MsChrisRI Google "founder's syndrome." I think you and your former colleagues will find it interesting.
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    Narcissista . I don't really understand why narcissistic people try to work in nonprofits, which are typically targeted at truly helping society. As someone currently searching for nonprofit work, regardless of pay as long as it's sustainable, I don't really get it.
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    But I'm glad you're doing what you're doing so your nonprofit can stay afloat, thank you.
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    MinimumBuy1601 Well done! Congratulations on getting out, and make sure you drop all this on the board so this idiot can get theirs.
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    avanoire Happy for you and your peace of mind! I hope you have the energy to celebrate
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narcissism toxic-manager work stories toxic-workplace work i quit satisfying quitting story Horrible Bosses quitting toxic-work-environment
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