Three overworked coworkers quit within days of each other, company tanks, CEO gets desperate: 'What's is going to take to keep you?'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Mar 13, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

When managers deny raises for their most valuable employees, they better prepare themselves for the consequences. Those consequences are not limited to the sudden and "unforeseen" departure of said employees. 

Of course, not every employee has as much leverage as the overworked workers of this company, who were quite literally keeping the entire business afloat. If people who are that needed are still not getting properly paid, then there really is next to no justice in the workplace. 

Keep scrolling below for this tale of three employees who banded together and left only to see their company completely tank in their final two weeks on the job!

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  • 01
    "Only reason I'm staying my full 2 weeks, I want to see it go down"
    via Austin Distel

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

  • The drama began when two of the coworkers confessed to one another that they were planning on quitting after both were denied raises yet again. They quit within days of one another, and after an underwhelming response from management, these guys managed to convince their boss of eight years to join them. He subsequently submitted his own resignation, and that's when the trouble really began.

    Now, the company had to find decent replacements and keep the entire business afloat in just two weeks. That's what you get for underestimating your most valuable workers!

  • 02
    I dedicate this to the antiwork community. 1 small victory at a time. United we are strong! They don't know it yet, but me and my buddy just got hired on with a different company. Without us, they literally don't have a business going.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 03
    Not an exaggeration. They haven't had anyone apply to job openings, and work staff has declined from 12 to 3 of us. Only 3 of us, doing the work of 12, for years now.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 04
    For months we've asked for raises after years of stagnant wages, working through the po expecting us to wrap our lives around work. Always met with excuses about It's not in the budget.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 05
    We're putting in our 2 weeks notice days apart from each other. When I put in mine, all of a sudden, money magically appeared in the budget to keep us. This p my boss off,
    via OldPocketLint
  • 06
    because he really believed they didn't have the money. Told them, if we both leave, he's leaving too! My boss has never lied to me in 8 years of knowing him.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 07
    So come Monday, they have less than 2 weeks to figure out how to hire a new staff, get everyone up to speed including training, and pray there are no major hiccups, all while the holidays are approaching.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 08
    Only reason I'm staying my full 2 weeks, I want to see it go down :) see what carrots they'll try to dangle to keep us, and the looks on their faces as I repeatedly decline each offer.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 09
    All inspired from this community. Thank you for sharing your struggles. Letting me know I'm not alone.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 10
    Edit: Wow! Totally wasn't expecting this go anywhere. I usually am the commenting, never posting. Thank you all for your support, shared struggles, and taking the time to read.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 11
    Yes, I am a real person, and this isn't a throw away account. Everything is absolutely true, and only posted after knowing my buddy was secure in his position of leaving. I purposefully left out key things like company name,
    via OldPocketLint
  • 12
    State it's in, or other easily identifying info because it's the internet. While many support aspects antiwork, we may not all support it in the same way. Even notified that this post was reported to the Reddit crisis center.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 13
    To those leaving negative even hateful comments, why? Have your tactics to improve your working conditions actually worked? Just because I took a different course of action than you would have, I'm in
    via OldPocketLint
  • 14
    the wrong? Please stop the p contest. While each industry, and job has unique challenges. Deplorable working conditions, are NOT a contest or a badge of honor.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 15
    If anything, this should be renamed to: After years of poor management, and financial choices, employees give notice; Leaving company to wonder why employees would do this to them.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 16
    Edit 2-1 My friends of antiwork, I haven't forgotten about you. Trust there is an update to this. This week has been an absolute wild ride that I hope all of you get to enjoy at some point in your lives.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 17
    Some have messaged privately saying I should take cation. That my actions/words may influence you to do the same without thinking. So please be cautious. Don't just quit,
    via OldPocketLint
  • 18
    but plan quitting in such a way you never need to return. All companies aren't so weak as to topple from a single person leaving. Mine Just happen to be :) You all are amazing. Together we are strong!
    via OldPocketLint
  • 19
    Edit 3: I really did start working here with hope. I wanted this place to work. To everyone saying, wHat About nEediNg References. How disconnected are you from reality to think you've been talking to other supervisors this
    via OldPocketLint
  • 20
    whole time? A head with a phone C number gives a better reference. Don't each other off break your arms so hard thinking arbitrary references are a reason people need to stay with a ☐ company. Also, billion dollar companies don't do everything in house. They hire companies like the one I worked for to feed them. For example,
    via OldPocketLint
  • 21
    Lamazon previously used the USPS, they in turn hired contractors to ship packages to other facilities. It's all a big. game of taking a percentage, while sub contracting the work. You never notice because the products you buy have the same store label you bought from. Never mind, the supply chain it took to get there.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 22
    Edit 3 cont- The Fallout First day. Pretty mundane. No direct contact with owners. Was told from my boss they asked if I could be bought. If they matched pay, would that be good. Declined the offer. Said I can't be bought into staying. I'm working my 2 weeks and not a day more. Don't really care about holiday bonuses. Keep them.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 23
    Second day. Buddy is offered 3 bucks more over what new place is paying, plus a hundred bucks each time he needs to travel. Not per diem, think of it as a travel bonus, but each time a trip is made. Oh, and can he also stay around to train the replacements. The replacements who also aren't certified,
    via OldPocketLint
  • 24
    and fresh from school. They wanted him to pass up a much better opportunity, because the only people they could fine to accept the job offer are fresh from school. Needless to say, he declined. My boss decides to feel bad and decided the ball is in his court.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 25
    What about the past few years where if we go, you go? Well, I wanted to, I really did, but at my age where am I going to find a better offer? I'm only a few years from getting social security. After I get heath insurance, I won't need to work anymore. What's a few more years. (Proceed to fill him in on how much health insurance has changed in the past decade lol)
    via OldPocketLint
  • 26
    Third day By this time news has spread to the rest of the company. The accountant, decided he'll just go back to being retired. Doesn't need to deal with this headache. Office manger decides, he can do this job remotely. If they won't offer remote, he'll fine another job. Then the pilots got wind of everything. Holy this is when things got amazing! A normally
    via OldPocketLint
  • 27
    reserved, well mannered person of a pilot wrote the most scathing email I've ever read. Years of frustration came pouring out. The resentment of missing out on family events, long hours, always talking about issues but never actually doing anything to fix them came out. He didn't quit outright, but omg.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 28
    Esc ! 1 F1 F2 = 2 叮+ F3 F4 C F5 23 £ k Q W E T A CapsLk + N S $ S4 4 € R D Ctrl Fn Alt ☑ F6 F7 % 6 CO 95 & 27 F8 * D F9 미용 F10 ☀- F11 8 9 LL F I QUIT! 0 ܘ܂ *+ F12 P { A. : [ ? / + Alt Gr Ctrl Hom
    via Nick Fewings
  • 29
    Day four (today) Started the day with an email from the boss. He decided to turn in his resignation. He found a job that pays the same for 3 days of set work, vs the current 5 days and being on call 24/7. I'm selling my house boys. He gave it a lot of thought. He doesn't like anything lol. His neighborhood has changed so much, the job isn't a place he wants to stay. He decided at some point next year, he's selling his house.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 30
    He's going to pursue a life on the water. I've never heard him so happy. Let me rephrase. The man has never been happy, but when he spoke, it had this calm over tone to it. Wouldn't fill me in on what the new job was, but he wants to be closer to the water, and enjoy working around the docks like he did when he was in highschool.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 31
    Now I get a call from the owners. Ignored! (If you've never ignored a call from a person in a position of power, you really need to try it :)) Give a call back about an hour later. What's is going to take to keep you? Is there anything we can do? My friends at antiwork, this! I finally had the ear and undivided attention of the owner!
    via OldPocketLint
  • 32
    But an odd thing happened. I didn't hate the guy. As much as I wanted to rub his face in it. Just unload how much I've hated it here. I realized with that phone call, there wasn't a winner. Just a person investing his time into a business that was crumbling before him. Me, an employee just tired of trying.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 33
    No man, there's nothing you can do. I'm just moving on to a better opportunity. I don't hate you guys, this is something I need to do.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 34
    Then in that same moment, compassion at all time highs, they ask if I can stay on for a few months to train the replacements. (Did you hear anything, absolutely anything I just said??) Nope! Not training anyone, once I leave that's it. There's no way I'm traveling that much. Best of luck. -click Then left work. It was a nice day out today, I'm not spending it looking for busy work.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 35
    So that's that my friends. A bit anti climactic, but that's usually how things go. The start date for the new job got pushed back till February. So I have roughly 6 whole weeks to just enjoy life. Apologizes for not being a better writer if reading seems a bit choppy. These are the highlights :) Best of luck with all your endeavors antiwork. You aren't powerless. Strength in unity and team work.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 36
    KenDanger2´ When they dangle those carrots, remind them they wouldn't have this problem if they had paid you accordingly this whole time. It is important that people like this realize it is their fault. They too often rationalize these things or blame others.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 37
    Duke-Guinea-Pig. "it's not in the budget" "You used to have 12 people and now you have 3. What happened to the other 9 salaries?"
    via OldPocketLint
  • 38
    OldPocketLint OP. That's the thing I kept bringing up! No joke. We have less people. Our work load increases, yet our wages stay stagnant. You aren't losing any money by dispersing the money used in former employee wages.
    via OldPocketLint
  • 39
    IMALiarFoReal Brutal lol. Sometimes I dream of doing this I'm in a very similar situation.
    via OldPocketLint

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boss workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work coworkers i quit ceo satisfying quitting story quitting work company toxic-work-environment
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