Boss accuses burned-out worker of sabotaging the company, still wants them to work their two week's notice when they quit: 'My boss asked me [if] I was sabotaging the company'

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Mar 30, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

When you're burning the candle at both ends and navigating a really busy period at work, burnout is highly likely, and it really creeps up on you. You might not even realize it and think you are keeping up with things, but the moment you have a chance to stop and take a breath—usually at the end of a busy period or major project, even a three-day weekend or short vacation—the burnout hits you like a truck, leaving you reeling and wondering what the heck just happened. 

When you pile a toxic workplace on top of everything else burnout is pretty much inevitable. The problem is that as soon as you start experiencing it and try and address it with your superiors you're just going to be met with resistance, then ostracization while they quiet fire you and wait for you to quit—or cut you loose outright.

These places take burnout as a given and as a betrayal, and the moment you're gone your name is going to be dirt, and all your efforts will be forgotten and attributed to others who "remain loyal."

This worker was experiencing extreme burnout, which, in the ensuing unraveling, caused their boss to make the outlandish claim that they were "sabotaging" the company.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10487211008
    via Tom Pumford

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

  • 02

    "I quit today after my boss asked me of I was sabotaging the company"

    So, I've been working at this company since the beginning of this year. I was responsible for training and evaluation. of new hires, repairing stuff that's broken, coming up with new creative ideas and making sure that there was reserve and stuff of everything. I know, it's a lot. But that's what I really liked because there was a lot of variation. During the summer I got a burn out from all the work. My boss said 'I like seeing people crash so I know where their limit is. It's a learning experi
    via Dcwiker05
  • 03
    After three weeks of vacation I felt better so back to work I went. In this job I don't really have free time without getting a message or call about work, because I'm responsible for repairs and know of everything. I didn't enjoy this aspect of the job but I knew it was part of it. All the communication from this job happens through whatsapp, so my whatsapp is all work.
    via Dcwiker05
  • 04
    Last week my management made a decicion about wages for our employees, and it kinda backfired because the communication was so bad. For some reason they started blaming me, even though I had nothing to do with the decicion but they could tell I didn't agree with said descision. The employees were taking a stance and didn't want to go to work. Again, I got blamed for this to. My boss communicated with them and everything calmed down, but he was unhappy about the way I handled things and thought i
    via Dcwiker05
  • 05
    Next day I have a familygathering and one of the employees didn't show up to work. My boss called me, but it's a saturday and I'm eating so I don't have my phone next to me. He immediately accuses me of sabotaging the company in a group chat that involves all my coworkers. I was so p ed. Sure I'm sabotaging a company for which I got a burnout from. Sure I'm sabotaging a company for which I regurarely canceled my plans and went to work instead. Sure, that makes sense. I put so much effort and tim
    via Dcwiker05
  • 06
    So today I quit. I deserve more respect. Let them figure it out. The immens relief I feel is insane. Imma do my two weeks notice and already have another job lined up. Seeya.
    via Dcwiker05
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10487210752
    via Christian Erfurt

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

  • 08
    erikleorgav2 Your situation is somewhat similar to mine. My former employer made me a supervisor 3 years ago, and in 2022 I was in charge of scheduling the work for 3 sides of the company, while doing 2. It was too much work for 1 person. Then my guys started leaving, 1 after another after another. Then, in 2022, we were apparently not profitable enough, despite doing just as much in sales compared to 2021.
    via Dcwiker05
  • 09
    By 2023, I was the only trained installer, my boss/company president only showed up a couple of times a week. AND despite doing just about all the work myself, he wasn't happy with how long it was taking. (And the guy he hired to help was a dunce, and after 6 months he still didn't know how to do the work. One of my backup helpers even said to him, "Dude, how long have you been doing this?") On October 13th, I bailed. I've never felt so destroyed physically and mentally.
    via Dcwiker05
  • 10
    projektako Don't forget to keep receipts. That's borderline harassment and it seems like your boss is such a gem that he's likely to be vindictive and try to ruin your career and/or reputation.
    via Dcwiker05
  • 11
    Darqologist Can hard relate. Promoted to a mid-level position, one that was actually created between myself and our admin. About 5 years ago Medicaid changed in my state in terms of how payments were to be managed (moved from county/local based to managed care) and the company needed someone to understand the changes and make sure "we were ready". At first, I didn't know anything, but decided to read/research, etc and make sure we were ready. For the most part things were good/fine for a bit.
    via Dcwiker05
  • 12
    As being the middle person, I conveyed the necessary information and tools to be compliant/successful per the guidelines, regulations, etc. I would tell the directors, admin, and c-level what needed to happen, what needed to change, where we weren't compliant. I shared the potential consequences of not being compliant, including and up to being asked for significant quantities of money returned (think overpayment). I have emails saved showing multiple attempts and discussions throughout 2018 (wh
    via Dcwiker05
  • 13
    In 2022, a director retired and I was promoted to the director level position and was told I'd do my old project management position and be a director. I explained that this was essentially two full time, intense positions worth of work. I explained I wanted help and assistance, all the promises, etc.
    via Dcwiker05
  • 14
    A significant audit came back that shows that a large amount of money has been overpaid during the time in which I was in the middle position (2021). I explained that I had given the information to the powers that be and was told the changes would occur to be in compliance. This information was sent to both C-level, the director, the administrator.
    via Dcwiker05
  • 15
    The audit results show otherwise and now everyone is freaking out or downplaying about 1/2 a million dollars. I'm supposed to submit a rebuttal by this Thursday with supporting evidence to counter the claim all while doing my other responsibilities and managing people. Being asked if you're actively trying to sabotage or work against the company (been here over 9 years) is a huge punch in the gut.
    via Dcwiker05
  • 16
    Sircrusterson You need to not do the 2 weeks. Boss is going to make your life h I and you deserve better than that
    via Dcwiker05

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workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employee employment-discussion job work employees overworked-employees workplace Horrible Bosses employment in the workplace
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