Employee takes 35% pay cut in favor of hybrid work, finds out on day 1 that no remote work is allowed before 90 days: 'I quit after one day'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Apr 19, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Flexibility is high on the priority list for many workers, and for good reason. Since the proliferation of remote work, many employees have found that it suits their lifestyles much better than a traditional in-person job. They find it easier to balance parenthood/ other care work with their jobs, which gives them more free time with the lack of commute, and it saves them money in the long run. Plus, it's a good way to feel like your employer cares a little bit more about your work-life balance. They might still expect you to give 100% to the role, but with the understanding that life sometimes gets in the way of that, like it always has. 

That's the kind of life one worker was seeking when they decided to search for a new job. After being fed up with their previous situation, which operated at a breakneck pace and offered little benefits, they went looking for a better option.

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    Cheezburger Image 10495227648
    via Tim Gouw

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

  • When they thought they found it, though, they were in for a surprise. Everything is not always as it seems, unfortunately, and they learned this job was one of those things on the first day. It was a nightmare situation if I've ever heard one. Read on for the details. 

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    Took a 35% pay cut for a "hybrid" role that turned out to be a disaster-I quit after one day

    I left my last job after years of workplace trauma and burnout. Thought I'd found a healthier environment: smaller local company, advertised as "collaborative" and "community-minded," offering hybrid work and a slower pace. I took a 35% pay cut for the promise of breathing room and balance. What I actually got:
    via u/katinthewoodss
  • 03
    A rushed orientation because HR had another appointment-no time for questions, no overview of expectations. Got to the office and within ten minutes, a senior leader asked if I was a "dog person" and announced her dog would be in the office every day (not a service animal). I mentioned I had allergies but they're well-managed. Her tone immediately shifted to passive-aggressive.
    via u/katinthewoodss
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    In that same conversation, she made a joke about having an STD. I had just met this person. Found out the "hybrid" part was a bait-and-switch-no remote work for at least 90 days and only after vague, unwritten performance goals were met. None of this was mentioned in interviews. Commute is nearly two hours round-trip.
    via u/katinthewoodss
  • 05
    My manager left to work from home at noon on my first day without introducing me to anyone. I was told to read training materials for the rest of the day. No one spoke to me the entire afternoon. Cold, isolating atmosphere.
    via u/katinthewoodss
  • 06
    I resigned the next morning. Sent a professional email to HR outlining my concerns and offering to talk if they had questions. Their response came a day and a half later: "Thank you for your feedback." No acknowledgment, no follow-up, no accountability. It's wild how casually some places treat people. And then they wonder why no one wants to work under them.
    via u/katinthewoodss
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    Other workers commiserated about this type of treatment.

    NotAtAllExciting • 16h ago Dodged a bullet there. Good luck on your search.
    via u/NotAtAllExciting
  • 08
    . eu_sou_ninguem 16h ago Hopefully you're in a jurisdiction where this type of behavior on the part of a company would qualify you for unemployment benefits assuming you don't have another job lined up already.
    via u/eu_sou_ninguem
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10495227904
    via Jason Goodman

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

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    redheadedskoomaw... • 14h ago Please tell us you gave the place a bad review on glass door, indeed, and whatever other employee oriented business review platform?
    via u/redheadedskoomawhore
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    . smokingeezus 13h ago This is the biggest fear I have when it comes to career change - that I take a big pay cut and it turns out to be a bigger dumpster fire than what I left. Trust that the grass is always greener on the other side to your peril.
    via u/smokingeezus
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    Stunning-Space-2622 15h ago • Wow, you made a great choice, no one came to you and introduced themselves?? that's a terrible atmosphere
    via u/Stunning-Space-2622
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    katinthewoodss OP.15h ago It was awful. My manager didn't even bother to introduce me to the rest of the team before she left to work from home for the rest of the day.
    via u/katinthewoodss
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    iwinsallthethings • 15h ago Honestly you should have just gone home and read the training materials. Then not come in and explain that you are hybrid but will be in the following day for more training materials. Just be a chad.
    via u/iwinsallthethings
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    Download_a_Brownl... • 15h ago What advice would you give to people looking for jobs? Looking back what would you have done differently? Were there any red flags you missed during the interview phase?
    via u/Download_a_Brownload
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    katinthewoodss OP.15h ago Great question. In hindsight, I wish I'd asked for more details about the hybrid and PTO policies. I don't think I could have sussed out their in-interview behavior vs in-office. Felt like they were putting on an act.
    via u/katinthewoodss
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    slightly illegal • 12h ago . Make sure you get your pay for the day
    via u/slightly_illegal
  • 18
    Ghnavari 15h ago • Wow, dodged that chaos bullet real fast
    via u/Ghnavari
  • 19
    pleatherskirt . 15h ago This sounds like the job I just started. Compromised on 3 days hybrid, just heard it's going up to 4
    via u/pleatherskirt
  • 20
    Funny_Occasion_4179 • 8h ago Watch out for recruiters from India - I am from Bangalore - Was offered remote role last year. Did not negotiate hike too much as remote is big perk for me. This was a tech startup. In induction itself on day 1 they
    via u/Funny_Occasion_4179
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    said its Hybrid. HR admitted they hire with remote in JD as you get better candidates for cheaper. Within a month it. became clear 3 days long
    via u/Funny_Occasion_4179
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    distance travel is not feasible as traffic here is insane. That led to short stint - I would not have taken the offer if it was Hybrid and office was far and definately not for what they offer. It is equalant to cheating/ not giving full information while offering a contract.
    via u/Funny_Occasion_4179
  • 23
    Now I negotiate salary and try to ask max possible - Does not matter what it says in JD, website - Remote, Hybrid, onsite They are lying to - attract. Work culture is mostly crappy with low EQ founders that follow Elon Musk. Might as well try to take max pay while it lasts.
    via u/Funny_Occasion_4179
  • 24
    imafuckingmessdude 12h ago Is this my workplace .
    via u/imafuckingmessdude

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