Entire team of employees quit after VP undermines their work, manager caught in the middle: 'It was the last straw for my team'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 1, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

This manager should have known that it was only a matter of time before their team of employees would walk. After all, the VP of their company had been repeatedly treating this team like a pile of garbage for years. Employees had already threatened to quit before. In fact, even their manager almost left at one point, but they were talked into staying after being offered a higher salary. It's remarkable what these horrendous bosses will do to get competent people to say by offering more money and false promises while refusing to actually listen to fair criticisms and ideas.

As for the manager's team, their last straw was picked after the VP undermined their work during an important presentation involving the launch of a new fitness brand. Let's just say that the likelihood of this brand launch being successful has almost immediately diminished. Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from members of the online community. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10524024576
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • Let this story serve as yet another reminder not to underestimate or condescend to the people whose work and talents are the essence of a company's output. It's always surprising how the people whose creativity and hard work everyone else relies on are still often the ones who are manipulated the most in the workplace. 

  • 02
    Hi All, I am a Creative Director and I have 6 Employees that report to me. I was on bereavement leave over Thursday and Friday. When I got back,
    via ChickenUsual6622
  • 03
    during our usual Monday sync... they all told me they want to quit and some are already interviewing. Why? Because of our VP.
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  • 04
    Now the VP is a . He delays projects constantly, he has no respect for deadlines given to us by other departments or even by the CEO, which puts me in a horrible position whose
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    job it is to manage a timely and quality execution of projects. He plays clash of clans on his phone during meetings. He has laughed at designers for their ideas,
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    to their face. He is constantly playing politics. rather than creating actual marketing strategy.
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  • 07
    Obviously, I have the same sentiment and complaints and even tried to quit earlier this year... but the CEO offered me a substantial raise to stay.
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  • 08
    If you are curious about the exact incident that occurred over the weekend, I can go into depth... but long story short... we are about to launch a new fitness brand,
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    the VP sat and did nothing for months about it, and then made it the creative teams problem a week before the CEO gave a hard deadline.
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  • 10
    In one week, my designers worked their off and created not only compelling logos, packaging, etc. but even came up with marketing strategy. They stayed late, one even cancelled their vacation.
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  • 11
    So all of these deliverables were sent to the VP for presentation last Friday.
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    Cheezburger Image 10524025856
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • 13
    Lo and behold, when I came back Monday... VP did not present a single one of their ideas, he actually dis-invited the designers to the meeting with the CEO...
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    even though he didn't even have an idea for himself to present. Even though the CEO specifically wanted the designers to present their ideas. This was the last straw for my team.
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  • 15
    They all want to quit, two are already in interviews. They love everything else about their job. Except the VP and his politics.
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  • 16
    These types of antics happen all of time. For the last two years he's been here. He is on a sort of "probation" with the CEO and COO already, so I am surprised this is even happening.
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    So I took all of this to HR, they are now launching an investigation with each of the team members. Before you ask, yes, I have tried to solve all of these problems
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    directly with the VP, to no avail. I try to never involve HR when it comes to conflict management, but when your whole team is threatening to quit... I didn't know what else to do.
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  • 19
    TLDR: VP did something really s to my team, on top of two years of s☐ behavior, it was the last straw for the team, they are all threatening to quit. I went to HR and they are now investigating.
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  • 20
    The big question I have for : Did I do the right thing, and what sort of outcomes should I expect? Thank you all, I have never in my whole career had to do this before. Your input is super appreciated.
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  • 21
    kangaroomandible. You should tell them you'll give a great reference for them and then start your own job search.
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  • 22
    Chicken Usual6622 OP. Done! I have already written letters of rec to the two that are looking. Will absolutely support any new efforts they choose to embark on.
    via ChickenUsual6622

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workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work Horrible Bosses bad bosses company toxic-work-environment
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