‘This isn't company policy...’: Employee happily resigns from job due to ‘toxic company culture’ and boss demands to know sensitive details about their next role, even though no other coworkers faced the same fate

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Aug 28, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

Think about the first time you rightfully quit a job. What did that feel like? Freedom from the chains of capitalism, even when the talons of our corporate overlords try to reel you back in with promises of riches and everything good? Probably. The employee in this next story was hoping for a similar feeling, but was surprised when their boss began giving them the run-around after they handed in their two weeks.

Just when you think your company can't be more toxic, your boss decides to act like you signed multiple NDAs and non-competes. They demand to know where you're transferring to, even the client list of the company. You'd think if the boss put in as much effort in being a morally sound human as they do being the opposite, they'd probably be a better person, and you probably wouldn't have quit.

Toxic company culture is a hard pass for most, rightfully so. If you dread going to work every day, it seems like it's a no-brainer. But, when you have a boss as hard-headed and entitled as the employee's boss in this next story, how do you win? Scroll below to read the full story.

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  • "She sent me another email saying it's company policy that I have to name the company and/or provide a list of clients my new company works with..." RESIGNATION
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "Hi! I thought the day I would resign from this awful job would be a great day."

    A weight has been lifted off my shoulders now that the crazy work pressure is gone, I won't have to deal with my horrible
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  • manager anymore, and I'll be leaving a very toxic company culture - all of this was really affecting my mental health.
    via Correct_Fact_8264
  • I had an interview and got an amazing opportunity. I've been at this crappy job for two years and my relationship with my manager
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  • is a bit difficult. She is very arrogant, ride, difficult to deal with, and fake, and she belittles me in front of my coworkers - I've had enough of it.
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  • Anyway, I submitted my two weeks notice today and she was shocked. I mean, the call was 3 minutes and all she said was "Okay, I need to process this, what happened?
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  • Congratulations," and that was it. Until I got an email a few hours later asking very aggressively what my new job is and where. I
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  • told her I wasn't comfortable sharing my location right now but that I would surely tell her once I'm settled... and I also assured her that the company is not a
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  • competitor. Also, several people advised me not to say where I'm going (friends, family).
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  • For context, I'm a very small part of this large system. So for that reason, I was also surprised when she sent me another email saying it's company policy that I have to name the company and/or
    via Correct_Fact_8264
  • provide a list of clients my new company works with to ensure there are no competitors. I didn't sign an NDA, and I didn't sign a non-compete (which isn't allowed in Ontario). I asked four former employees at my company if the same thing happened to them.
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  • man signing a contract work work and holding a pen
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • They all said no! Even my old manager in the same department (Marketing) wasn't asked. This isn't company policy... and if it is, why is it only being applied to me? We have a meeting
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  • tomorrow. I'm sc ed - a total wreck of anxiety. Everyone tells me I don't owe them anything and that she was a bu y. I agree, but I hate disappointing people.
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  • I'm torn, but I really don't trust the way she's asking or what she might do with this information if she gets it... will she call the company? It feels like she has it
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  • out for me and I need help handling this situation tomorrow. Should I tell her the company name? Or trust my gut? How do I handle this? Help me!
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  • TL;DR: My manager is insistent on knowing which company I'm going to after I resigned. I don't want to say because she's upset that I'm leaving, but she's
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  • pressuring me a lot. I asked my old coworkers at this company, and none of them were asked this question. What should I do? Is something not right?
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  • Key_Employment4536 You do not have to tell your manager where you're going. That is none of their business. Just ignore the emails. You have a meeting tomorrow? Why are you SC ed? The answer is I'm not going to tell you. Be an adult stand up for yourself.
    via Key_Employment4536
  • As a matter fact as soon as they start harassing you, you might want to pull out your cell phone lay it on the table in front of you and say if you continue, we are going to record this conversation. I'm not sure what state you're in, but in my state it only requires one person's consent to record and that would be yours. And then you take that recording and you go to HR
    via Key_Employment4536
  • Everything she's telling you is wrong. If you didn't sign an NDA or have an employment agreement none of that's true. She's making it up for entertainment.
    via Key_Employment4536
  • I quit a job on time because they promoted somebody into the role and he turned out to be the biggest a hole I've ever met. I had a job, I knew where I was going, but basically what I said is I'm going to be unemployed because that's better than working for you. you could also try that.
    via Key_Employment4536
  • Embarrassed-Fudge803 Tell her nothing. You've given her your 2 weeks notice & your personal choices outside of final time at this job aren't any of her business.
    via Embarrassed-Fudge803
  • IminLoveWithMyCar3 Company policy my a 1. You aren't required to tell them anything.
    via IminLoveWithMyCar3
  • mmcksmith This is one of those situations where "no" is a complete sentence. If she argues policy, tell her to produce a page number or link to a published document and your signed NDA. If she persists, raise a brow and ask "would you prefer I left now and we skipped any handover? 2 weeks notice is a courtesy"
    via mmcksmith

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workplace-stories toxic-workplace work reddit story horrible-management workplace Horrible Bosses reddit thread work advice Reddit entitled people toxic-work-environment
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