'I left at 1 pm after lunch': Employee cuts out of work early to spite toxic dysfunctional boss, dares them to retaliate

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jun 14, 2026 9:00 PM EDT

Have you ever worked in a toxic workplace?

Sometimes we can't help where we end up. You do your best to avoid the drama, but you can't help where you land. Sometimes you just end up in a workplace that doesn't respect you. That's what happened to this employee, in a story they shared on the antiwork subreddit. Sometimes you end up in a place where you're the only one taking your job seriously, and everyone else is doing something… else. The coworkers in this story had a whole other thing going on. The drama was swirling around them, and they couldn't help but stand in the middle of it. But the good thing about that is that you might not be observed as closely. And when you're not observed as closely, you can get away with a whole lot. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10638659584
    via Jornada Produtora

    A man leaves work, walking out of the office

  • 02

    Today I just dipped and it has been awesome.

    My office is so dysfunctional it's insane. Two coworkers who are both married are blatantly having an affair with each other and make no effort to hide it. One of our accountants comes in at 11am everyday (we start at 8am) and nobody ever says sh. Another accountant just lost his apartment due to it being condemned (no fault of his) and has a baby and another due next month, but my CFO straight up bu es him for "not being engaged."
    via Swimming_Health_6114
  • 03
    Nobody does their work but me and all I get for it is more work and no pay raise. All of the executives left early today again even though we are down 3 people lo and behold, they - expect me to hold the fort down. Answer the phones and manage the maintenance techs even though I'm just an accountant.
    via Swimming_Health_6114
  • 04
    So what's did I do? I left at 1 pm after lunch. Nobody has the balls to say anything to me so I'm gonna take advantage of it. My wife had the day off and is pregnant so I'm now laying in bed with her, and have been for a few hours. Today has been rad.
    via Swimming_Health_6114

  • When you realize that you're not being watched, doors start to open up around you. When you start asking for what you want, you realize that everything is possible. That's what one worker did when he exercised his right to walk the heck out. We feel so locked in by the rules sometimes that we work ourselves into a corner, and forget that we have free will. But we do have free Will. We can actually do whatever we want at any time. That doesn't mean that we're not going to face consequences for it, but it shouldn't stop us from throwing ourselves into action when we can. You might learn that you can get away with a lot more than you thought you might. The employee in this story certainly learned that after realizing that they were the only one in their office who took anything seriously. But they weren't going to let that cause harm in their life. They were gonna scrape together the dignity that they had left and exercise their right to enjoy their life too. In doing that, they learned a valuable lesson. Scroll on for all the details of the story and see what you think about it.

  • 05

    Commenters wondered what might be going on here.

    SquidgyTheWhale I would get the water in your office checked.
    via SquidgyTheWhale
  • 06
    NP
    via Adriano Pucciarelli

    A person walks out of an office building

  • 07
    dupe-of-a-dupe Enjoy! Me and my coworkers I'm friends with are getting to that point bc we are the reliable group (bc we've been there awhile) there is a large group of "teachers pet" old timers that get away with EVERYTHING
    via dupe-of-a-dupe
  • 08
    (and do nothing) and of course most of the new people are useless. We are tired of being the backbone so we have all been doing. the bare minimum bc f these people and the hour cutting and all that sh. Enjoy the rest with your wife!
    via dupe-of-a-dupe
  • 09
    Neat_Shallot_606 My co-worker always left his phone just slightly off the hook. So by looking it looks fine and if anyone says something he can claim ignorance. Take notes from your co- workers slowly do less and less. Blend in to the wallpaper.
    via Neat_Shallot_606
  • 10
    jonny_vegas Are you relying on your companies benefits for your wife's pregnancy? That, for me, would be the only reason to put up with the insanity for a few more months.
    via jonny_vegas
  • 11
    ListenLady58 Sounds an awful lot like my old job. They found out a few of us were venting about how badly we were treated there and they fired us. Then they struggled to find anyone to do the work for as little pay as what they were giving us, so they hired
    via ListenLady58
  • 12
    one guy to do it all. The intel I have there said it's been an absolute nightmare since we were all let go with constant system problems, outstanding critical tickets and more than half the staff is unmotivated and doesn't work.
    via ListenLady58
  • 13
    Emm_withoutha_L-88 Just one thing to remember, just because you're necessary for them to survive doesn't mean they won't do the stupid thing and fire you.
    via Emm_withoutha_L-88
  • 14
    They seem extremely stupid and like the kind of people who would be more vindictive than business savvy. Meaning if they start. noticing that you're not being their reliable workhorse who's covering for the other workers then they could easily throw a temper tantrum over it.
    via Emm_withoutha_L-88
  • 15
    Just saying if you start to get any pushback to be careful and maybe do some of the performative bulls that would convince them you're still trying just as hard. I only say this cuz the job market is now.mo brutal right
    via Emm_withoutha_L-88
  • 16
    hw999 do you own stock in the company? No? then stop trying so hard, its not you problem to care.
    via hw999
  • 17
    urcrazyifurnormal 'Same thing that'll make you laugh will make you cry'. Sounds nice and chaotic!
    via urcrazyifurnormal
  • 18
    letsdotacos Act your wage is the best advice ive had in so long. Good work is rewarded with more work. Ive recently messed things up on purpose at work. They jist looking for another work horse, not a peer
    via letsdotacos

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boss antiwork workplace-stories job bosses work working reddit story workplace bad bosses toxic-work-environment
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