Boss refuses to admit they underpaid employee after they quit, then proceeds to blame them for their lack of empathy for the business: ‘The working conditions are not sustainable’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jun 23, 2026 10:30 AM EDT

What is the appropriate response to an employee's letter of resignation?

There are a few ways this could go, and all of them would be acceptable. Some employers would take the resignation, say 'alright,' respectfully, and move on with their day. They don't give way to emotions or show any sign of remorse that one of their employees is leaving, and honestly? That is perfectly valid and probably the most desirable response for most employees who are quitting.

Some employees actually would like to see some emotion coming out of their employers as they tell them they quit. They want to see the employer feel bad that a valued employee is leaving, and if you throw in an attempt to get them to say, that's even better. A little emotion is not necessarily a bad response, after all, we're all humans. If you worked for someone for a while, it makes sense if you want to see that they are even a little bit upset about your decision to leave.

The one response no one wants to get from their employer as they hand in their resignation letter is anger. Some employers are so mad about the prospect of an employee coming up and telling them that they are not happy with their job that they would go as far as putting all of the blame on the employee, instead of admitting that some of it is their fault.

The response to the employee's resignation in the story below is truly something else. While the employee tried to be as respectful as possible while they explained the reason for their quitting, the employer couldn't have responded with more accusations. All the employee said was that the working conditions were not sustainable due to the tip and pay system, but the employer decided to throw accusations about their integrity, selfishness, and work ethic.

The employee shared both the resignation letter and the boss's response in the story below, so keep scrolling to read all about it.

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  • 01

    The most insane response to a resignation I have ever received

    This letter serves as formal notice of my resignation from my position as a server effective immediately as of at today, June 20, 2026. The working conditions are no longer sustainable for me. The compensation has consistently fallen short of what the role demands - today, for instance, I
    via huge_bozo
  • 02
    earned approximately $10 in tips in tandem with my base server wage for three hours of work. The cost of commuting to this location in gas and vehicle wear is no longer justifiable at the level of pay I've been receiving over the past few weeks, which I understand
    via huge_bozo
  • 03
    is mostly dependent on the amount customers tip and not up to you both. I appreciate the opportunity and am grateful for the experience I have earned over the past six months, but I am unable to continue under these circumstances.
    via huge_bozo
  • 04
    Person holding 20-dollar bills.
    via Igal Ness

    Person holding 20-dollar bills.

  • 05

    Boss's Reply:

    Hello, After all we have done to accommodate your schedules, time off requests, and urgent call offs due to unforeseen circumstances, i figured you would have enough common courtesy for not only me, but for my hardworking staff that has to
    via huge_bozo
  • 06
    cover your shifts due to your poor excuse to voluntarily forfeiting your position. We have encouraged all employees, including yourself, to communicate to or myself if there are unsustainable working conditions.
    via huge_bozo
  • 07
    As a matter of fact, the past 2 weeks you have worked 30 hours, and walked out with over $300 in tips PLUS your hourly wage (which averages to almost $16 per hour).
    via huge_bozo
  • 08
    Although your lack of empathy for my business and your ex- coworkers and your lack of validity of an excuse, your immediate resignation is accepted and you will be removed from my roster immediately.
    via huge_bozo
  • 09
    Blue is my resignation letter, grey is the boss's response lol... honestly thought I was being pretty nice here by letting them know and not just completely ghosting the place AND also not placing the blame on them
    via huge_bozo
  • 10
    entirely for the low pay I get. Don't know where he got those hours and tips I supposedly made from because I did not work or earn anywhere close to what he's saying! Honestly after last weekend where I made $120 in
    via huge_bozo
  • 11
    tips for 16 hours of work and then today only making $10 before being sent home for slow business, I literally just can't afford driving 15 mins there and back anymore. Also how could they make my specific
    via huge_bozo
  • 12
    situation any more sustainable for me?? My tables haven't been tipping enough for this job to be worth it, how are they going to make my tables tip more Imao..
    via huge_bozo
  • 13
    Btw we're in an at-will state. LOL good riddance to this place
    via huge_bozo
  • 14
    Server standing in front of a packed restaurant, depicted by models.
    via Negley Stockman

    Server standing in front of a packed restaurant, depicted by models.

  • 15
    PORt1ng4Duty Almost 16 an hour? Are you posting this from your yacht?
    via PORt1ng4Duty
  • 16
    Naps_and_cheese I cant believe they act like 15 hours a week is a flex. $300 in tips that are specifically not paid by them. They pay you $6/hour.
    via Naps_and_cheese
  • 17
    Honestly, that should be your response. "You pay me 6 dollars and hour and expect me to be grateful for it. Fk you."
    via Naps_and_cheese
  • 18
    desperaterobots 'You were supposed to TELL US it was unsustainable! How were WE supposed to know?!?!?!' ~ actual business owners
    via desperaterobots
  • 19
    W_Skunk Cabbage "... resignation is accepted..." Haha. Yeah, no s Not like you can reject it....
    via W_Skunk_Cabbage
  • 20
    Several-Doubt8352 You put too much into that resignation letter, just state you are gone after such and such date, full stop
    via Several-Doubt8352

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Tags

boss resignation letter workplace-stories employee manager job server tales-from-the-workplace restaurant workplace business quitting
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