Manager complains when new employee walks out 20 minutes into shift: 'You were fired as an employer'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Aug 21, 2026 3:15 PM EDT

If an employer can fire somebody on the spot, why can't an employee do the same?

Although the notice period has long been seen as the only way to proceed when an employee wants to leave a job, it isn't like it has to be a requirement. If anything, it is a show of respect to a company that quite a lot of them do not actually deserve. Management can get rid of an employee without any warning and without giving them time to formulate a backup plan, after all.

The fact is that both parties are needed in the employer-employee relationship, and an employee has more free will in certain situations than employers would like them to know about. There is only so much they can do if somebody wants to quit and not tell them about it. Frustrating as it can be from a manager's perspective, it is one of the reasons that they get the bigger paycheck. Also, it can often tell you something about what kind of work environment is being cultivated. The only issue is that the type of people who cause sudden walkouts are not usually the type of people to self-reflect in this way.

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  • Is this really the mindset of employees?

    via themuslimprofessor

  • A manager took to TikTok to complain about an experience that he had with a new hire recently. She turned up for her very first day on an eight-hour shift, but then disappeared within 20 minutes of starting her new role.

    The manager was confused and took multiple steps to contact her, although he had already decided that he no longer wanted her in the role. When he was able to talk to her, he was informed that she had decided to walk out because the job wasn't right for her. He felt insulted that his workplace could be rejected so suddenly.

  • White Rice and Adobo if someone walks out of a job after 20 minutes you may need to reevaluate your culture there
    via White Rice and Adobo

  • People wanted to know the other side of the story.

    rk00000111 If she left in the first 20 mins, I reckon there must have been a big reason for a reaction that quick
    via rk00000111
  • Todd The "you embarrassed the company you embarrassed myself" is all you need to know...she clocked it and clocked out
    via Todd
  • 1977MiAn She quit. You didnt fire her.
    via 1977MiAn

  • Arguably, the inconvenience now was better than the experience further down the line.

    lovinaji So let me get this straight... Someone worked for 20 minutes, realized the job wasn't for them, and left. Now the employer is upset because they didn't say, "By the way, I quit." What was he expecting? A farewell speech? A handwritten resignation letter? A thank-you card after 20 minutes? → You don't have to like how someone leaves, but if they worked those 20 minutes, they're still entitled to be paid for those 20 minutes. A bruised ego isn't a legal exemption from paying wages.
    via lovinaji
  • zigzag she hurts his ego so much 6000
    via zigzag
  • human Dude you don't get it. She wasn't fired you were fired as an employer.
    via human

  • She could see what was wrong straight away.

    Marke Kennedy Sounds like she was intelligent and detected multiple red flags PE jumped ship! Lucky for her!! then
    via Marke Kennedy
  • joshthejosh Yeah I'm gonna need her side of the story bro. There's just way too much information missing.
    via joshthejosh
  • LF she has the right to walk away. respect ppl choices
    via LF

  • It's not like things would be that much different the other way around.

    Kyzaa If a workplace doesn't want you ...they don't give you notice they walk you out
    via Kyzaa
  • Trollmaster22 Nah, she just know her worth
    via Trollmaster22
  • kasperl I hope she goes far. Absolute queen.
    via kasperl

  • It was time to do some soul-searching.

    Maria Fridbertsdotti Perhaps you need to be introspective and evaluate the working conditions and environment you are providing?
    via Maria Fridbertsdotti
  • Fenrir BREAKING NEWS: Manager with fragile ego discovers employees are humans with free will
    via Fenrir
  • Elsie what she saw from applying and interview didn't match her day 1 experience to the extent she noped out immediately.
    via Elsie

  • She knew what was coming if she stayed.

    Ab76 Checkmate- she could probably already smell the toxic environment!
    via Ab76
  • Mac she exercised her free will
    via Mac

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manager new hire satisfying quitting story workplace
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