Workplace tensions can quickly escalate when health, trust, and poor management intersect. In one such case, an employee resigned from their job after facing pressure and accusations from their supervisor during a period of illness. Despite informing the team of their condition, the employee was met with suspicion and questioned about their productivity. But after submitting medical test results along with their resignation, the situation took an unexpected turn—the company’s leadership, including the CEO, began urging them to return.
The incident, shared on Reddit, has opened up discussions from users around employee treatment, accountability in management, and whether trust can be rebuilt once broken.
Illness Met With Scrutiny
The employee had been unwell for several days and, while recovering, was also in the middle of moving house. Despite communicating their need for rest, their manager repeatedly contacted them with a mix of urgent and minor work queries. The employee said they tried to respond when possible, but due to ongoing fatigue, were unable to fully engage. Attempts to clarify that they were still sick were reportedly met with further pressure.
By midweek, the situation worsened. The manager scheduled a meeting and used it to criticize the employee’s prioritization of tasks from the previous Friday, expressing dissatisfaction with deadlines and deliverables. Although the issues in question were linked to the manager’s own previous instructions and file naming, the blame was placed squarely on the employee. Additional demands were made, including immediate hour-by-hour task tracking, despite the employee still recovering from illness and preparing for a house move.
Tension Reaches Boiling Point
When the employee took Thursday off due to worsening symptoms, the manager accused them of failing to communicate properly, even though the employee had documented prior approval for leave. The situation escalated further when the manager questioned the validity of their illness, stated that they should not still be sick after three days of antibiotics, and speculated that they were possibly using the illness as an excuse to prepare for their move. The employee was told to attend a webinar despite not being well enough and was asked to provide a doctor’s note based on a recently introduced policy.
According to the employee, this message was not written solely by their manager but was co-authored by her boss. This raised further red flags about middle management’s role in the ordeal.
Medical Proof and Final Exit
In response, the employee submitted their resignation directly to senior leadership, attaching their medical test results and a screenshot of the manager’s message. The resignation sparked immediate reaction from company executives, including the CEO, who began reaching out with messages urging the employee to reconsider.
The employee shared in the comments that the CEO confirmed parts of the contentious message were crafted by higher-level managers, suggesting the issue was not limited to a single supervisor. Despite this, the employee was offered a temporary arrangement: to return for a two-week period while reporting directly to the CEO, with the problematic manager removed from their reporting chain during this time.
Reddit Reacts: Advice and Warnings
The incident, shared on Reddit, prompted widespread support for the employee and criticism of the company’s handling of the situation. Many commenters warned against returning to an environment where toxic management is tolerated. Others expressed concern that the company might be offering temporary support only to avoid disruption or buy time while searching for a replacement.
Some users advised leveraging the situation to negotiate better terms, including a raise, noting that if the CEO was personally involved in asking them back, the employee held valuable bargaining power. A few commenters with similar experiences shared that walking away had led to better opportunities elsewhere and encouraged the employee to prioritize long-term well-being over short-term repair.
While the temporary change in reporting structure may offer a short-term solution, concerns about the broader organizational culture persist. The employee revealed that their former manager remains in the company due to ties with important grants, making her position secure.