Last-minute exits are nothing new to HR departments. However, a few scenarios can be startling when an employee hits “send” on their resignation email just minutes after their salary is credited. A recent viral post on LinkedIn, shared by an Indian HR professional, has triggered a fierce debate on workplace ethics.
Resignation After 5 Minutes of Receiving Salary!
In the now-viral LinkedIn post, an Indian HR professional described the incident in sharp detail.
“Salary credited at 10:00 AM, resignation emailed at 10:05 AM,” the post began. The post continued, “We invested hours in onboarding, and the team spent weeks training this employee. And then, just minutes after the first salary hit their account, they walked away.” (sic)
Calling it a “question of professional ethics,” the HR lashed out that the company had trusted the employee and offered them a platform to grow, only to see them exit at the first opportunity.
The post continued, “If something didn’t feel right. You could have spoken up. You could have asked for clarity or help. You could have made a conscious exit, not a convenient one. Growth doesn’t come with your first paycheck; it comes with perseverance.” (sic)
While some LinkedIn users applauded the HR for speaking up, the comment section soon turned into a battlefield of opinions.
One user shot back, “HR doesn’t mean Human Resource for HR Professionals, HR means Humiliate and Harass Resource for all of them.
Another was more blunt and wrote, “Salaries are paid for work already done, not as an act of charity. If someone resigns after getting paid, it means they fulfilled their obligation for that month.” (sic)
Meanwhile, a third user wrote, “There is no right or wrong. There are instances when one resigned, his entire salary goes on hold and will be settled only in full and final settlement. How the resigned person will survive for 2 or 3 months.” (sic)
The post struck a nerve, reigniting the long-running conversation about loyalty, work culture, and the balance of power between employers and employees.