How One Woman Quit A Nightmare Job And Reclaimed Her Life 

What’s sad is how many people relate to this. And I think for many of us. We are quitting a boss not the work. Which says that upper management needs to be good at managing workers. And let the workers manage the business.

As a tech girly myself, as soon as I heard "toxic work environment" I just knew in my soul you'd be talking about tech. 😬

The problem we have is because Most people always taught that " you only need a good job to become rich. These billionaires are operating on a whole other playbook that many don't even know exists.

This is the theory that was shared with me by an older colleague. You should stay at a job if you have Atleast 2 out these 4 things- 1. You like your role, feel challenged and satisfied by the work. 2. You feel you are fairly compensated 3. You like your manager and colleagues 4. You feel you have work- life balance. This has worked well for me.

She touched on something really interesting that I don’t hear talked about a lot. Some industries have a norm of everyone learning from and teaching each other, while others have norms of guard your knowledge like it’s arcane secrets of life. It can be hard to be in those industries if you enjoy learning and genuinely want to improve.

This woman is telling a story I also lived through last year. Worked in that industry for three months and it was the most stressful, horrible experience of my life. The CEO was a nutcase, and I was in clinical burnout after I left. Don’t let the $$ fool you, it’s not worth it!

I had a really bad experience at an investment firm. All of those on my team where men and no women and no women of color. When I had health issues my accommodation wasn’t acknowledged and it wasn’t even a conversation had about talking to HR about it. I advocated for myself and my accommodation was approved. I am still working here at this large mutual fund company that boasts about diversity and inclusion. I saw no women of color in upper management on our team so I knew that I was not going to move up. My masters degree is void at this company it means nothing. At this point I am just pushing to the end of June this year and working to change employers ASAP. I do not recommend people quitting their roles without at minimum 3 months or more in savings. Also looking into temp roles will be helpful. I wonder how this conversation changes with employees without degrees.

Boy, oh boy, in late 2021 I accepted a job offer in one of tech giants, moved to Europe from Russia, then the war started and the job market crushed. The combo of me not knowing how to present myself in an American corporate setup + horrible management led me to be demoted by the end of my probation. And to say that the atmosphere here is toxic is to say nothing. In Russia I would just flip them off and quit. But I wasn't in Russia. So I couldn't go back (I'm not sure I will ever be able to come back), no one was hiring, my visa is dependent on my employment, and I've spent 2 years there. I think I've lost my mind, tbh. Luckily, the market has improved, and it seems like I'll be able to switch jobs soon.

I woke up this morning to see this recommended for me and it was absolute perfect timing. Like, my situation is almost exactly the same to a T. I also work in comms, also moved to another country for a new opportunity and landed in a toxic environment where I feel absolutely trapped and miserable. I cried myself to sleep last night questioning if I can afford to go on another day (both emotionally and financially in my case). Word of advice: if you take a job abroad, really understand what you’re getting into. It’s not as easy to leave a toxic situation when you’re tied to a visa and have invested thousands of dollars in moving elsewhere.

Erika's comment on being the operational support for other ppl, even though theyre not your manager, is so true. They werr mostly men, and one women. Its disappointing that those toxic people were so deficient or selfish, they couldnt understand that sleep and time away from works makes people productive

As someone who is now on a career break after working (and being laid off from) a toxic environment, this is so relatable. I'm glad I had the tenacity to stick it though so that I could get a package, but would advise most people that it's not worth the headache. Also, toxic environments also show up as micro-environments in what might seemingly seem like great environments for others. It seems like now more than other, the experience of the workplace is unique to the individual.

The details are different (I was much closer to home and the people I was with weren't necessarily toxic), but I had a similar super fast burn out experience with a new job, and the ability to stay with my family and regroup myself for a couple of months afterwards is something I will be forever grateful for

Not to get too into conspiracy but what if the company thought that sponsoring someone’s visa would tie them to their shitty workplace 😮 feels so icky to think but not crazy

I started my career in management consulting and strategy consulting - and I felt exactly the same, particularly the comment on focusing on optics and politics rather than the work. It led to habits that were hard to shake off in my subsequent roles.

As someone in tech, I can say with confidence that the tech industry, like any growing industry, with (until recently), a lot of money swirling around it, has some very hard-working, deserving and intelligent people, but it also has all manor grifters and opportunists who are simply in it for what they can get out of it, and deliver very little value.

My three favorite channels: The Financial Diet, Stock Brotha, & How Money Works. Make my week complete! 🔥 🔥 🔥

How are you guys coping with this inflation? Even with the downturn of economy and ever increasing life standards

I was listening to this on a podcast and I really like this video. My first job out of college has turned out to be toxic and I can't even apply for other jobs because I am so traumatized and I believe the issue is the industry. However, I just decided to start going all in on things that I like and completely prioritizing them and I think I'm on the right path now

I worked at an accounting firm where they went out of their way to make me fail. When I actually succeeded in the face of all the difficulties they then tried to convince the clients to take on someone else as the lead. When the clients refused, my boss told me without any shame that he tried to get me taken off the account.

This was a great episode. I had a job that I previously had enjoyed, but my management had changed and it became unpleasant (toxic apparently is the word now). But I really needed to stay at a few years longer in order to max out my salary to get a better pension. So I asked my doctor to prescribe something that would help me tolerate my boss. Buspar worked out great for the two years I needed it to. Then management changed and I didn't need the Buspar anymore. Never underestimate the power of pharmaceuticals.

loved everything about this episode. filled with so much wisdom and practical skills/ process! merci 🙏🏽

I'm on the same boat right now, planning my exit from a highly toxic work environment. It's been a lonely, anxiety-filled time for me so it's really therapeutic to hear someone else go through this same journey. Thanks for this episode, TFD

I’m currently trying to get out of a toxic work place while being a full time student so I’m going insane. The work drama is absolutely unacceptable people openly talk about terminating other people I need to get out asap

We didn't have a spaghetti factory in about 25 years in Richmond, VA. It was one of the first dates me and my wife went on😊😊😊

This episode could be a condensed version of what I've seen in tech. I imagine the VC side is so much more toxic but there really is a culture problem in a lot of organizations. I think the problem I've had getting out of my toxic workplace is I've had little luck finding other alternatives. Every large corporation I've looked at seems to have the same fundamental misalignment of values. Shame that's where my skillset is most valued. Excellent episode overall.

3 months? That's the probation period. Was this a forced resignation in lieu of termination? In HR it's called making them feel part of the process.

Fellow Montrealer, so smart and inspiring.

This conversation pairs well with Ashley c fords TFD discussion . I don’t want to trivialize this speakers struggles but at the end of her horrendous ordeal , she as able to go home to her restauranteur family home and find another job through those networks … just saying

Ugh the slack message insanity is real. It’s one of the worst apps for jobs that require productive focus

3 months? Good lord... I don't feel so bad now. I've been trying to make my current situation work for almost 3 years 😂😂

I see some defenders of Elon musk have entered the chat and are triggered 😒

Wow! Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.

The US chain is the Spaghetti Warehouse, not the Spaghetti Factory.

Congrats on the 1M subbies!

she sounds smart ❤

I wish more in depth questions were asked about what the interviewee spoke about rather than no direct reaffirming responses. I would have loved to hear you she navigated the interview process after her quick departure from her silicon Valley job. Hence this would be important to the target audience

Um The Spaghetti Factory is by far superior to the olive garden.

If it was not mentioned in the video reading the book Burn Book by Kara Swisher a tech reporter before the Bay Area had bloomed and computers became something everyone could use. Wow! The tech leaders were often terrible people to interact with. Plenty of dirt on Elon Musk too. An easy read and is well written considering she is a tech reporter. She interacted with the biggest names in computer related tech.

The way Musk went in and fired so many people before taking the time to get to know who they were and what they did was not a display of management or wisdom but of ego, rashness, and cruelty. It wasn’t good business.

Why only three months? She said she was told about the revolving door of personnel so why didn't she do any research on this company? IMO she probably didnt fit in with the intensity of the position. It happens. She probably was so thrilled about being chosen over other qualified people and moving to California (who wouldn't), she didnt weigh the pros, cons and other options. That too happens. Also I didn't really get whole toxic accusations against her boss setting her up to fail thing. Could it be she was amazing in the interview and just didn't live up to her boss's/the job's expectations? Too one sided and not enough info in this episode. Btw, Chelsea, love you girl, but please chill on the Elon bashing. We get it. His life and choices don't meld with yours but its getting to the point you sound petty and jealous. That's not you.

This girl’s lament over a 3-month opportunity she had neither the maturity, grit nor tenacity to endure without crying a river over, is ridiculous. If you pack up your bags and run home to Mommy and Daddy when the end of 90-day probation hits, it’s a mutually bad decision between you and the company.

Lost me at 15 mins. Why does she keep bringing up Elon, what does he have to do with her job?

I'm favoured, $60k every week! I can now give back to the locals in my community and also support God's work and the church. God bless America.