After 10 years at his job, one sentence in a meeting pushed him to quit

A company’s work culture can make or break an employee’s commitment, no matter how long they’ve been with the organization. For one worker, a single sentence during a district-wide meeting shattered any remaining sense of loyalty, leading them to quit after a decade on the job.

Reddit user u/Shootchyask shared their experience, explaining how the meeting’s theme—"There's no such thing as work/life balance, so enjoy the job you do"—made them rethink everything. The internet quickly rallied behind them, with many calling out the toxic mindset behind such a statement.

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A breaking point after years of loyalty

The employee had spent 10 years working for a national retail chain, always believing in company loyalty—until that moment.

"That's what finally broke the barrier in my brain that company loyalty doesn't mean a thing if they are just going to work you to death," they wrote.

Their post resonated with many, especially in an era where employee well-being is increasingly being prioritized over blind dedication to a job.

Representative photo by wocintechchat | Unsplash

Experts weigh in: ‘This mentality is toxic’

After the post gained traction, Newsweek spoke with Jonathan Hinton Westover, a professor of organizational leadership and change at Utah Valley University. He didn’t hold back in his assessment:

"Personally, if I worked at a company that had this culture, I would be actively looking for a new job with a different organization."

He added that this "no work/life balance" mentality is not only unhealthy but also exploitative, ultimately pushing employees away rather than motivating them.

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Internet reacts: ‘Enjoy staying on the dock’

The story sparked a wave of reactions, with employees sharing their own quitting moments after encountering similar red flags in leadership.

One user shared a hilarious resignation story:

"Had a friend leave our company when the CEO gave a speech about us all being on a boat sailing together and if we don’t work together we may as well stay on the dock. Her resignation letter just said, 'I enjoy staying on the dock.'”

Image Source: Reddit | u/zback636

Another commenter, u/RebCata, recounted quitting over ethical concerns:

"I left a company after I raised concerns about some seriously unethical things they were doing to vulnerable populations – elderly, sick, and poor people – and the CEO told me that was how the industry operated and if I couldn’t handle it, I should leave. Bet."

Image Source: Reddit | u/sirscooter

Meanwhile, u/gatorpaid summed up the realization many workers are having:

What companies can learn from happier workplaces

Not every workplace promotes overwork and burnout. In contrast, some countries emphasize healthy work-life balance, proving that productivity doesn’t have to come at the cost of well-being.

Miika Makitalo, CEO of HappyOrNot, explained why Finland—dubbed the “World’s Happiest Country”—excels in work culture. Speaking with Newsweek, he pointed out:

"Managers are encouraged to think about how they can serve their team members to deliver their best."

Instead of treating employees as expendable, Finnish workplaces trust their workers and offer flexible work practices, which, according to Makitalo, transcend beyond the workplace and into everyday life.

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A job isn’t worth sacrificing your well-being

For u/Shootchyask, quitting wasn’t just about one sentence—it was about realizing that no job is worth sacrificing a work-life balance that doesn’t exist.

And as more employees wake up to that same realization, companies that refuse to adapt may find themselves with a workforce that’s already walking away.

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