Some job resignations go smoothly, while others take an unexpected turn. A Reddit user recently shared how his daughter’s resignation didn’t go as planned—but she handled it like a pro. Instead of backing down when her boss refused to accept her two-week notice, she stood firm and got the last word in a situation many employees fear.
The proud father recounted the story: "My daughter has been planning on turning in her resignation at her job for some time, with today being the day. She combed through the employee handbook for any policies and found all policies surrounding PTO payout. Anyway, she typed a resignation letter, walked into her boss's office, and had the talk."
Boss refuses resignation, but she has a backup plan
After submitting her notice, her boss simply refused to accept it. Instead of panicking, she quickly adapted.
"She called me and told me her boss wouldn't take her notice, so she went back to the desk and emailed her manager (her boss) and her director (her boss's boss) her resignation. She said in her email that two weeks from Friday would be her last day."
Less than an hour later, HR arrived at her desk with a decision—she had to pack up and leave immediately. But she had already anticipated this move and cleared her desk the previous week.
As she was being escorted out, her boss had one last request. He wanted to go over some final questions about her workload before she left. Her response? Legendary.
"Too late, you rejected my two-week notice, see what you get?"
— Reddit user's daughter
With that, she walked away, ready to start her new job the following Monday.
Reddit reacts: applause and shared experiences
The Reddit community was quick to rally behind her. The original post, titled "A priceless rejection of a two-week notice," racked up over 13,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments from users who either praised her or shared similar experiences.
"Once you give notice, they are legally obligated to pay for that full time period."
— u/LP14255
"I hate that we feel guilty about quitting, and then they do this to us!"
— u/rubydosa
"My manager threatened to tear up my resignation. I told them I could keep printing them all day."
— u/tcollins137
The takeaway: stand your ground
This Reddit user's daughter set an example for how to handle a difficult resignation with confidence. Jobs can come and go, but self-respect and fair treatment should never be negotiable.
Too often, employees feel guilty about quitting, fearing they’ll leave their team in a bind. Yet, as this story shows, companies don’t always extend the same courtesy. Her decision to prepare, remain professional, and set boundaries is something many employees can learn from.
If you're planning to quit a job, take a page from her playbook: know your rights, anticipate your employer’s reaction, and never let someone dismiss your worth.
A cleverly disguised note carried a promise of help. Reddit
Arthur Duncan performed on the Lawrence Welk Show and the Betty White show. Public Domain