He left a high-paying job—what happened next is shocking

A professional attempting to reinvent his career recently reached an emotional breaking point and shared his experience on the subreddit Reddit, specifically within the Indian Workplace community. After holding in months of frustration, he finally decided to express what he had been enduring for over a year.

Roughly eighteen months earlier, he had made a bold decision to change his career path. He walked away from a secure, high-paying position, invested time in learning new skills through a course, and willingly restarted his journey at an entry-level position. Since he had sufficient savings, he felt comfortable taking this step backward financially, believing it would pay off in the long run.

However, his optimism took an early hit when he began searching for internships. He discovered that a large majority of opportunities offered no pay at all. Determined to value his work, he refused to accept unpaid roles. Eventually, he managed to secure a paid internship, which he believed was partly due to his prior professional background.


Unfortunately, this opportunity soon turned into a stressful experience. The organization was extremely small, consisting of only a handful of employees, and the founder’s leadership style proved to be overwhelming. During the internship, he was subjected to constant check-ins, often receiving calls almost every hour demanding updates. Meetings would drag on endlessly, and the tone of communication was frequently harsh and disrespectful. Despite these challenges, he persevered. He worked long hours, maintained detailed records, and consistently met deadlines, hoping his dedication would earn him a permanent position.

His efforts eventually paid off when he was offered a full-time role. Although the salary was modest for someone starting fresh, he accepted it and gradually adapted to the chaotic work environment. Over time, he realized that the company was not the founder’s primary focus, as the individual’s main source of income came from real estate ventures. This explained the lack of seriousness and structure within the organization.

As he continued working, several troubling patterns became evident. His salary was consistently delayed, never arriving on schedule. There was no formal leave policy, and taking time off often meant compensating with weekend work. Expectations would shift unpredictably, often at the last minute, leaving employees constantly on edge. Additionally, there were reports of similar treatment toward other staff members, including delayed payments and instances of verbal mistreatment.

Unlike many, he did not remain silent. He regularly raised concerns about late salaries, unrealistic demands, and unfair practices. However, after one and a half years of enduring these conditions, he was abruptly dismissed via email without any prior conversation or warning. When he sought clarification, he was casually informed that the company was undergoing restructuring due to a sale, and that his termination was unrelated to his performance.

Although he still had a two-month notice period and remained confident about finding a new opportunity, a recent incident deeply affected him. A month into his notice period, he had yet to receive his salary. On a Monday morning, he was unexpectedly instructed to work over the weekend and take weekdays off instead, with no prior notice. When he declined to work on Sunday and was questioned about his refusal, he found himself emotionally overwhelmed.

Usually calm and composed, he admitted that he finally broke down under the accumulated stress. The experience left him questioning how such workplace behavior could persist without accountability or empathy. While he acknowledged his own financial stability, he expressed concern for others who might not be as fortunate and are forced to tolerate such treatment.

Despite everything, he continues to prepare for a transition, studying alongside his current responsibilities. Still, he admitted that maintaining motivation during such a difficult phase has been incredibly challenging.