Why I Would Rather Leave a Job than Be Disrespected

My boss was out to get me, and it backfired.

Before I begin, I will make it clear that this is not a bashing post. I will not be calling any company or individual out for the respect of everyone involved. Rather, this is one lesson that life taught me the hard way, and I wish nothing more than to share it with you.

It’s fair to say I used to be a workaholic. Being a single mom for many years, I didn’t have a choice in the matter. You do what you have to do. And I did while maintaining my debts.

I also had more than one job. I worked at home and outside the home. I used to call my outside income, “my stable job.”

Eventually, I proved myself a hard worker and got hired on for a company that I stayed with for years while enduring many things I could complain about here, but I’m not going to.

I stayed because I made decent money, and that used to be the only thing I cared about. I have mouths at home to feed, and that will always be the priority.

After nearly three years of hard work, a back injury, doctor bills, and hundreds of hours of overtime later — they made up a reason to fire me, anyway.

Sneaky as this was, I followed the correct call-off procedure like I always did. My badge to the door was deactivated two days before they said I “no called, no-showed”, and somehow all proof I called in at all had been deleted. So, there I was terminated.

I dreaded interviews for other jobs. I would rather get a root canal. How do you explain to a possible new employer you were fired due to marrying someone everyone seemed to hold a grudge against? Without sounding like a complete drama queen. Because long story short that is what happened. If asked to describe what the work environment was like, I would say tribal at fairest.

That’s another story. Well, actually, many stories that would make this post a mad rant. The moral is I put up with a lot of disrespect, overstepping, and drama to keep a job that didn’t mind that I had children at home to provide for. They replaced me before I even knew I was gone.

I vowed that I would not waste my time, again. In my next place of employment, I would have higher standards. One of those would be respected.

Disrespect didn’t take very long to find me in my next job, however. I was introduced to my boss. Someone who thought just because they were a boss they were somehow better than everyone else there. Someone who forgot that they were also indeed, human. They are easy to spot because I have encountered many promoted individuals who used to be workers, on a power trip.

It took one incident, and I marched straight for the door. Just like I told them I would when I hired in. All I ask is for pay for my labor and respect. There are plenty of other places that would pay me while treating me well if you don’t.

After being moved around for a month training on all the different jobs in the building, my new boss called me stupid on my first-day training on a new job. She didn’t just call me stupid; she used a tone my mother would use if I wasn’t nearly thirty years old with children of my own. Not because I was stupid, but because I was moving slower than those who had worked the job for years. After all, I was training. The old me would have swallowed my pride and thought twice about the paycheck. Grinned and bared it. The new me decided to stop my work and look at her square in the eyes.

Most likely a million regrets later and a line only my silence could retrace, I could tell this made her uncomfortable as she darted her gaze quickly away. I put down my work and headed straight for the door. I called upper management the next day.

If you want hard workers to stay, better hold your team leads accountable.

I thought I would regret this decision, but I haven’t. Actually, this was the first time quitting anything felt liberating to me. I was proud of myself. By respecting myself enough to know I was only going to devote energy to those that appreciated it, I found freedom.

I hope my kids follow my example when they navigate their futures. It’s never just a job interview, but also an employer interview. It’s never just a source of income, but a tree that bears fruit in your life. What will you plant?

I feel somewhat obligated to explain I would never suggest anyone to up and end their job and be income-less. My advice is: 1) If you are unhappy or being disrespected, seek new opportunities. Better is out there. 2) Having more than one stream of income is ideal in avoiding anybody ripping the finance rug out from under your feet.

I haven’t worked for a big company since. I work at home as a writer, and I happily do gigs on the side. Now, I proudly call my work-from-home job, my stable job.