When Corporate Karma Strikes: Sweet Workplace Justice

Have you ever fantasized about the perfect exit from a toxic job? That moment when everything aligns just right, and you get to walk away with your dignity intact—and maybe a little something extra? Most of us trudge through difficult work situations, dreaming of the day we’ll finally escape. We rehearse our resignation speeches in the shower and imagine the shocked faces of those who made our professional lives miserable. For most, these remain just daydreams. But for some lucky souls, providence conspires to deliver a moment of pure, sweet workplace justice. This is one such story.

The Setup

For six years, I worked as an executive assistant at a corporation where my boss was nothing short of wonderful. We had a productive, respectful relationship that made coming to work a pleasure. Then tragedy struck—my boss died unexpectedly, leaving both me and the company at a crossroads.

The partners weren’t quite sure what to do with me. After some deliberation, they decided to reassign me to another partner who had, shall we say, a “reputation.” This partner had trouble keeping assistants, which should have been my first red flag. But being practical and not wanting to face unemployment, I accepted the position.

“How bad could it be?” I naively thought.

Enter: The Nightmare Boss

Bad. It could be very, very bad.

For an entire year, I endured working for a man who redefined the term “difficult boss.” He wasn’t just demanding—he was a walking management disaster. Mean-spirited? Check. Shady dealings? Double-check. Disorganized to the point of chaos? Triple-check.

This man lied about everything. And I mean everything. From why he missed meetings to why reports weren’t finished, truth was a foreign concept to him. He avoided his fellow partners like they carried some contagious disease, ducking into hallways or pretending to be on important calls when they approached.

One of his favorite moves was keeping me at the office until 11 PM—not because we were working on urgent projects, but because he needed to send a fax and couldn’t figure out how to operate the machine himself. Yes, you read that correctly. A partner at a prestigious firm who couldn’t operate basic office equipment.

Everyone in the building—from the cleaning staff to his fellow partners—gave him a wide berth. His passive-aggressive comments and questionable ethics had earned him a special place in the company’s unofficial hall of shame.

Our working relationship was crumbling faster than a cookie in hot coffee. I was tired of covering for him, making excuses for his absences, and smoothing things over with clients who were rightfully frustrated by his behavior.

The Great Escape Plan

After a year of this torture, I reached my breaking point. I polished my resume, networked like my sanity depended on it (because it did), and applied to positions across town.

Fortune smiled upon me when a prestigious agency offered me a position. I received the good news on Wednesday—the job would start two weeks from Monday. Perfect! I planned to submit my resignation that Friday, work my two-week notice period with my head held high, and skip into my new future.

I could almost taste the freedom. Just two more days with Mr. Nightmare, and then I could deliver the news that would liberate me from his toxic presence.

Providence’s Perfect Timing

Thursday morning arrived—just one day before my planned resignation. Mr. Nightmare called me into his office, his face arranged in what he probably thought was an expression of concern.

In his monotone voice, carefully crafted to sound caring (but failing miserably), he delivered what he clearly expected would be devastating news: “We have to let you go. It’s not a firing, it’s just a supply and demand thing. We don’t really need an assistant at this level.”

Then came the kicker—they were giving me $10,000 in severance pay! Company policy also dictated they’d pay me until the end of the month, though I’d need to leave that day.

I sat there, struggling to maintain a somber expression while fireworks of joy exploded in my mind. Was this really happening? Not only was I escaping this nightmare job, but I was getting paid extra for it!

The Sweetest Victory

As I packed up my belongings, still in a state of delighted shock, Mr. Nightmare strolled by my desk. His expression was one of poorly disguised triumph—clearly expecting to see me devastated by this sudden turn of events.

He paused, leaning against my desk in what I’m sure he thought was a casual, magnanimous pose. “Good luck finding a new job,” he said, practically oozing false sympathy.

That’s when I got to deliver the line that will forever be etched in my memory as one of life’s perfect moments.

“Actually,” I replied with genuine excitement, “I already have a new job! I was planning to quit tomorrow, but now I get two weeks of paid vacation before I start, plus this lovely severance check. Thank you so much!”

The look on his face was priceless. If expressions could be photographed and framed, this one would hang in the Louvre. His smug smile crumbled like a sandcastle at high tide. His eyes widened, then narrowed, then widened again as he processed what I’d just said. For once in his life, Mr. Nightmare was speechless.

It was glorious. Absolutely glorious.

Conclusion

Sometimes in life, timing really is everything. While most of us dream of perfect workplace exits, few get to experience them in such spectacular fashion. My story is a reminder that even in the most challenging work environments, karma sometimes shows up—and occasionally, it brings a severance check.

So if you’re currently trudging through your own workplace nightmare, take heart. Your moment of triumph might be just around the corner. Keep your resume updated, your spirits high, and who knows? Maybe you’ll be the next one telling a story about how providence delivered your own perfect exit, complete with the sweetest possible last word.

After all, in the workplace game of chess, sometimes the pawn gets to say “checkmate.”

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Adapted from a Reddit post titled: ‘”What’s Your Best “On My Last Day at This One Job…” Story”‘