He resigned but got retained. Now, he calls it his 'biggest mistake' of life, felt so 'disrespected'

An employee recently opened up on the subreddit Indian Workplace about a decision he deeply regrets—agreeing to stay with his company after tendering his resignation. Sharing his story, he wrote that he wanted no one else to face what he went through. After he submitted his resignation, his employer persuaded him to stay by offering better terms. However, instead of feeling valued, he found himself the target of jealousy and hostility from colleagues who believed he had stayed for the money.

He recounted several unpleasant experiences following his decision. According to his post, one coworker even exposed his job title in an email that was copied to around thirty people, making the situation awkward and humiliating. What hurt him more was that his senior vice president refused to listen when he tried to explain his side. Instead of addressing his concerns, the management shifted the blame onto him. Having dedicated four years to the organization, he said he now feels utterly disrespected and betrayed by the very people he had once trusted.

Community Weighs In

Many Reddit users responded with strong advice and empathy. One commenter emphasized that employees should never withdraw their resignation once it’s been submitted, especially if they had resigned due to toxic work culture or salary issues. The user added that it’s important not to bring workplace stress home, stressing that a job is simply a means to earn a living, not a source of personal identity or fulfillment.

Maintaining that emotional distance, they said, allows one to switch off mentally once the workday ends.
Another Redditor echoed similar sentiments, advising against staying back for a small pay raise, as resentment from peers and management issues are almost inevitable. They also suggested that if someone does stay, they should keep a low profile about being retained.

A third user offered a more blunt perspective, saying that employees who take back their resignation after being offered higher pay are often seen as “buyable.” Once that perception sets in, they argued, genuine respect from colleagues and superiors becomes impossible.

The post has since resonated with many, serving as a reminder of the personal cost of choosing money over peace of mind.