These days, along with the relief of having a stable job, comes a load of added stress- with work pressure mounting up day on day, employees are increasingly getting burned out due to stringent deadlines, KRAs, and targets.
In such a scenario, quitting a job (even without one in hand), can feel like a personal win, and can bring in a huge sense of relief.
However, do you know that some people have quit their jobs in the most epic way? Today, we take a look at 5 such shocking resignations…
1. Twitter (now X) employee goes rogue
In 2017, when US president Donald Trump was serving his first term, a rogue X employee, (then called Twitter) handed in his resignation, by deactivating President Donald Trump’s Twitter account! Yes you heard that right. Even though the account was only down for 11 minutes, the man earned his glory, and walked out in a fashion that will be remembered for years to come
2. Reporter resigns on-air
On September 22, 2014, Charlo Greene, then a reporter for Alaska’s KTVA news station, shocked viewers with an unexpected on-air resignation. While reporting on marijuana legalization, Greene revealed herself as the owner of the Alaska Cannabis Club—a subject of her segment—and declared her advocacy for cannabis reform. She concluded her broadcast with the now-famous words: “F*** it, I quit,” before walking off camera. Greene’s bold move instantly made her a viral sensation and propelled her into full-time cannabis activism. Following Alaska’s legalization of recreational marijuana in November 2014, she worked to help Alaskans access the substance. However, her efforts were met with significant resistance from state authorities. Despite legalization, Greene faced undercover operations and raids targeting her club, which operated before formal regulations for marijuana businesses were established. Authorities alleged that the club sold cannabis under the guise of “donations” through memberships
3. Resignation cake
Chris Holmes, an immigration officer at Stansted Airport, famously quit his job by baking a resignation cake, which included a letter explaining his reasons for leaving and even a small advertisement for his cake business. Holmes stated that he wanted to devote more time to his family and his growing cake business. The letter on the cake read: “I hereby give notice of my resignation, in order that I may devote my time and energy to my family, and to my cake business which has grown steadily over the past few years”. The image of the iced resignation cake went viral on Twitter after his brother-in-law posted it
4. Pulling the emergency brake
Former JetBlue attendant Steven Slater, admitted he pulled the emergency chute on Flight 1052 from Pittsburgh on 9 August 2010, after the plane landed at JFK airport in New York. He went on to the public address system, swore at a passenger who he claimed treated him rudely, grabbed a beer and slid down onto the tarmac. Slater’s swift exit made him a hero to put-upon workers everywhere who have fantasised about quitting in a blaze of glory. He was a topic on TV shows, on the internet and on the front pages of newspapers, with many cheering him for standing up to the often-inhospitable world of airline travel and others accusing him of childish and dangerously reckless behaviour.
5. Toilet paper message
A frustrated employee decided to quit his job in an unconventional and cheeky manner by writing his resignation letter on a piece of toilet paper. Accompanying the letter was a drawing of a commode to emphasize his dissatisfaction. The message read: “I have chosen this type of paper … as a symbol of how I feel this company has treated me, and ironically, how it is disposed of is where I feel this company is going.” This bold move quickly gained attention online, with many social media users applauding his creativity and humor. While some might view such an approach as unprofessional, it resonated with others who have experienced workplace dissatisfaction.
