10 People who quit their jobs on the first day reveal what made them go ‘Nope, not doing this’

There’s a certain kind of clarity that comes when you realize a job just isn’t for you — and for some, that realization hits before the first shift even ends. It’s the moment you realize something’s off. The job isn’t what they described, the atmosphere feels tense, and everyone around you looks like they’d rather be anywhere else. Most people try to stick it out, hoping things will improve, but sometimes that first impression tells you everything you need to know.

That’s exactly what people shared in a Reddit thread started by u/lilMeganw, who asked, "People who quit their jobs on the first day, what made you say ‘nope, not doing this’?" The post, which gained 2.3k upvotes, was filled with thousands of replies and stories from people who walked out before their first shift ended, all because the red flags were impossible to ignore. Here are 10 of the most unforgettable ones.

1. Medical care with no qualifications

"This lady had dementia, diabetes, full numbness on her left side (I think from a stroke), a heart condition, and a basket of meds. They wanted me to shower her and do her physical therapy. The only thing I had was a CPR cert." – u/coldglasseliminate

2. Watched a boss make someone cry

"Got hired to work reception in a podiatrist's office. I sat and watched the head nurse make the other receptionist cry because she made a simple mistake. Then the doctor who owned the practice came out and yelled at the receptionist in front of a lobby full of people and in front of me, the new girl. The toxic work environment was oozing from every corner, so that was my first and last day." – u/No-Calligrapher3043

3. Coworker kept notes on everything said

"I got pulled aside by the GM of the building on my second shift and was interrogated over everything I ever said, because my coworker wrote down everything I said she found 'questionable'. I legit walked out, not about to play those games." – u/Economy_Exam7835

4. NDA covered the entire planet

"I work in an NDA-heavy industry and was told by my lawyer that the broader an NDA is, the harder it is to enforce. My first NDA I signed stated my region was 'the earth'." – u/Smithers66

5. Got screamed at before clocking in

"First thing in the morning, on my first day, she instantly started yelling at me. Literally just walked in. On time. So. Four more hours of her shit, and I quit at lunch time. So amazing how quick her tone changed when I told her I was quitting." – u/fasterecho

6. Forced to taste-test spice mixes

"QC at a spice factory. I was expected to eat spoonfuls of spice mixes every day to 'test' them. I was told to drink lots of water to offset all the sodium I'd be putting in my body. Nope." – u/Beautiful_Bite4228

7. Punished for following directions

"Lawyer. Day one told to fax something to a number. Two hours later called into the lawyer's office with the client on the phone, yelling at me for doing so. First, I checked for cameras as I must have been on Candid Camera... and when I realized I wasn't on camera, I just got up and left." – u/WinterFree331

8. Not allowed to leave during breaks

"Lowe's is a second job after my full-time job. I was sent on break and was going to sit in my car the entire time. One of the supervisors stopped me and said I was not allowed to leave the building as my break is not considered a real break, and if they need help, I could be called back." – u/Steamedcarpet

9. Hired to fix a spam operation

"A friend of mine took a job at an email marketing agency. Found out day one they were doing mostly spam, their IP addresses were banned, and they wanted him to fix it. He quit." – u/damnflanders

10. Promised a short shift, got trapped all day

"Got surprised with an eight hour shift with no lunch break after being told I’d be only doing maybe five that day, along with seeing the 'living' quarters they offered being an unfinished basement where everything was crammed into a six by nine room, and then learning that I would be working completely alone going forward because 'you’ve just got such a good handle on it and the main chef needs a break.' After my shift, I told the owner I’m not gonna work there and asked for my check for the day’s work." – u/Depressed_Rex

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