A Singapore-based businesswoman shared how an employee handed in their resignation with brutally honest words. The reason? They said they felt discarded and undervalued, like toilet paper.
In a now-viral post on LinkedIn, Angela Yeoh – the Director of a Singapore-based firm – recalled the striking moment and shared the exact words of the employee: “I felt like toilet paper, used when needed, discarded without a second thought.
“These were the exact words that stuck with me,” she wrote. The note didn’t just sting, it left her with a lasting reminder of how much workplace culture matters.
“Make your employees feel so genuinely appreciated that even when they decide to leave, they walk away with gratitude, not resentment. That kind of experience doesn’t speak to a lack of loyalty, it speaks volumes about the company’s culture,” she said.
She added, “Appreciation isn’t just a tool for retention. It’s a reflection of how much a person is valued, not just for what they do but for who they are”.
“If people leave feeling undervalued, it’s time to reflect. Small changes in appreciation have a big impact. Start today,” Angela said as she concluded her post.
Angela also shared a photo of a handwritten resignation note on a piece of toilet paper. It read, “I have chosen this type of paper for my resignation as a symbol of how this company has treated me. I quit.”
However, Angela did not specify in her post whether the picture of the resignation note belonged to the employee or was just a representational image for her post.
LinkedIn users flooded the comments section of the post with their strong opinions. One user found the resignation style “unique” and admitted to doing something similar.
“Unique, I respect it. I did something very similar a long while ago,” the user said.
Another user added, “If you feel like the company is making you feel small or unimportant, remember – that’s not necessarily a reflection of them, but rather something you need to address within yourself. Confidence comes from believing in your own worth. When you lack that belief, it’s easy to feel like others are mistreating you.”
“Sometimes, employees leave not because of the company, but because of the middle manager. And very often it is,” one of the users said.
The toilet paper resignation may have been dramatic, but it hit the mark. And if anything, it left a clear message: treat people better, or risk being remembered for all the wrong reasons.