A LinkedIn post by HR professional Priyavarshini M recently went viral after she shared an unusual resignation story — an employee quit just five minutes after receiving their salary.
According to Priyavarshini, the staff member had joined only a month earlier. At 10:00 am, their first salary was credited, and by 10:05 am, an email announcing their resignation arrived.
Priyavarshini questioned the employee’s intentions, asking why they completed onboarding and training if they never planned to stay. She described the move as demonstrating a “lack of intent, maturity, and accountability,” cautioning that such actions can send “the wrong message” to colleagues and employers.
The post sparked a wide debate on professional ethics, employee rights, and employer responsibilities. Some commenters supported Priyavarshini, while others criticised her decision to share the story publicly, calling it unprofessional for someone in HR.
Several voices defended the employee, suggesting they may have realised early that the role was a poor fit. Others noted that unmet expectations, workplace culture issues, or role mismatches often become apparent only after joining. A few pointed out that employers also make abrupt decisions, such as layoffs, and argued that ethics should work both ways.
Some responses were lighthearted: one joked that the ‘five minutes’ was enough to notice the gap between ‘CTC’ and in-hand salary, while another said resigning quickly is simply the employee’s choice, just as companies can terminate staff.
The debate highlights how sudden resignations — and public discussions about them — can spark broader conversations about trust, transparency, and respect in the workplace.
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