Confessions

I Prioritised My Self-Worth Over Money And Left A Toxic Work Environment

As a young professional, there's always this unspoken rule that you're expected to tolerate certain things, especially if you're new and still learning. I heard it all the time: “You don’t have enough experience to speak up,” or “Everyone deals with this at the beginning.” For a while, I accepted it and stayed quiet. But the longer I put up with it, the more I felt my self-worth being chipped away.  The work environment was toxic. Petty comments, unrealistic expectations, and disrespect became part of my daily life. At first, I told myself it was normal, something everyone went through. But as the weeks dragged on, I found myself dreading each new workday. The stress started to feel unbearable, and the thought of going to work left me with a pit in my stomach. Eventually, I reached my breaking point. I knew deep down that this wasn’t how a job should feel. I trusted my gut—if something feels wrong, it probably is. I realised that microaggressions and constant disrespect shouldn't be part of anyone’s job, no matter how "inexperienced" they are.  I turned to colleagues and mentors for advice. To my surprise, many had been through similar situations. Their support and shared stories helped me feel less alone and gave me the courage to take action. I decided to prioritise my mental health over my paycheck. Once I made the decision to leave, I focused on updating my CV and networking. I looked for opportunities where I could grow professionally without sacrificing my wellbeing.  Most importantly, I reminded myself that I deserved better—and so does anyone who feels stuck in a toxic work environment. No job is worth losing your mental health over.This article is part of TSS Confessions, a weekly column where we delve into personal finance topics that are unscripted and genuine real accounts from people.