Workplace experiences often stay with people for years, especially when an exit from a company does not go smoothly. A recent Reddit post has now caught attention after a man shared how an unexpected meeting with his former manager at Bengaluru airport brought back memories from nearly two decades ago. What started as a polite reunion quickly turned uncomfortable after he mentioned one unresolved issue from his resignation days.
The post, shared by a Reddit user, described how he ran into his former boss from his first job at an MNC, where he had worked between 2008 and 2010 after graduating in electrical engineering. According to him, the role involved repetitive work, constant travel to remote sites and what he described as favoritism in the office. Eventually, during the recession period, he decided to quit after securing a scientific job in the central government sector.
Exit process became stressful
The Reddit user explained that during his resignation process, the HR department personally discussed his decision with him. In the exit interview, he openly spoke about the problems he had faced while working there. He said the company agreed to release him earlier than the standard three-month notice period.
However, there was one thing that never got completed properly. According to the post, his manager promised to arrange the relieving letter on the employee’s final day, but it never happened. Despite repeated follow-ups, the document was never issued.
Sharing the incident, the man wrote, “After weeks of follow-ups and avoidance from him, I moved on and focused on my new career.” Years later, he had almost forgotten about the issue until the recent airport encounter.
But things changed the moment the old relieving letter issue came up casually in conversation.
The man wrote, “The moment I casually reminded him about the missing relieving letter, his expression changed completely. He abruptly stood up and walked away without another word.”
The user added that he was surprised by the reaction, especially because so much time had passed since the incident.
“I was genuinely shocked that someone so senior and close to retirement could react so emotionally to a simple factual reminder from the past,” he wrote.
One user commented, “That reaction probably came from guilt more than anger. People can carry weird professional insecurities for years, especially when they know they handled something badly.”
Another person wrote, “Wow, so managers and withholding relieving letters because of their ego issues has been prevalent since 16 years?”
Some users questioned why the relieving letter still mattered after so many years. Responding to one such comment, the original poster clarified that he never actually needed the document professionally later on.
“I never needed it 16 years back too But it was the only piece of memory with me,” he replied. He also mentioned that he had worried at the time that future employers could ask for it during joining formalities.
Others felt the manager may simply have been uncomfortable revisiting the incident. One Reddit user wrote, “You may have your own reasons for reminding him about the relieving letter incident & he may have his own reasons as well, to walk off without engaging with you any further.”
The post, shared by a Reddit user, described how he ran into his former boss from his first job at an MNC, where he had worked between 2008 and 2010 after graduating in electrical engineering. According to him, the role involved repetitive work, constant travel to remote sites and what he described as favoritism in the office. Eventually, during the recession period, he decided to quit after securing a scientific job in the central government sector.
Exit process became stressful
The Reddit user explained that during his resignation process, the HR department personally discussed his decision with him. In the exit interview, he openly spoke about the problems he had faced while working there. He said the company agreed to release him earlier than the standard three-month notice period.However, there was one thing that never got completed properly. According to the post, his manager promised to arrange the relieving letter on the employee’s final day, but it never happened. Despite repeated follow-ups, the document was never issued.
Sharing the incident, the man wrote, “After weeks of follow-ups and avoidance from him, I moved on and focused on my new career.” Years later, he had almost forgotten about the issue until the recent airport encounter.
Airport reunion took an unexpected turn
The Reddit user said he greeted his former manager warmly at Bengaluru airport and the manager recognised him immediately. The conversation initially appeared pleasant, with the former boss even appreciating the employee’s career growth over the years.But things changed the moment the old relieving letter issue came up casually in conversation.
The man wrote, “The moment I casually reminded him about the missing relieving letter, his expression changed completely. He abruptly stood up and walked away without another word.”
The user added that he was surprised by the reaction, especially because so much time had passed since the incident.
“I was genuinely shocked that someone so senior and close to retirement could react so emotionally to a simple factual reminder from the past,” he wrote.
Reddit users react to the awkward interaction
The post quickly drew reactions from other Reddit users, many of whom shared their own experiences with workplace exits and difficult managers.One user commented, “That reaction probably came from guilt more than anger. People can carry weird professional insecurities for years, especially when they know they handled something badly.”
Another person wrote, “Wow, so managers and withholding relieving letters because of their ego issues has been prevalent since 16 years?”
Some users questioned why the relieving letter still mattered after so many years. Responding to one such comment, the original poster clarified that he never actually needed the document professionally later on.
“I never needed it 16 years back too But it was the only piece of memory with me,” he replied. He also mentioned that he had worried at the time that future employers could ask for it during joining formalities.
Others felt the manager may simply have been uncomfortable revisiting the incident. One Reddit user wrote, “You may have your own reasons for reminding him about the relieving letter incident & he may have his own reasons as well, to walk off without engaging with you any further.”
