Overworked Employee Excels at Sales Job

By Darlin Tillery

Life & Trends Reporter

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A veteran sales employee says a company awards ceremony turned into one of the most humiliating moments of his career after he was handed a cardboard turd in front of colleagues.

The employee and original poster (OP) recounted the incident on Reddit, explaining that he has spent 20 years at the company, including a decade in a high-pressure sales role, and has exceeded quota every year.

Last year, he said, he hit 157 percent of his target while carrying a heavier workload than his peers. During that same period, however, he experienced a breakdown and was diagnosed with a chronic stress disorder alongside depression.

While another salesperson took first place at their awards ceremony after landing a major account, the OP said he did not expect an award.

But what followed caught him off guard—at the ceremony, his boss presented him with a cardboard turd without explanation.

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“Keep in mind that I just had a phenomenal year despite incredible odds, and that marked 10 straight years of excellence," the OP wrote.

"I make this company millions and millions of dollars. I wasn't expecting an award because I was in second place, but I sure as hell wasn't expecting a turd.

"It was honestly one of the most humiliating moments of my life. I was so hurt and demoralized. It's definitely the rock bottom of my professional career.

"There was no context, no inside joke, nothing. I was given a f****** TURD for working harder than I've ever worked in my life.

"Apparently it was a joke, but I didn't think it was funny at all."

Reddit users weighed in via the comments, with one asking, “What is the cardboard turd meant to represent? What was the stated significance of presenting this to you?”

In response, the OP wrote, “I think second place.”

Another commenter suggested a dramatic response: “Send it to all of your clients from the company and find a new job,” to which the OP replied, “I was thinking the same thing.”

'Don't just walk out the door'

In an essay for Newsweek on how to know when to leave a job, David Partain advised taking one's time: "Do not ever submit a resignation when emotions are still running hot. If you do decide to leave, don't just walk out the door.

"A proper exit strategy can reflect better on you and potentially provide opportunities down the road."

Another Newsweek report on resigning from a job highlighted how mental health factors into career decisions.

'Prioritize your well-being'

Laura Mills, head of early careers insights at The Forage, told the outlet, “You need to prioritize your well-being, no job is worth sacrificing your quality of life.”

Mills also said, “Frequent stress and feeling completely burnt out from work will hurt you not only mentally, but it can also strain your performance professionally.”

For the OP, the award ceremony marked what he described as a personal low point rather than a lighthearted moment.

Whether this incident leads to a job search remains unclear, but the reaction online suggests many saw the cardboard turd as crossing a line rather than playful recognition.

Newsweek has reached out to @Apparently_A_Turd for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.

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