It’s never too late to stand up for what you deserve, as former Target Starbucks worker Gene-Austyn proved in a viral video.

Outraged after having his sick leave and vacation time “stolen,” the Alabaster, Alabama, resident loudly announced his departure from the company on Saturday (March 16), letting everyone know what drove his decision.

“Watch me quit my job at Target Starbucks in front of the entire store because they stole my sick and vacation time. 1 year and 1,500 hours later,” a text overlay at the beginning of Gene-Austyn’s video read.

The TikToker initially planned to resign using the intercom, but he realized it was unplugged. He then decided to shout at the top of his lungs a loud and clear message to all the store customers, which ultimately reached over 3 million people online.

A man went viral for resigning from Target Starbucks in front of the entire store

“I’ve been brewing up something more than thankless lattes and overpriced sugar water. My Grande plan to escape this wretched heap dungeon […] with infant crying ambiance.”

He continued by explaining that, during his time at the company, his managers provided the perfect blend for him to shut the door and never look back.

“But before I go, let’s talk about your piss-poor benefits policy. I mean, it’s like ordering a large Frappuccino with a double shot of disappointment. 

“Sick time? Vacation hours? Ha! You’d be better off asking for unicorn tears. Well, how’s this for a magical double shot? I quit,” the life coach said as he left the store.

People rushed to the comments to congratulate Gene-Austyn for his decision and share their experiences working in retail.

“Of course I wasn’t shopping at this EXACT moment bc you would’ve gotten a standing ovation, my friend! This is AMAZING,” someone exclaimed.

A separate TikTok user named Emily requested Gene-Austyn’s services, saying, “Ima need you to write a script for me bc I gotta quit too, n I gotta do it like this.”

Others shared similar experiences working in the retail sector.

“I worked at Target and Starbucks. I wish I left like this. This is inspirational. So proud of you,” a third person commented.

“They gave me a 5 cent raise in 2022. I was like keep your pocket change bro, consider this my notice,” another social media user shared.

Somebody else said, “Starbucks was my worst job. Horrible management. I admire you for doing this seriously. I wish I would’ve.”

The life coach quit because he believed the company’s “sick and vacation time” policies to be unfair

Image credits: Target 

“I worked at Target in highschool, and it was easily the worst job I’ve ever had,” an additional person commented, to which Gene-Austyn responded, “Oh most definitely that’s why the turnover rate is ceiling breaking and they only have 3 workers in every store.”

“Turnover rate” refers to the percentage of employees that leave an organization during a given time period. 

In 2022, the annual average total turnover rate for the retail industry was 5% compared to 3.9% across all industries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Furthermore, almost half of U.S. frontline retail employees surveyed in 2022 by McKinsey & Company, a multinational strategy and management consulting firm, said they were considering leaving their jobs in the next few months.

The study cites “not enough workplace flexibility” as the number-one reason frontline retail workers consider leaving their positions.

The category encompasses unpredictable schedules and hours/availability, inflexible start and stop times, and a lack of control over how work gets done.

In the second position, frontline retail workers cited “career development” as a reason to quit, while “health and well-being” ranked third.

In a previous video, Gene-Austyn explained that he had received “zero” vacation time at the company

@geneaustyn Safe to say i’ll be quitting soon. @target #Target #TargetWorker #FYP #Retail #Viral #GeneAustyn #America ♬ original sound – Gene Austyn

In a separate video shared on TikTok on February 28, which marked Gene-Austyn’s one-year anniversary at Target, he revealed he had received “zero” vacation time.

When he asked H.R. about it, he was told that in order to get paid time off, he needed to average 19+ weekly hours in his first three months at the company.

“Yeah, your first 90 days. Like, when you’re hired on, and they barely give you hours because you’re just learning. Thanks, Target!” he said.

“That’s really helpful. Neat little loophole you’ve found there.”

The video’s caption read, “Safe to say I’ll be quitting soon.” He eventually did, less than a month after it was posted.

Watch his viral “Grande exit” below

@geneaustyn Mwah 💋 #NoBars ;) – If any news stations wanna interview im MORE than HAPPY to spill 🗣️ #Target #EatIt #FYP #america @target ♬ original sound – Gene Austyn

Gene-Austyn’s decision was planned weeks in advance while he was looking for another job to replace Target, he told BoredPanda via email. 

“I knew I was never getting those sick hours or that vacation time because Benefits H.R. told me when I called and asked about them weeks before My Grande Exit,” he explained.

“Target, as an industrial commercialized corporate sector, does not care about us, or you the shopper, at all. Just your money.”

Gene-Austyn, who’s now focused on his life-coaching service called LifeCoachBFF, added that the most challenging aspect of his job “was getting everything right, all the time, only to have fault found from higher-ups on how it was done.”

After his video went viral, several of his former co-workers reached out to him to express their support. 

“Some people were born to stand up in the face of injustice, some can’t because they don’t have the backbone, and others have never had a choice not to. 

“That’s where privilege comes in, but that’s another song.”

“I like to find the best out of situations, and I loved serving the people I served and brightening others’ days! It was the best part of my day, a goal and intention even, to put a smile on the face of someone who wasn’t expecting to smile that day. That’s what I did it for.”

One of his satisfied customers even wrote him a letter expressing her gratitude, which Gene-Austyn referred to as “the kindest moment” he ever experienced at the job.

“You always have to find the silver lining of things; life gets much lighter, and you feel much deeper when you find the best in things.”

Target did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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