AITA for denying a temp agency an exit interview and basically telling them to go f themselves?

He finally landed the job he had been hoping for — one with real benefits, stability, and actual relevance to his master’s degree. Instead of celebrating in peace, he found himself fielding demands from the very temp agency he couldn’t wait to leave behind.

After months of late paychecks, contract “confusion,” and administrative headaches, he resigned and moved on. But the agency insisted he was “required” to attend an exit interview and disclose where he was working next. He refused, bluntly. The call ended abruptly. At first, it felt empowering. Then the anxiety crept in. Was he justified — or had he burned a professional bridge?

It started with high hopes and quickly spiraled into frustration

Then, finally, something good happened

What followed was a phone call that didn’t go smoothly

Leaving a difficult job can stir up more than relief. Even when someone feels justified, anxiety about professionalism and future consequences is common. Career transitions often carry emotional residue, especially if the work environment felt chaotic or exploitative.

According to workplace psychologist Dr. Tessa West, author of Jerks at Work, “When people leave a job, they often overestimate the long-term impact of a single tense interaction.” That fear of retaliation or reputation damage can feel very real, even when there’s little actual leverage on the employer’s side.

Exit interviews are generally designed to benefit the company. They can gather feedback, protect against legal issues, or — in some cases — gather business leads. If a contract doesn’t require participation, declining is not inherently unprofessional. The tone may matter, but so does context. If an agency repeatedly mishandled pay and contract terms, frustration is understandable.

A calmer alternative might have been declining in writing and leaving it at that. Still, one blunt phone call rarely defines an entire career. Moving forward, the focus should shift to building a strong reputation at the new role rather than replaying the past.

Here’s what Redditors had to say:

Many users strongly supported the worker’s decision to walk away

Others offered more balanced takes, focusing on professionalism and caution

And some commenters didn’t hold back, sharing blunt or humorous reactions

Quitting a frustrating job can feel liberating — and unsettling at the same time. While professionalism matters, so does self-respect. In this case, the worker declined a request that wasn’t contractually required and chose to move forward. The anxiety may linger, but the new opportunity offers a fresh start. Was he too blunt, or simply done tolerating poor treatment? What would you have said in that final phone call?