Man Shares Sad Story of How His Job Destroyed His Marriage, Hoping to Inspire Others to Prioritize What Matters

One man thought the long hours, weekend shifts, and vacation work would pay off someday, but his marriage paid the price first.

In a recent post on the Anti Work subreddit, user dailybrood32 said his high-stress job pushed him into a workaholic routine while his wife was left alone at home.

What he shared next turned the story into a warning about how quickly work can take over everything else. Read on.

In a bid to climb the corporate ladder and provide a better life for his wife, he ended up losing what mattered most

C D-X (not the actual photo)

"My Job Ruined My Marriage: A Cautionary Tale"

u/dailybrood32

He worked late, on weekends, and even on vacation while his wife sat around by herself

u/dailybrood32

The author explained that he was chasing the pot of gold because he wanted to buy his wife a house

u/dailybrood32

She ended up leaving, ending their eight-year marriage

u/dailybrood32

Unfortunately, the bonus and raise he was hoping for were never paid. All the hard work and even the loss of his wife ended up being for nothing

u/dailybrood32

The author ended his story with a powerful message to readers: "If you're lucky enough to find someone who loves you, focus on that and never let go."

u/dailybrood32

The positivity from readers was overwhelming

u/dailybrood32

In no time, dailybrood32's post garnered more than 237,000 upvotes and 2,400 comments. People responded in all kinds of ways after he disclosed how his desire for a family and a good life backfired on him, with everything from contempt to compassion and people sharing their own similar experiences.

With so many responses, the author wrote:

I was trying to give my wife a good life. I admit I made the wrong choice. I'm not looking for sympathy; I'm trying to warn you to avoid my mistakes.

Additionally, he revealed that he is a lawyer, so when some individuals expressed concern about the legal ramifications of his conduct, he assured them that he would not be sued. Phew.

Finally, dailybrood32 shared that he has already found a new job and is seeing someone else. As his situation gradually improves, the author hopes that other members of Ask Reddit will learn from his story.

It's never too late to do something about your situation if it mirrors this story.

You must first be honest with yourself and admit that you have issues that need to be addressed. Keep an eye out for signs that your work life is taking over your personal life, such as bringing work-related issues home, if your office activities dominate your conversations, and, most importantly, if your partner is growing weary of it.

Ask yourself:

Would you be worn out by the frequency or toxicity of the conversation over time?

You ...[truncated]

This is how other Reddit users reacted to the story:

This is similar to the AITA situation where a family vacation got canceled last minute for a work emergency.

"My Wife Just Complained About the Same Thing"

via Reddit

"I Left My Recent Job Because I Saw It Having an Effect on My Marriage"

via Reddit

"I Used to Work Overtime on Weekends Thinking It Was Worth It"

via Reddit

"Overtime Is a Waste of Life"

via Reddit

"I'm Not Working Anymore, and It Feels Even Better to Know That I'm Not Ruining My Health for the Profit of a Handful of Greedy People"

via Reddit

"Your Boss Is Not Your Friend, and You Don't Owe Them or Your Employer Any Special Favors"

via Reddit

"I Quit My Job... I Couldn't Spend Any Time with My Fiancé Because of All Their Mandatory Overtime"

via Reddit

"I'm Sorry You Had to Go Through All You Did, OP"

via Reddit

"The Bosses Got All Their Raises and Bonuses. OP Was Just a Good Little Worker Bee"

via Reddit

"I Hope Things Get Better for You"

via Reddit

"This Makes Me Feel Better About Staying Home with My Wife"

via Reddit

"You Only Get One Crack at Life; Spend It on Things That Really Matter to You"

via Reddit

"My Dad Put in All the Hours for Decades and Died at 55"

via Reddit

"I Worked Like This When I Was Single"

via Reddit

"I'm a Teacher, and This Really Hits Home for Me"

via Reddit

Self-reflection and an analysis of your work-life balance are essential. A career coach or therapist may be able to help you if you discover that your spouse is dissatisfied with your work spilling over into your personal life.

If you've concluded that your job isn't worth jeopardizing your relationship for, talk it over with your spouse, establish a plan, and include them in the decision-making process.

Want more relationship damage from work choices? See the AITA case where he picked work over his partner’s surprise visit.