A Malaysian Gen Z worker has sparked online discussion after sharing his experience working in a small husband-and-wife-run company, claiming he was forced to handle almost everything alone — including office cleaning duties.
According to a post shared on social media and later reported by Moretify, the young employee said he initially worked at several large companies after graduating but struggled to adapt to corporate environments and resigned within just a few days each time.
Hoping for a different experience, he later joined a small business operated by a married couple.
However, he soon realised the company only had one employee — himself.
The netizen claimed the office was extremely small with minimal benefits, while his role eventually became more like a general assistant responsible for handling nearly every task in the company.
Besides administrative duties, he said he was also expected to clean the office because there were no other staff members available.
For him, the issue was not simply about multitasking, but the pressure of having to take responsibility for almost everything alone.
After working there for around six months, he eventually decided to resign.
The worker also alleged that workplace rules in the company often changed suddenly depending on the bosses’ decisions.
He claimed his lunch break was officially set at 12pm, but his employer had earlier told him it was acceptable to head out slightly earlier at 11.50am.
However, one day, the boss allegedly questioned him for “always eating too early”, leaving him confused over the inconsistent instructions.
The Gen Z employee said that although larger companies may come with stricter systems and procedures, at least the rules are usually clearer and more structured.
In smaller companies, he felt policies could shift based on the mood or preferences of the boss at any given moment.
Another major issue involved commission payments.
The netizen claimed he had been promised commission during his job interview if he successfully secured customer orders.
But after resigning and asking about the promised payments, his boss allegedly informed him that his position was merely an assistant role and that the sales he handled were considered “follow-up work”, making him ineligible for commission.
He further alleged that his employer attempted various ways to persuade him not to leave the company.
The post quickly attracted reactions online, with many netizens sharing similar experiences working in small family-run businesses.
Some warned others to think carefully before joining husband-and-wife-operated companies, saying workplace dynamics can become complicated when bosses are family members.
Others pointed out that both big and small companies come with their own advantages and disadvantages.
While large corporations may be more rigid and bureaucratic, smaller companies may expect employees to become “all-rounders” handling multiple responsibilities beyond their original job scope.
For many readers, the viral story became a reminder about the importance of clarifying job responsibilities, employee benefits, working arrangements and commission structures in writing before accepting any job offer.
