Why “Sorry You Worked There” Exists (And Why It’s Not a Joke)

There’s a sentence many of us never hear, but desperately need.

“Sorry you worked there.”

Not “What did you do wrong?”
Not “Have you tried being more resilient?”
Not “That’s just how work is.”

Just… acknowledgement.

The silence around harmful workplaces

Toxic workplaces don’t always look dramatic from the outside. Often, they’re quiet. Polite. Procedural. Wrapped in policies, performance reviews, and carefully worded emails.

People don’t leave shouting. They leave exhausted.

And when they do, the harm is rarely named. It gets minimised, sanitised, or reframed as a ‘bad fit’. The person carries the weight. The organisation carries on.

Why this collection was created

The HRTruths Collection was created from lived experience — not trends, not slogans, not corporate wellness buzzwords.

It exists for: - People who have survived unhealthy workplaces. Colleagues who want to support someone who is struggling quietly. Friends who don't know what to say, but want to say something.

Sometimes a mug, a card, or a sticker can say what HR processes never did.

Gifts that acknowledge, not minimise

These products aren’t about humour for humour’s sake. They’re about truth — gently held.

A card that says “Sorry you worked there” isn’t mocking. It’s validating.

A mug that reads “Corporate, but make it honest” isn’t cynical. It’s a relief.

They’re small acts of recognition in a world that often denies people their experience.

Valentine’s Day, reimagined

This Valentine’s Day, love doesn’t have to be romantic.

It can be: Checking in on a colleague who’s gone quiet. Leaving a card on a desk without explanation. Sending a bundle to a friend navigating a difficult job

Love, sometimes, looks like believing someone.

A quieter kind of support

You don’t need to fix someone’s workplace. You don’t need the perfect words.

Sometimes, all you need to say is:

“I see what that place did to you.”

That’s what this shop is for.

Thank you for being here.