Santiago Cruz, HR expert: “If you want to know the exact moment to leave a company, there are five levels of alert”
These are the physical and professional signs that indicate that continuing in the same position may have long-term consequences.
Recognizing when a job is taking you to the breaking point isn’t as simple as it sounds. Many of us normalize unhealthy situations and slip into “autopilot,” barely noticing the toll it takes on our health and well‑being.
That’s why human‑resources expert Santiago Cruz breaks down the five warning levels your body uses to tell you it’s time to walk away — even if the paycheck looks great. These levels go from the most severe to the least, but all of them matter.
Level 5: The most serious — when your job crosses legal lines
According to Cruz, the highest‑risk scenario is when your employer asks you to falsify documents, hide fraud, or sign anything that “smells like a lawsuit. His advice is blunt and simple:“Document, lawyer, door. In that order.”
Level 4: When your body goes on strike
This level kicks in when your body starts sounding the alarm:
- Heart palpitations in the parking lot
- Anxiety meds stashed in your desk
- Feeling like you need a drink the moment you get home
At this point, Cruz says, your body is speaking loudly enough: it’s time to leave and not look back.
Level 3: Being worked to the bone
If your boss is squeezing you for 65+ hours a week with no end in sight, Cruz is clear — complaining isn’t enough.You need to go.“Toxic managers are like mold,” he warns. “They don’t disappear on their own — they spread.”
Level 2: The “Golden Handcuffs” trap
One of the most dangerous signs is staying in your “dream job” for more than three years with zero growth. No promotions, no new responsibilities, no skill development, no pay rise... Your loyalty stays the same, but the company stops seeing you.
“The real cost isn’t what you’re not earning today,” Cruz explains. “It’s what you won’t earn in five years with outdated skills. Golden handcuffs promise security, but they steal your future.”
Level 1: Emotional disconnection
The mildest — but still crucial — warning sign is emotional burnout. If Friday hits and you feel anxious, and you’re blowing your paycheck on therapy, escapism, or late‑night impulse shopping, something is clearly off.
Cruz ends with a question that flips the usual logic on its head:“It’s not ‘Can I afford to leave?’ It’s ‘Can I afford to stay?’ Time doesn’t come back. Money does.”
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