How to Leave a Job on Good Terms?

An anonymous reader writes "I've been working for a small development company for 6 or 7 years. My boss has always been a bit nuts but overall it hasn't been a bad experience. I recently accepted a great job offer for a technology position in a different industry. I gave my boss my notice this week, and while he initially was understanding, he has since starting making accusations of conspiracy, deceit, and has otherwise attempted to make me look bad in front of employees and long-time clients. (who, thankfully, also think he is nuts) I don't like to burn bridges, but I'm pretty sure he's already burned it to the ground, even threatening to withhold my final paycheck if I don't find a replacement before I leave. Is it worth sticking out the few weeks I already told him I worked, or should I just cut my losses and leave early?"

Comments

Re:I do not think it means what you think it means

[coopseruantalon]

well... DUH...

Plain and simple...

[jwiegley]

I haven't bothered to read the other posts because I think the solution to your situation is simple:

You don't want to burn any bridges. But you can't control other people and your boss has already burnt the bridge.

Since there is no bridge left; simply leave. Tell him that because of his recent unreasonable behavior that you have decided not to complete working for the remaining time period that you agreed to under other circumstances. Your boss has solved your bridge issue for you.

You are afraid of impending consequences as described by your boss (lack of being provided final pay). I think the legal system solves this problem for you...

IANAL: Extortion is a threat given by another party to divest you of money or property unless some [undesirable] action is taken.
If he theatened not to pay you your final check that is extortion. You already own that money since it is pay due for time you already worked (unless he pays you ahead of time; which I highly doubt). When he threatens you again to withold pay tell him that you, as of that moment, are suing him for extortion and that your lawyer will contact his. Thank him for providing you with the opportunity to own his company.

He will back down, you will get your final check because he legal owes that to you. (If you agreed to work another two weeks and don't complete that period then of course he doesn't owe you the wages for the period you didn't work.)

What you say? "He doesn't back down and you go to court." Let's see how that goes...

• You: Your honor I'm suing my ex-employer for extortion because he threatened to withhold my money if I didn't continue to work for him.
• Judge: Is this true?
• Boss: I never said such a thing!
• You: Then why haven't I been paid the money you owe me?
• Judge: Have you paid him the money you owe him?
• Boss: Umm.... no.
• Judge: Why not?
• Boss: Umm.... Because he won't work for me anymore?
• Judge: I think we're done here.

Legal problem solved because either he now works for you or the court orders him to pay you what he owes you (plus court expenses, probably).

So simple:

• He burned the bridge
• He continues to add gasoline
• He has attempted extortion.
• He is crazy at times (by your definition)
• You don't need any of that
• You already have a replacement position.
• Move on immediately.

My guess is that your boss has always been this way (I doubt he all of the sudden turned into this person unless he's had a stroke recently.) I also would wager, that if you sat and thought about it a bit, you always knew this and didn't like it. So I'm surprised you remained for seven years. Again, I'd say good job for persevering; move on now.

Side note: I often wonder why employees become attached emotionally to companies. Are we projecting some sort of parent/child dependency onto this non-personal relationship? The fact is that companies don't become attached to you; there is no reason for employees to become attached to the company. Become attached to your girlfriend (or boyfriend) and hobbies. Work is just something you do to make money to make the other things possible. It is possible to make your work and hobbies the same; but this is rather rare.

State labor board

[LouCifer]

1. Pick up the phone book.
2. Pick up the phone.
3. Call state labor board.
4. ???
5. Profit.

Honestly, call them. What he's threatening to do is illegal. Its not your job to find your replacement. That's HR's job. If there's not HR department, then its his goddamned problem.

If you have a paper timesheet with a signature, get a copy. If its done on computer and signed off on, get a copy. Get copies of anything and everything. File in small claims court if you have to. This will help with the labor board.

If the state labor board won't help you, threaten to take your clients with you. Either way, tell him if he tries to fuck you, you're going to fuck him. If he's already burned the bridge, blow up the embankments at both ends and kill the engineer, so to speak.