Dear Evil HR Lady,
I have worked for my company for two years, and in my current position for a little over a year now. My boss is very nosy and always wants to know what is going on in everyone’s life. She gets upset if she feels like she’s not being told what she wants. I told her that my long-distance boyfriend has been looking to buy a house and that the lease on my apartment was up October 31. Yesterday she called me into her office and told me about the plan to hire someone overseas, and then she said she thinks the best date for my last day is November 1. I was surprised. I told her i didn’t give notice to her when I told her about my relationship development.
She said that from what I had said about my boyfriend and my lease she took that as meaning that I was leaving in mid-November and that she was owed notice, so she was scheduling my last day for November 1. I should note that most people in this company quit by simply walking out because the company treats people horribly. So she wants to say I resigned, but she also wants me to work the month of October and train the overseas team as well. I said I deserved a bonus for doing the training, and she said no, it’s part of my job. (It’s not in my job description! I even asked for a copy of my job description and HR wouldn’t give it to me.)
I did not resign. I never told her I was leaving. I think I’m owed severance and a bonus for training my replacement. What can I do?
To read the answer, click here: My boss is saying I resigned when I didn’t
Maybe I’m confused but it seems like this crazy boss assumed that because a lease was ending that the employee was resigning. While that is way out in left field, my first call to HR wouldn’t be about severances or bonuses but that my boss somehow thinks that I’m resigning when I’m not.
That being said, I would take this as a sign and get out of there while you can. Sounds like crazy town.
Well, yeah, there is that. But since the position has already been outsourced, I doubt HR can do anything to stop the termination.
She is from crazy town.
Yes, thank you! All through the post I was thinking to myself, “Why isn’t the OP jumping all over the fact that she didn’t give notice and she intends to fight to keep her job??”
I think the key words are “she took that as meaning…”! She saw this as an opportunity to bring in foreign workers (for cheaper maybe?). She didn’t even come to you and confirm a last day with you so that she could be sure when the new staff could start. So it looks to me like she saw this as an opportunity and didn’t ‘misunderstand’ anything. You did not provide anything in writing saying that you quit, so if HR says they will list your reason for leaving as ‘quit’, you can fight it and ask to see your written resignation letter (which of course they will not be able to produce). And I like Suzanne’s suggestion of mentioning your attorney:) I think that will help sway things in your favour a bit.
Yeah, the line about the attorney is always a good one. I should have mentioned that she doesn’t even really need an attorney, just saying she has one.
I admit to totally lying once with a letter I wrote to a bank. (They refused to close my account. Why? I don’t know.) I just put, at the bottomm cc Jonathan Jones, esq. And you know what? They closed the account!
Although, having a laywer never hurts, but an imaginary one can be just as effective.
OP, training your replacement is part of your job. You aren’t entitled to a bonus for it. It falls under the category “other duties as assigned.”
I’m confused. I did not read the bit about hiring overseas as having anything to do with the OP’s current position, other than that she was expected to train the overseas team. I didn’t get that the overseas folks were being hired to replace her.
Did I miss something here?
All good advice. And another piece of advice- use this as yet another reason to keep your private life private. Yes, I know it is common to make friends at work, but unless that person is a lso a friend outside of work- keep it to yourself. Especially if that person is your boss. This innocuous thing, talking about your relationship/living situation has now turned into losing your job. That totally sucks, but a good lesson in keeping work to work, and private to private.
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