'I'll come back as long as Larry isn't there': Terrible boss drives essential programmer to quit, CEO removes boss and begs programmer to come back

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Jan 8, 2023 9:00 AM EST

It is often said that you don't realize what you had until it's gone. It's crazy how often this plays out with employers undervaluing their essential over-performing employees for the sake of saving a few dollars or as a means of exerting their power over them. They are then shocked and surprised when the employee decides to seek greener pastures and finds a whole world of other recruiters who are hungry for their experience.

Some managers and organizations aren't capable of recognizing that it takes two to tango and that a relationship, even a working one, can't be one-sided. Take "Larry" here; he's the definition of "f**k around and find out." Larry thought he could exert his absolute power over one of his key senior programmers, but when the programmer quit rather than play their game, the CEO had to go chasing after him. This meant that Larry was out of a job (rather pushed into another one), and the programmer was able to come back with all of their terms met.

Keep reading for this brilliant workplace story; for more, check out this terrible boss who lost out on a $100M deal over their poor treatment of a former employee.