'I was leaving the company... effective immediately': Buyer told by their boss to "deal with it or leave" chooses the latter option

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Sep 21, 2023 9:00 AM EDT

The trouble with setting ultimatums is that you never know when someone is going to take you up on them. It's hard to know just how tired that person is of being under your thumb and whether they're just one strike away from reaching their limit. If you try and throw your weight around with an authoritative ultimatum, you just might find that it gets thrown back in your face and that your wish is granted. 
 

After suffering the insufferable for long enough, with long days being overworked and micromanaged, this worker was pushed to their breaking point. They had been hired under false pretenses of the hours they'd be working and soon found themselves covering the tasks of other incompetent members of the organization. Regardless of their efforts, after being thrown under the bus by the night crew, they were told that they were "underperforming." The worker had evidence that the error wasn't on their part but was told to "Just deal with it, or leave." They accepted the challenge, and everything unraveled from there.

See their narrative of events with this popular online community, sharing how this series of events led to them quitting their job.

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    Computer - Esc n k 1 CapsLk Ctrl K ! 1 F1 Q Fn B- 11 2 A F2 W N - + E3 S F3 X E R Alt F4 $ 4 € D C с F F5 % 5 E F6 6 F7 & 7 F8 * 8 8 I QUIT! F9 ( 9 09 F10 Alt Gr *- ) 0 F11 P Ctrl : ; *+ F12 ? / { [ Hom
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    Font - r/r/MaliciousCompliance Posted by u/batkevn Deal with it or leave? Bet. XL OC First, I started writing this story a while ago and I'll try to make the timeframes makes sense, but I apologize if it is confusing. I had been hoping this story would make one more turn in my favor which would have ended in a post worthy of r/Pro Revenge, but
    via u/batkevn
  • 03
    Mammal - my revenge embers were quenched. I'm going to try to make this as short as possible, but I really s at making things short- winded, and there is a lot that happened. And now that I've typed it all out "short" it is not.
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  • 04
    Font - The Background In August of 2013, I left my job as a dispatcher to pursue a new position as a buyer for a major food packaging company in their production department. Dispatching was second to my job of purchasing, however, the dispatching aspect left me working 10-12 hour days and being on call 100% of the time. The new company promised it'd be an easy 40-hour work week, with occasional OT here
    via u/batkevn
  • 05
    Font - and there. Unfortunately for me, I did not get this in writing and took the position as a salaried employee. I tried negotiating a 6- month review with the potential for a raise but was declined. Oh well. The hours would be less and I was cutting my commute in half. The first month, everything went well. I worked with some really cool people and I was proving I could handle the workload with ease.
    via u/batkevn
  • 06
    Font - The Turn Toward Nopesville Well, right around the 1-year mark, the woman who did purchasing for their maintenance department put in her 2-week notice. This was no surprise because everybody knew she was going to school to become an RN. What was a surprise is that I was now expected to learn and perform her job as well. I already had a pretty good grasp on the first position and figured taking on the
    via u/batkevn
  • 07
    Font - second position would be a good challenge and further prove myself as a valuable employee with maybe an extra hour's work per day. I asked again for a review which they agreed to. Despite this company's massive financial success, they never bothered to upgrade their purchasing system for maintenance purposes. There was no inventory system, nor any way to generate a
    via u/batkevn
  • 08
    Font - proper purchase order (PO) in the system, so I had to manually type out everything onto an Excel spreadsheet, and then generate a generic PO in the system. Then, I had to track all purchases on a separate document. It was a very cumbersome system that led to me working 12-hour days again. There was no way to track a specific item to any vendor without searching through hundreds of
    via u/batkevn
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    Font - files/POs and hoping someone wrote a decent description. At this point, I was relying solely on the memory of the mechanics (most of which had only been there for <6 months). Needing to do constant stock checks and asking the mechanics to teach me about some of the processing equipment (so I could have some idea of what I was buying), I was not always at my desk.
    via u/batkevn
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    Font - Despite having a radio on my side at all times, the plant manager complained that I was never in my office, and I needed to notify him via email or radio every time I walked away with a reason. This included going to the bathroom. This isn't elementary school, and my not being at my desk does not put
    via u/batkevn
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    Font - someone's life at risk. I begrudgingly comply, but this is the first major strike in my mind. The rest I choked up to a loss due to my incompetence (not getting things in writing). Still, I wanted to turn this around and see if I could make this work.
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    Font - I learned the system we used was actually quite versatile, and with a few hours of initial setup, I could build an inventory for the maintenance side of the system, and generate clear and trackable POS. Since I was salary, I could come in on a weekend and knock it out. Halfway through my proposal to the plant manager, he cut me off and told me he didn't want to do it. I tried to explain how this would help the company monetarily and time-wise (not to mention the sad sack that got the posi
    via u/batkevn
  • 13
    Font - We're now at the end of November and into the early part of December 2014. The company is rebranding their pasta sauce line and introducing some new recipes. I had to source several new ingredients and order huge quantities for their first run which would begin in January of 2015. It was tough, but I was making progress while also barely keeping my head above water in the maintenance department. Then I am given
    via u/batkevn
  • 14
    Font - the news that the woman in charge of purchasing all packing materials is taking a 2- week vacation for Christmas. My requested time off for my birthday (the week before Christmas) is being denied because I need to cover her position as well. Why? The purchasing manager has not been trained on how to make a purchase order. So now purchasing anything for the entire plant rested on my shoulders. This is now strike three, and I began posting my resume and
    via u/batkevn
  • 15
    Font - applying for jobs again. I was going to continue working until I found something (anything) else to get me away from this place. By this point, I had already discussed quitting with my girlfriend, and my savings would keep me from putting her in any economic harm for at least 6 months with current spending.
    via u/batkevn
  • 16
    Font - When I got to work the day before my birthday, I opened my email to find 16 emails from the overnight crew throwing me under the bus for not ordering a certain part. Before I could get through all of them, the plant manager was in my office explaining that I was underperforming and this couldn't happen again at risk of being fired. I showed him the emails that proved the mechanics lied
    via u/batkevn
  • 17
    Font - about when they tried to order the part, me following up with the vendor to get a status, and the fact that the mechanic only gave me half of the information the vendor needed. I again explained my plan that would drastically reduce these issues if I had any sort of way to view past purchases, and I would have known exactly what was needed. His response was, "Just deal with it, or leave." Strike four, numb nuts.
    via u/batkevn
  • 18
    Font - THE MC I neatly stacked everything I was working on depending on their status; forwarded a few emails to back up my side to my personal email; and sent an email to the purchasing manager, plant manager, HR, and production manager explaining that I was leaving the company effective immediately and where everything was that I was working on. I included my address to send my final 2 checks to (it was always wrong on my paychecks, which I had several emails asking them to correct, but they ha
    via u/batkevn
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    Font - The Revenge A few days later, in what was the normal payday, I received my typical automatic deposit. It was only for the last full period I worked, and did not include the few days I worked into the next period or my accrued vacation time. I had also not received the check stub, which arrived nearly a week later with the incorrect address. It was delivered to the address on the envelope, and then finally made its way to me after being returned to the mail carrier. Before I sent another e
    via u/batkevn
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    Font - In my state, if someone quits, they must receive all owed payment within 72 hours. For every day late after that, they are to pay the person as if they were still employed (if they pay on day 4, they are to add 1 additional day's pay). Also, any previous agreement of automatic deposit is voided upon the termination of employment unless there is a written agreement at that time. There was also a list of state fines associated with each infraction. I composed my email to HR and explained th
    via u/batkevn
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    Font - as requested they update my address, and if they would mail me my final check within two days I would not pursue any legal action. I hoped they would reply with reason, this would all be settled by the middle of the week (which was Dec 31, and also two days before the next scheduled payday). Their response the next day stated that I would receive my automatic deposit on Friday since I had agreed to that upon my initial employment and also stated in the employee handbook, which I should re
    via u/batkevn
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    Font - It is never a good idea to mess with a guy used to working with contracts and now, thanks to you, has nothing but free time. This time I replied with direct links to the state's website and the laws they were violating, and stating how simple this would be in court. Ignorance of the law is never an excuse, but I found these laws referenced in the employee handbook proving they had knowledge, been made aware of it by me, and still actively went against it. All I wanted was what I was due,
    via u/batkevn
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    Font - no response until the next day (the deadline I gave them) when FedEx knocked at my door with an envelope containing my check stub. Not an active check. My account had no deposits until that Friday when the normal payday was scheduled. At this point, I'm actually impressed with their carelessness and oversight in messing with someone who literally has all day to himself. Now is time to make a real request for everything I can legally ask for.
    via u/batkevn
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    Font - This email again explained all of the laws they have violated and requested the full amount due. I even calculated the amount they owed me for the late payment (16 days minus the 72 hours rounded down to the nearest $5 because I'm a generous person). I had kept every email professional because I know that if this does go to court, I cannot look like a complete asO(I already had walking out on a
    via u/batkevn
  • 25
    Font - job going against me). Again, hoping they'd side with reason, I detailed how much extra can be awarded to me (up to 3x the late payment amount), plus a total of the state fines. Their reply this time was simply "No." The court documents were downloaded and filled out the following Monday, but I was going to give them one last chance.
    via u/batkevn
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    Font - Another email, again detailing the laws, and the corresponding sections of their employee handbook citing these laws and how ignorance of the law is no defense, but explicit knowledge and failure to follow them would not be in their favor. To add a little additional spice, I copied the CEO on this email. I concluded the email requesting resolution by the end of the week, or court documents would be filed. An hour later I received a response from HR that their lawyer would contact me by th
    via u/batkevn
  • 27
    Font - that Friday, I had a check for the late payment, plus a second check for double the amount if I agreed to not take them to court (which I did agree to). Back to what I alluded to in the beginning, since this was now reported income for the 2015 year, I would need a W-2 from the company in order to file my taxes. On the day I received those checks, I set a reminder to pursue whatever course I could if they failed to do so. My dreams were dashed when my girlfriend sent me a picture of the e
    via u/batkevn
  • 28
    Font - **tl;dr: Op gets new job, op leaves new job, op executes win all the money, op wins all the money.
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    Font - ChaplainParker · 17 hr. ago No... wait why are you not just complying and making me follow the local law?! Haha way to go op. Reply Share Vote batkevn OP 17 hr. ago And even giving them A LOT of wiggle room. Can't fix stupid. Reply Share Vote IAmFear The Fuzzy +2. 17 hr. ago ... Vote ●●● Oh, you can fix stupid. But it's gonna hurt. Reply Share
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    Font - $40/ notaredditreader I used to work in state unemployment. Being a VQ (voluntary quit) this would have had to be adjudicated. I probably would have found you eligible. I enjoy reading all these stories to get the employees' sides of things. Reply Share Oro +2. 15 hr. ago Vote dreaminginteal +2. 14 hr. ago It all depends on which state. Reply Share Vote
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    Font - Feather_of_a_Jay 17 hr. ago Just telling people flat-out that they will be actively ignoring state law is BOLD Vote Reply Share Vote ... Geminii27 +3. 13 hr. ago It's a fun document to be able to submit to a court. "Defendant was advised on this date of the exact laws they were violating, and here's a copy of the advice in question." Reply Share ...
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  • 32
    Font - 2oonhed 14 hr. ago Hey sparky, walking out on a job.... does not go against you if they say "if you don't like it, then leave" Vote batkevn OP 13 hr. ago I'm aware. I didn't bother fighting it because I had zero proof or witnesses of what was said. Reply Share Vote Reply Share
    via u/batkevn
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    Font - +2 14 hr. ago What was the fallout of them now having only a purchasing manager who didn't know how to operate the system? imakesawdust Vote batkevn OP 14 hr. ago Not sure. During the email exchanges, they claimed I cost them over $10k and were using that as an excuse to not pay me. I could speculate all I want, but the truth is I have no idea. Reply Share Vote Reply Share
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    Font - Sharp Coat3797 Nice.....but too bad you got disappointed about the final envelope arriving. Dang. Vote batkevn OP . +2 12 hr. ago Reply Share 11 hr. ago I was more disappointed than ever to file my taxes that year. ✩ Vote ↓ Reply Share
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    Font - LOlaccio +1.3 hr. ago What a victory, well played! Vote Reply Share
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    Font - GO Kit-Kat-22 To add a little additional spice, I copied the CEO on this email. +1 -3 hr. ago Like my father always said sorolls downhill fast. Vote batkevn OP 2 hr. ago It helped that his last name is the name of the company, so I'm sure having his name on a lawsuit wasn't ideal. Vote Reply Share Reply Share
    via u/batkevn

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