'The price is about $2000': Employer tells Vet they can't claim their employee discount right after expensive pet surgery

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Nov 22, 2023 9:00 AM EST

We talk a lot about mutual respect in the workplace, and this doesn't only apply to coworkers; it also applies to managers/owners and their employees. If a worker shows you respect by giving you greater notice than necessary that they will be leaving due to outside circumstances, you will do well to repay that respect by not retaliating. You might get away with it in this instance, but rest assured, after seeing how you treated their teammate, your other employees will never give you notice again. Even if you have no morals and no care for ethical reasoning, from a logical standpoint, it makes good business sense to treat your workers well as a long-term strategy.

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  • That's why it doesn't make sense that this employer saw fit to reward their employee, a vet who gave them advanced 6-month notice of their resignation, by removing their privilege of access to discounted veterinary care for their pet—only notifying them of this after their pet had received an expensive surgery.

    Understandably upset, the vet turned to this popular online community to share their story and seek advice. See their original post and the responses below from this fresh thread.

  • 01
    "[Need] advice [on] how to handle what happened at work today."
    via Ayla Verschueren
  • 02
    Posted by u/Dazzling-Flight-4228 15 minutes ago Advice for how to handle what happened at work today I work at a vet clinic, and because of that I get very good benefits and discounts. I am moving in March, so I gave them a six month notice and told them that my last day would be in February. Today, I took my dog in to get a surgery where usually the price is about $2000 but for me it usually is 400 or less. When I was checking my dog in, my manager asked what she was in for and I told her. It d
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 03
    After the entire surgery was already said and done, my manager pulled me into the office to tell me that I will not be getting the discount anymore. She said that this was in the employee handbook and I should have known this already. I told her if I would've known that this morning, I probably wouldn't have gone through with it. She said that once you put in your resignation, it is unfair to ask the company to provide free
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 04
    services for someone who will not be an employee for much longer, even though I still have four more months of working there. If I would've known that, I wouldn't have done them the courtesy of giving them a six month notice and just them over and put in a two weeks. I am absolutely at a loss. I was not anticipating a bill so large. And on top of that, I am in complete disbelief that she let me go through with it,
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 05
    and only decided to mention this to me after the fact. I am considering taking back my resignation, and saying that I cannot afford to move anymore due to this unexpected bill. Which is true! Is this my only option? Or can someone think of something better I can do to handle this? I have been employed with them for three years, I can't believe I am being treated this way.
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 06
    In short: My manager waited until I had already completed an expensive surgery to let me know that I would not be getting a discount on it because I am leaving in four months.
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 07
    Turbulent-Pipe-4642 18 min. ago I don't know if there is much you can do except ask to make payments? I hate to say this but in my experience being loyal to your employer doesn't get you far. If they had to lay you off they wouldn't hesitate. Give only as much notice as required to leave on good terms. You need to look out for yourself. Sorry this happened but it's a lesson learned the hard way. Vote Reply Share ...
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 08
    DahDebil 16 min. ago The question is" Was the manager lying? DOES the handbook say that? If it does, you made your bed. If the manager wasn't lying, you can try and make a deal. If they made this up, there are legal remedies. If they TOLD you, it up and pay the bill. ↑ Vote Reply Share
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 09
    Dazzling-Flight-4228 OP. 14 min. ago I believe her cause she asked me if I wanted a copy of the page after I said it's been 3 years since I've read it, so no it's not fresh in my mind. Even taking back my resignation wouldn't get me far you don't think? Vote Reply Share
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 10
    usernameno1has 13 min. ago Since you are still an employee there and if other employees get this benefit I would bring it up to someone else there. Also, if the vet is owned by a larger private equity firm get them involved and the leadership there. You will probably make waves if you haven't already. Vote Reply Share
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 11
    thatgreenmaid . 5 min. ago There's someone above her head. Go to them and throw her under the bus. You are still an employee there that isn't leaving in the immediate future AND she waited till it was done to pull this passive aggressive Vote Reply Share
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 12
    . Dazzling-Flight-4228 OP 4 hr. ago Thank you for validating my anger. I also felt the same way. Considering all my options here 157 Reply Share ●●● myironlions 55 min. ago I agree with u/thatgreenmaid that if possible, you should bring this to whoever is the Big BossT. If I may add: consider thinking about you framing to focus on their interests, instead of your own. This is not because your feelings aren't very valid - I agree that they are.
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 13
    What I mean is, you will likely get better results if you focus on how this will impact the behavior of other team members long term. Make sure that the news is out (try not to have it be you that lets the cat out of the proverbial carrier - perhaps a colleague happens to see the invoice left on the lunch table while you grab extra napkins, or overhears you talking to a friend over the phone on break about your fear of paying such a large and unexpected bill ...
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 14
    whatever you do, don't complain or throw shade while you do this). Then approach leadership by noting (again, be wide-eyed and sad, not angry) that you are worried about the impact this kind of policy will have on people feeling comfortable giving notice at all, let alone such a long notice. My guess is the manager is being a petty, pissy, tyrant because she's upset you are leaving, but whether she is or she is genuinely clueless about the spirit of the policy vs the letter of it, your goal is t
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 15
    clear that this is not about you (sad to say, they may not care, since you are leaving) but about their reputation in the labor force and how much "extra" their employees are willing to give in all aspects of their work. At-cost care is a pretty big draw, I'm sure, but if current and potential future people get the idea that it might be pulled out from under them without a heads-up, well, that's not so much a perk as it is a dice roll. Good luck. And I'm so sorry about both the need for this pro
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 16
    usernameno1has - 5 hr. ago Since you are still an employee there and if other employees get this benefit I would bring it up to someone else there. Also, if the vet is owned by a larger private equity firm get them involved and the leadership there. You will probably make waves if you haven't already. 113 Reply Share ●●●
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 17
    matty_nice 4 hr. ago You're gonna need to look at that employee handbook. It would make sense if it was a two week notice, to make sure an employee isn't trying to take advantage in an extreme way, but you gave them a 6 month notice. Also look to see if giving advance notice is in the handbook and if so, what the recommendation is. Write down all the information you can remember. Depending on what the handbook said I would escalate above your manager. You should be able to argue a pretty strong
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 18
    MakeTheThing · 4 hr. ago This was premeditated. You said in another comment that she knew the exact page it was on? I call bs 57 Reply Share 46 ●●● Dazzling-Flight-4228 OP 4 hr. ago hmm didn't even consider that part. Definitely had every opportunity this morning to let me know that the surgery was going to cost more. Instead she acted like I should have known this all along and I was being ridiculous for not knowing. Extremely condescending Reply Share
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 19
    fshbrn2-3 hr. ago I think you should take back your notice and get your discount. Then in February come in and let that manager know that it's your last day. Seems they would rather not have a notice. Reply Share Vote Dazzling-Flight-4228 OP · 3 hr. ago exactly my thought. Why punish me for doing you guys a favor? What if I said "Hey, I'm going to be moving NEXT YEAR" Would they still consider that termination of my benefits? It's all screwed up and unfair ↑ Vote ↓ Reply Share ●●●
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 20
    woodmanalejandro · 4 hr. ago Do you have the employee handbook? Does it actually back her up? She could be lying thru her teeth Reply Share 17 ●●●
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 21
    MuchDevelopment 7084 3 hr. ago Go over her head. I've never heard of a company that cancels your benefits once you give notice. Much less a four month notice. That's crazy. 27 Reply Share
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 22
    SEN ithinkitmightbe · 1 hr. ago That's complete BS. This is called retaliation, go above that manager to the person above or, or if ther eis an HR contact them. Vote Reply Share
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 23
    ShinyAppleScoop - 3 hr. ago Check the handbook for yourself and/or go over her head. You're still there for FOUR MONTHS. That's oodles of time. Vote Reply Share
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 24
    wezbento - 2 hr. ago I would advise anyone to never give this much notice for any reason. Maybe if your Mom is also your boss or something. Six months is entirely too long. What if your plans change or fall through? What if your employer decides to make your life miserable? You can only lose in this situation. Vote Reply Share
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 25
    teresajs 2 hr. ago Nope. Your manager completely did this backwards. She needed to tell you that you wouldn't get the discount BEFORE the procedure. Don't pay the extra. Reply Share Vote
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228
  • 26
    trocarkarin 2 hr. ago Are you a small clinic or corporate? Does the vet who did the surgery for you know? If I had a manager pull this with one of my technicians, I would be livid. Reply Share Vote Dazzling-Flight-4228 OP · 2 hr. ago We are corporate and no she does not know this yet. The doctor usually helps me out immensely cause she knows we don't get paid significantly. I want to tell her first opportunity I get Reply Share Vote
    via u/Dazzling-Flight-4228

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