New boss refuses to acknowledge engineering contractor's resignation or even discuss renewing their contract, tries to dictate their own bizarre notice terms: 'I've just decided your last day will be 2 months from now'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Sep 4, 2025 12:00 AM EDT

There are certain cases in life where you need to acknowledge that something is out of your control. That there's simply no way that you can meaningfully influence the direction of the outcome.

Still, some managers think that they can control everything in their sphere. The level of ego involved and self-assuradity undoubtedly may make them effective in some areas of their role, and might have gotten them there to begin with. But it becomes borderline delusion when it comes to others.

A perfect example is the one presented in this story, where their manager outright refused to acknowledge this engineer's resignation (which was really the impending end of their limited contract). Since their contract was ending anyway, there really wasn't any need for them to give notice at all. But the insistent denial and refusal to discuss either their resignation or their contract still didn't stop them from being stunned when the employee tried to hand in their company equipment on the last day. The manager attempted to employ one last method of control by telling the employee that they were to stay for another 2 months, basically declaring that they weren't allowed to leave until such time as a suitable replacement had been found.

What would have happened from here if they'd decided to stay is uncertain because, well, they didn't actually have to. They stayed the course of their original plan and left for their new job, leaving their manager to face the reality that they had been avoiding.

It's not the first time we've heard of situations such as this, with similar stories of managers having their resignations ignored for a full four-week duration—right up until the bitter end.

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  • 01

    "Not a word from you about your resignation until I approve it! "

    I used to be an operations engineer on a 1-year contract in a small department. There were only 4 of us and the seniors absolutely hated doing additional work, so when there was additional networking stuff required as part of a new project, it was dumped unto me. I didn't mind doing it as I was learning new stuff, but the lack of appreciation from the rest of the team and being underpaid made me look for other jobs when my 1 year contract was almost up.
    via xtab8
  • 02
    A worker taking their belongings from their desk in a box
    via Curated Lifestyle For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 03
    Fortunately I was able to get a much better offer from one of my ex employers with about a month to go for my current contract. My current company never reached out to me to talk about renewing my contract, so I thought i'd just give them a heads up that I'm resigning and not renewing my contract.
    via xtab8
  • 04
    My manager at the time used to be an engineer like us but was promoted 6 months prior and was incredibly cocky because of that. I went into his room and handed him my resignation letter, told him I was resigning and would be happy to hand over my stuff and train the others before leaving. He takes a look at the letter, gets really ped, and tells me he isn't going to sign and acknowledge the letter until he decides what date I'm allowed to leave. He said this will
    via xtab8
  • 05
    happen after he's found someone to replace me and when he's in a better mood, essentially trying to hold me hostage. "But, my contract only has 1 month...", before I could say 2 words he says NO MORE TALKING, DID U NOT HEAR ME SAY I WON'T APPROVE IT UNTIL I'M HAPPY! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR A WORD ABOUT THIS FROM YOU UNTIL I'M READY!!! (Note this was very long ago where resignations via email weren't as common)
    via xtab8
  • 06
    I thought about explaining to him when he had calmed down, but decided f, if that's what he wants then I'll comply. So I continued working for the rest of the month, with absolutely no handover done until the last day. On the last day of my contract, I head into his room and hand him my laptop, badge etc.
    via xtab8
  • 07
    "What's this?" "My stuff, today's my last day" "Stop joking around, I told you that I haven't acknowledged your resignation letter yet. Which by the way, I've just decided your last day will be 2 months from now because we need to look for a replacement, train him up and get a proper handover before you can leave. So keep your stuff and get back to work" He gives me this incredibly cocky look like he got me. "Nope, my contract runs out after today. I'm not paid to work beyond that" "You...what?"
    via xtab8
  • 08
    "Yup, I've been trying to tell you from the start, my resignation letter was a courtesy since my contract runs out anyway, but u didn't allow me to talk" "You're bullshitting me!!!!" "Nah go call HR and check, seeya!" I watch his face turn from anger and cockiness to shock as I walk away from his room.
    via xtab8
  • 09
    A few months later I find out that he got a stern lecture by the director even though he tried to put the blame on me, ended up hiring a network engineer that cost triple what they paid me, and breached multiple SLAs for the period before the new hire joined.
    via xtab8
  • 10
    A sticky note reading "I quit" on a keyboard
    via Nick Fewings

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 11
    someone76543 Yeah... even if you weren't at the end of your contract, employers "not acknowledging a resignation letter" makes no difference. The resignation letter is telling your employer you're quitting. It's not asking for permission to quit, because you don't need permission. This isn't slavery. You can give your contractually-required notice then leave.
    via xtab8
  • 12
    MikeSchwab63 Hey, you gave him a 12 month notice. Too bad he did not remember. At my workplace, when you became managers, they signed you to a 4 year contract. Did not try renewing until the last month, so they would extend month by month despite the managers asking if they were going to be renewed. I know one, having not received word on renewal, got another job for the day after the contract ends. When they went to tell her they were extending their contract, she told them she had not heard so
    via xtab8
  • 13
    avid-learner-bot That's wild... the manager thought they could control everything but the employee just slipped away clean, how do you even begin replacing someone who's already gone?
    via xtab8

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