Manager demands to read employee's offer letter after they get promoted to a new department, employee informs HR, they refuse to give the letter: ‘It's not his business’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Oct 12, 2025 7:00 AM EDT

People say that when you get a new job, you shouldn't tell your boss who you are leaving them for. Truthfully, they have no reason to know, and there is little to no benefit from them being informed.

If you agree with this statement, then you must agree that your soon-to-be former boss has absolutely no business reading your offer letter from this new position. Why on earth would they need to read the delicate details that should be read by you and you only? 

The employee in the story below is wondering the exact same thing. 

Even though they are not really leaving their job, just moving to a different department, they are still saying goodbye to their current boss. After they were offered the new position, they got an offer letter from the new department. The employee happily accepted and informed their boss of the move. The boss's reaction to their employee leaving was to ask them to provide him with their offer letter. 

When the employee delivered this request to the HR team, they were firm with their refusal.

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  • Is HR correct in warning the employee not to let their soon-to-be former boss read the terms of their new position? Scroll down to read the full story.

  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10562425344
    via fizkes

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

  • 02

    Manager wanted to review my offer letter

    I work for a bank and really hate the department I work for, Its become a mismanaged place.
    via ILovePooch
  • 03
    I had applied numerous times for other jobs and gotten second round interview within the bank only to be ghosted.
    via ILovePooch
  • 04
    Protocol is to contact the employee manager for a reference. I have asked him if they ever reached out to him since I got ghosted around 8 times and hes said nobody ever reached out to him.
    via ILovePooch
  • 05
    But now I had a department that liked me so much that after the second round interview they reached out to me to offer me the new position.
    via ILovePooch
  • 06
    Better pay and better work/life flexibility. They told me to tell my manager my new start date which was 4 weeks away, Plenty of time.
    via ILovePooch
  • 07
    When I told my manager he seemed happy for me but at the same time he seemed miffed about the whole
    via ILovePooch
  • 08
    After a few days I gotten the offer letter and signed in and let him know.
    via ILovePooch
  • 09
    He then proceeded to ask me for my offer letter to which I asked what info he needed and he replied just with "To review the letter" I said I'd have to ask HR since I signed it and its gone now.
    via ILovePooch
  • 10
    Called HR and they even said not to give it to him since its not his business to know whats on there and that he should contact the other department.
    via ILovePooch
  • 11
    I told him that and he then requested their names. I messaged them and told them he wanted to review my offer letter to which they even said do not do that.
    via ILovePooch
  • 12
    They said they will message him to see what exactly he needs to know more than the starting date.
    via ILovePooch
  • 13
    This whole experience makes me feel as he has been sabotaging my ability to go to another department since this is the first time a department just skipped over him and just hired me right away and now hes making a big stink about it even though he told me that my work/life balance does not fit well with the department.
    via ILovePooch
  • 14
    Am I crazy?
    via ILovePooch
  • 15
    Offering a letter
    via shisuka

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

  • 16
    BluetoYou21 Not crazy. Definitely trying to sabotage. Do not show him anything.
    via BluetoYou21
  • 17
    Nevermind04 >Am I crazy? Not crazy, but definitely a little naive for even entertaining your ex-boss' absurd request. The letter is not for a position in his department and he isn't the one who will be working the job. It's absolutely none of his business. You gain nothing by giving him any information about your new job and only create unnecessary risk for yourself.
    via Nevermind04
  • 18
    datagirl60 Yeah. Most likely sabotaging it because you make his department look good thus making him look good. Now he is actually going to have to work.
    via datagirl60
  • 19
    rubygalhappy Nope! Keep your mouth closed and get that new job. Mind your business.
    via rubygalhappy
  • 20
    practicalm So stupid. It's my job as a manager to train/ mentor you so you can promote up. Within the company or outside the organization.
    via practicalm
  • 21
    Emm_withoutha_L-88 Is this America? lirc this kind of retaliation is illegal and if even a hint about it is said get it in writing
    via Emm_withoutha_L-88
  • 22
    AnamCeili Nope. He most likely has been sabotaging you. It's good that it didn't work this time. Best of luck in your new position!
    via AnamCeili
  • 23
    Joey_BagaDonuts57 Tell him to take it up with HR. Congrats on the switch.
    via Joey_BagaDonuts57
  • 24
    Chicago_Avocado He doesn't want to see that letter for your interest. He will only cause trouble with the information.
    via Chicago_Avocado

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promotion boss workplace-stories employee hr manager job tales-from-the-workplace new job reddit story workplace offer letter job search Reddit company
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