Boss refuses to pay accrued PTO to employee after firing them, demands employee train their replacement in exchange for the payment: ‘This isn't what we discussed’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Oct 18, 2025 7:00 PM EDT

There are many uncertainties when one loses their job. Not only do they have to worry about their future, their financial state, and employment, but even within the workplace, where they are departing from, there are a lot of questions left unanswered. 

Take the employee in the story below as an example. They were unexpectedly fired one day from a job they held a lot of respect for. While they were trying to understand what their future looked like, they also had to navigate their exit strategy with their (now former) boss. 

One thing they had agreed on was that instead of continuing to work for a few more days to train their replacement, they would leave immediately and get a two-week payment for their accrued PTO.

However, this was not followed through. Instead, the boss demanded that the ex-employee would still be at their back and call during the training for the replacement. And when the employee tried to set the record straight, they were told they would not get their PTO payment like they agreed.

Whose in the right? Keep scrolling to read the full story and share your thoughts in the comments below.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10564325888
    via Getty Images

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

  • 02

    Manager wants me to work after firing me.. is this legal?

    Background: I was fired on Thursday from my company in California (remote worker in Texas), he let me go with no warnings, just sudden loss of all my access then he followed it with a phone call affirming this.
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 03
    I was supposed to train my colleague on Friday (the next day) on a process I have done for the entire time I've been with the company (2.4 years), manager let me know that that's canceled given I'm being fired.
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 04
    So I let him know I have security authentications I'm willing to hand over since those codes come to my personal cellphone (company is too cheap to get a work phone), and I also asked for my accrued vacation (my last vacation was in August of 2024) After firing me, he said he'll think about it and call me back.
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 05
    Then he called back saying he'll pay me only for two weeks vacation, and I should consider myself on vacation now because he's paying me AFTER two weeks on the next pay cycle (for my vacation) and will give me a glowing reference for my next employer in exchange of me handing over the remaining accesses and answering the most basic questions about my role to my college.
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 06
    Now he's changing the story, saying I owe them knowledge transfer/training during that period, even though I was already terminated.
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 07
    I haven't been paid for my accrued PTO yet, and it's been several days since my termination.
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 08
    I'm wondering if I have legal grounds to file a complaint with the California Labor Board for unpaid PTO and possibly for the way they're handling my "final pay" and post- termination demands.
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 09
    Thursday 6:10 PM ? I'm not able to access my email Yesterday 4:44 PM Are you available to jump on a call with and I? H can you please tell me the purpose of the call? Edited + Nothing more than what we agreed to last week. We have several question as to how a few things in different areas have been done. As per your direction and agreement in our last call, there will not be any knowledge transfer meetings or trainings. It was supposed to be for baseline questions and code/access transfers only.
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 10
    + that isn't what we discussed. I said we wouldn't ask you to do any further work but if we had questions we would ask them and you agreed to answer them. Knowledge transfer was never discussed or omitted. Will you consider your stance and provide us the answers to our question and honor what we discussed and we'll do the same? Knowledge transfer was discussed, I specifically asked you "Does that mean that I'm not gonna have knowledge transfer/training with .-- and you specifically said: "No, we
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 11
    There is some confusion here. Yes I canceled the Friday meeting but that was only specific to that meeting. We absolutely have a few questions which I think you can help us to better understand how and why you managed a few processes the way you did and the 2 week separation agreement that you suggested and agreed to was to address these types of questions as well as a few of the potential security type questions. Are you no longer willing to do this? This isn't what I agreed to. I have only agr
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 12
    Today 3:38 AM I am not asking you to train anybody. I'm ask you to answer questions. The deal goes both ways. We agreed to pay you and provide positive feedback as a reference in exchange for this. If you wont answer questions we don't have an agreement. It was you that suggested the "soft landing", not me. Please reconsider your position and let me know. + ¡Message 오 ب
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 13
    Cheezburger Image 10564326144
    via Suntorn Somtong

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

  • 14
    krumbs2020 I think OP tried to negotiate a "soft landing" or "soft exit", but the boss isn't honoring what was discussed.
    via krumbs2020
  • 15
    OP Express Opening 5490 Yes, I did because I genuinely cared about the company and our clients despite how they handled this.
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 16
    purplecowz Good luck with that. Employers in Texas don't have to pay out accrued PTO at all. That would only apply here if he lived in California. Edit: or if company policy/handbook states it
    via purplecowz G
  • 17
    OP Express Opening 5490 I moved to Texas in March, my employer has always been in California.
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 18
    EllyKayNobodysFool that's very noble of you to do. It's hard to walk away from that when it happens, I'm sorry you're put in this position. Since they already fired you, you can probably guess how they would view you when you have no value to them anymore after the "transfer". The check will never come unless it's in writing and agreed to by both of you.
    via EllyKayNobodysFool
  • 19
    OP Express Opening5490 Thank you very much for saying that. I agree, that's exactly what I think they'll do too.
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 20
    Dangleboard Addict Doesn't seem like OP was fired if they're asking him to come in and train people. They laid him off but don't want to phrase it like that
    via Dangleboard_Addict
  • 21
    OP Express Opening 5490 I was fired and told they don't need me or my assistance at all. And because I'm a decent human I offered to give back their security codes because they come to my cellphone.. which he completely neglected. He thought about it and decided to offer my vacation pay and a good review on the condition that I'd answer questions and "do a knowledge transfer", I'm 100% fired. He just doesn't want to go back in his word and own up to firing me but still getting the necessary info
    via Express_Opening5490
  • 22
    grjacpulas Stop writing back. Move on with your life.
    via grjacpulas
  • 23
    krumbs2020 Walk away. You were fired. You weren't laid off gently- you were fired... and now they need something from you and the story keeps changing. You had an agreement and your old boss is not honoring it. He said he would recap the discussion in writing- didn't do it, and now you are stuck in a verbal he said/she said. Legality- find a lawyer.
    via krumbs2020
  • 24
    bingle-cowabungle Stop communicating with this person other than to demand the accrued time off you're owed. If he or the company refuses, get in touch with an employment lawyer.
    via bingle-cowabungle
  • 25
    Bostonphoenix I believe your accrued vacation is owed to you regardless of any of this other stuff. There is usually some writing about having to be paid fully within a 24-48 hour period of time. You should offer to go back on a consulting fee that you determine and should be higher than your hourly rate beforehand.
    via Bostonphoenix

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replacement getting fired boss workplace-stories employee fired manager job tales-from-the-workplace reddit story PTO overworked-employees workplace Reddit company paid time off
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