New hire quits after two weeks, prepares to sue ex-boss for withholding his paycheck: 'I need my full paycheck as I worked a full two weeks!'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Oct 24, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

No one enjoys the experience of having to quit their new job, but imagine having to make that difficult decision only to then have to fight for a hard-earned paycheck!

This author was hired to manage the social media accounts for a dentist's office. He negotiated the salary he wanted and subsequently began what he thought would be an easily manageable position. However, the first obvious red flags came up when he hadn't received the W-2 forms he had requested for days. 

The social media manager decided to keep his head down and continue to do his work until more and more problems became apparent. At a certain point, it became clear that this job was going to be more costly than rewarding. After all, he was spending money on gas to drive to the office every day and still had not been properly compensated yet.

When the employee made the tough choice to quit his job just two weeks in, he did not anticipate that his now ex-boss would then try to use his short term of employment as leverage against compensating him for his time!

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  • Two employees collaborate at a table while their boss stands over them with folded arms.
    via Unsplash+ (Yunus Tuğ)

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

  • What's remarkable about this manager is that she really tried to gaslight her way into not paying an employee for work that was clearly completed and at a rate that was explicitly agreed upon per their signed contract. At the end of the day, the office did not really have a leg to stand on, and yet, they really tried to make it seem like they had the upper hand. 

  • "My new employer is trying to play games with my pay."

    My new employer is trying to play games with my paycheck. edited to add- they just texted me saying my check will be ready at 10am to pick up tomorrow. I responded and said
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  • I'd like to know the amount but no response back. I'll be going up there and bringing the phone back. What do I do or say if my check is less than it's supposed to be?
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  • I was hired as a social media manager for a popular cosmetic dentist. My offer was $5000 monthly salary, but I'd be paid biweekly. My first few days I asked when I'd be doing any kind
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  • of legal paperwork. He told me I could be w2 or contract. I request w2. 2 weeks roll by and there's no word of when I'll being signing
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  • papers. Other red flags pop up and I decide this job isn't worth is as I'm spending $75 a week in gas and almost the same in tolls.
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  • They're now requesting I bring the work phone back which has all the content videos on there. I told them I have zero issue going
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  • to drop it off but I need my full paycheck as I worked a full 2 weeks. The dentist is handing this off to the front desk and making it their issue. They're claiming we didn't agree on that
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  • salary but she can't tell me what it is. I sent back my offer email stating the exact amount. Now she says they're trying to figure out how much to pay me because
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  • "I wasn't there every day" but I absolutely was there every single day. They had no way of tracking my hours. I was also coming home and working more. Not to
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  • mention it shouldn't matter how many hours specifically as I was hired salary. Although it was over 40 hours a week I put in.
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  • They're making this quite difficult. How do I even go about getting my full check? I don't feel comfortable returning the work phone until I get paid. What would you do?
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  • An employee communicated with his boss, standing over him at work.
    via Unsplash+ (Yunus Tuğ)

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

  • Winter_Ad_5961 - 21 hr. ago Go to the labor board.
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  • Honest_Palpitation91. 18 hr. ago And report to the irs.
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  • HealthyDirection659 17 hr. ago And don't return the work phone unless paid. That is your only leverage.
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  • RAGEEEEE. 16 hr. ago Work phone? Oh, he turned that in a week ago. Not his fault they don't remember.
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  • thedreamer714 - 20 hr. ago Your best bet is the labor board. Keep anything in writing, such as the email with the pay rate. Do you have the job ad, and does it list any details to corroborate your story, such as work hours? Screenshot any work texts.
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  • In the future, always get something in writing or a document from the employer stating your rate of pay, work hours, and work location.
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  • If they required you to come in the office or work certain hours, this will likely make it a w2 job and they will face penalties without the proper paperwork.
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  • I would send the phone back via mail certified and insured requiring signature. I'm no lawyer, but I believe they can legally hold your check if you fail to return property. Sorry this happened to you. Good luck!
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  • A team of employees sit around a conference table and listen as their boss delivers a speech.
    via Unsplash+ (Yunus Tuğ)

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

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employment issues workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work Horrible Bosses quitting employment toxic-work-environment
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