Company higher-ups try to swindle an employee out of the mandated two weeks' pay after they resign: ‘He says… the handbook doesn't matter’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Nov 29, 2025 4:00 PM EST

When you were first hired in your role, did you read your employee handbook top to bottom? Or, did you skim over the important parts about PTO, sick days, bonuses, and the like? Most of us don't peel our eyes back and sit down for hours trying to decode the purposefully confusing jargon companies use in their handbooks, mostly because we're focused on the fact that we actually scored a job in an unsteady hiring climate. This story is a perfect example of why you should read the handbook, even if you think it won't apply to you. And, yes, even if your boss feels that they can override the handbook. That's just not how these things work in the real world.

The higher-ups you'll read about in the story below try to swindle one of their employees out of their two weeks' mandated pay after they resign. The employees schools the CEO on the employee handbook, and the CEO basically laughs in their face. I wonder if he'll keep laughing once a lawyer hears about this case… Easy money. Scroll below to read the full story.

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  • 01
    side view of a person holding their office belongings
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • 02

    "Job playing games with my two week notice."

    So I have had this job for about 9 months and things have just fallen through.
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  • 03
    Communication issues, building issues, leasing our space to another clinic and in my opinion violating HIPPA rules.
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  • 04
    I decided I had enough when I came back from my honey moon to a nasty email from my supervisor critiquing my work ethic when I am the only one doing my job.
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  • 05
    A regular clinic has a full business office, full nursing staff, etc. I am the only receptionist, biller, scheduler, etc that we have.
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  • 06
    Things have gotten busier and long story short, for $20/hour where I live, this job is a joke.
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  • 07
    I decided to give my two weeks notice as requested in the handbook that was given to me and I signed back in March.
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  • 08
    I sent my written notice to my supervisor and HR on Wednesday November 19th stating December 3rd would be my last day.
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  • 09
    Mind you, this company gives holiday pay and decided Black Friday would also be a holiday.
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  • 10
    So when I gave my notice, they must've scrambled together and gotten angry, because an email was sent to me on Friday November 21st stating they would be terminating my employment on Wednesday November 26th.
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  • 11
    was obviously upset and in the moment, told them actually today will be my last day.
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  • 12
    Good luck. Then, I decided to look back into the handbook and it states "(Company) retains the right to dismiss the resigning employee immediately with pay for the notice period." So I then reply with the handbook quote (down to the page number and section) stating I will be due payment through December 3rd.
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  • 13
    That got them alllll riled up because they told me to call the CEO to discuss this, when I needed to have documentation regarding the situation.
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  • 14
    I emailed him and cc'd HR and my supervisor and then he called me and had the audacity to tell me what he says goes and the handbook doesn't matter.
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  • 15
    boss businessman working on laptop and emailing a colleague
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • 16
    If I want to be paid, I need to work until December 3rd despite the clinical director telling me my employment would end on November 26th.
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  • 17
    So now, I am upset I am not financially able to take them to court and blow it out of proportions for them.
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  • 18
    Why have a handbook and have employees sign it if it doesn't matter? It's because you're worried about your business having to go to court.
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  • 19
    So now, I will continue to work to get that holiday pay, but my work will be subpar at most.
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  • 20
    Reading my entire Malala book, playing club penguin, making this post on Reddit. We're not letting CEO's think they can do whatever they want without consequences.
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  • 21
    Screw capitalism. The only reason I continued working besides needing rent and food money, is for the good of the patients that deserve care in an ever crumbling healthcare system in the US.
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boss workplace-stories bosses work money problems workplace Horrible Bosses paycheck bad bosses
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