Boss extends new employee's probation period, so employee quits without notice after finding better job: ‘Boss threw an absolute fit’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Sep 15, 2026 7:15 AM EDT

Why do bosses keep forgetting that employment is a two-way street?

The first three months of a new hire's in a workplace are often referred to as the employee's "probation period", and it is exactly what it sounds like. These three probationary months are there for the employee to prove that they were the right hire for the job. During these 90 days, new hires are expected to bring in their A-game, work as hard as they can to show their worth, and prove to management that they are worth keeping, without a single doubt. 

An employee who fails to do so by the time the probation period ends will most likely be let go, without the company having to provide a severance package, a notice period, or anything else a long-term employee is eligible for.

However, most employers forget that this probation period is also there for the workplace to prove it's worth it to the new hire. The new employee also gets these three months to test and judge the workplace to see if it fits their expectations. Everything that applies to the employee also applies to the employer, including the end result: if the employee isn't satisfied with the workplace, they can leave immediately, no questions asked.

So, when the boss featured in this post on Reddit's r/antiwork decided to extend a new employee's probation period by another 90 days, he was doing so on both ends. If the workplace isn't yet sure about the new hire's value to the company, extending the probation period means that both parties can still cut ties at any point. 

That is exactly what the employee did. Being told that she still didn't prove her worth in the company was a key sign for her that this was not a job she should keep, and luckily, she already had another offer at hand. When she sent her boss a resignation letter without any notice, he threatened to report her for breaking their contract. A contract that doesn't apply since he decided to extend the probation period…

Basically, he has no leg to stand on.

Advertisement
  • 01
    Employee passes on resignation letter to boss
    via shisuka

    Employee passes on a resignation letter to boss.

    Models for explanatory purposes only.  

  • 02

    Boss extended my probation period, so I quit without notice

    I started a role as an associate as a law firm earlier this year. It was miserable. Every file was a disorganized mess and I
    via ItsAllComin
  • 03
    was spending all day every day fixing issues instead of advancing files.
    via ItsAllComin
  • 04
    On the very last day of my 90 day probation period, my boss pulled me into his office and said he was extending my probation
    via ItsAllComin
  • 05
    for another 90 days. He said he "didn't want to throw me out on the streets but I'm not committed to being a
    via ItsAllComin
  • 06
    lawyer," because I'm a single woman who won't work until 8pm on Friday nights.
    via ItsAllComin
  • 07
    Little did he know I was being recruited by a massive insurance company. They called me the following Monday and
    via ItsAllComin
  • 08
    offered me a job. I accepted, sent my boss a resignation email and left.
    via ItsAllComin
  • 09
    Young female lawyer.
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Young female lawyer.

    Actor performance of story events.

  • 10
    Boss threw an absolute hissy fit, threatened to report me to the legal regulator and bring a law suit against me. He never
    via ItsAllComin
  • 11
    did, which I presume is because he had no leg to stand on since he extended my probation period.
    via ItsAllComin
  • 12
    That experience sparked joy
    via ItsAllComin
  • 13
    MrSlime 13 "You're going to file a lawsuit against me for quitting during an extended probationary period? Good luck with filling / organizing that. Lord knows you need it."
    via MrSlime13
  • 14
    EnigmaticAardvark In case you're in Canada, it's not legal in any province or territory for an employer to decide to extend your probationary period. Glad you're already on to bigger and better!
    via EnigmaticAardvark
  • 15
    PMProfessor "At will" works both ways.
    via PMProfessor
  • 16
    Ghostcat300 As an independent contractor, I don't know how yall tolerate this. I I have always made it clear to any boss, that I'm there to make their life easier. Do not tip that balance because I have no loyalty to them, just the money. Sadly for them they cant afford a better option.
    via Ghostcat300
  • 17
    stberg40 Probationary periods cut both ways. Many employers forget that aspect. Good for you!
    via stberg40
  • 18
    Woffingshire Threatened to sue you? The whole point of probation is that either side can walk away with no ramifications, and extending yours was HIS idea!
    via Woffingshire
  • 19
    Obxyz He gave you notice he was going to fire you. Logical thing was for you to find something else within the 90 days. He knew you would be gone.
    via 0bxyz

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

boss workplace-stories job lawyer new hire work new job workplace quitting
Scroll Down For The Next Article