Reaction of your boss when told your ER ing in you 50's

[Calico]

When I took an early retirement from my career job, people seemed happy for me and a few were envious, but in a good way.

I took a part-time job in 03/10 to finish earning my 40 social security credits. I will have earned enough on 5/8/15 to have my 40th quarter of coverage. I am a receptionist for a glaucoma doctor. I went in 04/27/15 to tell him that I would be leaving work. His face immediately changed and he told me that I could not be coming in there to tell him that I was giving a 2 week notice. I told him no, I was planning on leaving in 3 weeks, May 15, 2015. He told me that I could not do that to the office, I could not do that to them. He said that I knew the office manager was leaving, 5/14/15 and we were down one tech already. He hired a person to be the office manager replacement in 06/14 and she has been working 3 days a week since then and is ready to go full-time after her college graduation 5/16/15. We are down a tech, but I do not know how to do a tech job. They were interviewing 3 people today for the tech job, so I thought if they liked 2 of them, they could hire one to replace me. He ended up saying that I could not leave until the end of the year. I was speechless and could only repeat the end of the year. That is 8 months and he is totally serious. I have worked there over 5 years and I am only earning $11.75 hr now. I ended up telling him to please hire someone soon. He said that he would, but that I needed to stay until the end of the year. I am not sure what to do about this. I hate confrontation, but I was really looking forward to 5/15/15 being my last day of work. I still can't believe his reaction.

Let me help you out with this one.

1. On May 15, go in to the office, pack up your personal stuff, say goodbye to everyone, and LEAVE.

2. Slavery is illegal in this country. I don't know who this guy thinks he is, but he is WAY off base.

3. West Virginia is an "employment at will" state, which means either party (employer or employee) may terminate employment at any time without having to give a reason. If you feel like it, you could print out a copy of the relevant state statute and leave it on his desk on your way out on May 15th.

4. Enjoy your retirement and your grand-daughter.

 

[hnzw_rui]

He ended up saying that I could not leave until the end of the year. I was speechless and could only repeat the end of the year. That is 8 months and he is totally serious. I have worked there over 5 years and I am only earning $11.75 hr now. I ended up telling him to please hire someone soon. He said that he would, but that I needed to stay until the end of the year. I am not sure what to do about this. I hate confrontation, but I was really looking forward to 5/15/15 being my last day of work. I still can't believe his reaction.

You're resigning. What more can he do? Fire you? He can't really force you to stay.

 

[bssc]

Unless you signed some sort of contract for a set amount of time, you can walk out. As noted above, it sounds like you are an at will employee.

I gave my director two weeks. He seemed surprised. He pretty much ignored me and there was no turnover to speak of, which was fine with me since he wouldn't listen anyway. I enjoyed two weeks of long and sometimes free lunches.

 

[EastWest Gal]

Sounds like the doc is in a bind with a number of employees leaving. He's desperate not to be stuck answering his own phones, but that's his problem, not yours. Ask that your pay be doubled to stay one more month. You know he can afford it. If he refuses, oh well. The only thing he could do is fire you and that's not going to happen. He can always call a temp agency if he needs to.


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[MRG]

Sounds like the doc is in a bind with a number of employees leaving. He's desperate not to be stuck answering his own phones, but that's his problem, not yours. Ask that your pay be doubled to stay one more month. You know he can afford it. If he refuses, oh well. The only thing he could do is fire you and that's not going to happen. He can always call a temp agency if he needs to.


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I like that. If he needs you that bad he'll pay, 2nd month it triples and so on. All the way to the end of the year.

He can't make you stay only you have that right. I might get good and PO'ed if it were me and walk out the door. But it's better(for me) to take the high road.

 

[pb4uski]

He is panicking. Do nothing until you have your credits in.

Then give him three weeks notice. Like others have said, if he objects, tell him that you are willing to work with him and will stay on beyond the three weeks for an additional three weeks for $23.50/hour and three weeks after that for $47/hour and three weeks after that for $94/hour. I suspect he'll capitulate but if he doesn't then congratulations on you raises!

.....I told him no, I was planning on leaving in 3 weeks, May 15, 2015. He told me that I could not do that to the office, I could not do that to them. ..... He ended up saying that I could not leave until the end of the year. I was speechless and could only repeat the end of the year. That is 8 months and he is totally serious. I have worked there over 5 years and I am only earning $11.75 hr now. I ended up telling him to please hire someone soon. He said that he would, but that I needed to stay until the end of the year. I am not sure what to do about this. I hate confrontation, but I was really looking forward to 5/15/15 being my last day of work. I still can't believe his reaction.

 

[Unpaintedhuffhines]

Agree with everyone else here - your company offers employment, but they can't force it on anyone, so stick to your guns. Offering to stay for double your pay is just going to pour salt in the wound, so I definitely wouldn't go that route, unless your boss brings it up. One of the big jobs of a manager is to Always Be Recruiting. The lesson I learned over years of management was: someone is going to need to be promoted, someone is going to need to go (be fired), and someone is going to surprise you. It's really his fault if things fall through the cracks, which is probably why he's freaking out a bit.

I do understand wanting to avoid confrontation, however. I quit a job one time (not retire), and my boss's reaction was "I do not accept your resignation." This took me aback, but I politely said "um, I was really just informing you, not asking you."

Good luck!

 

[InTheSticks]

Be sure and research your state's rules on that. Some states mandate an employer pay out for earned but unused vacation days. Here in California, I've always had unused vacation days paid out upon leaving, no matter how much notice I've given.

Found a web site that might provide more info. Don't lose out on anything you're entitled to, regardless of what their policy states about giving "x" amount of notice:

Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home: States With Pro-Employee Laws: No Use-It-Or-Lose-It Vacation

LoneAspen, if I am escorted out the door, I would be paid my unused vacation.

 

[Walt34]

He ended up saying that I could not leave until the end of the year.

This is astonishing! What's he gonna do if you don't? Revoke your birthday?

Whether to offer to extend your stay for doubling pay is up to you but it possibly could be perceived as trying to gouge him for money so I'd let him make that offer - let him be the one to say "What can I do to get you to stay longer?" and then you suggest doubling pay.

Otherwise, what the others said. I also live in WV and Calico is correct - WV is an "at will" state, meaning you don't have to give any notice at all. Neither does he.

 

[Al in Ohio]

Sounds like the doc is in a bind with a number of employees leaving. He's desperate not to be stuck answering his own phones, but that's his problem, not yours. Ask that your pay be doubled to stay one more month. You know he can afford it. If he refuses, oh well. The only thing he could do is fire you and that's not going to happen. He can always call a temp agency if he needs to.


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All good advice given so far, but this one above is spot on. I'd be inclined to offer this option, but only if working that extra month in springtime when its nice is truely worth double pay, orherwise ask for an upfront cash bonus too.

I don't think asking for twice the pay is gouging. Its a free market supply and demand. Its only a month. Premium pay for premium time is normal.


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[Dreamer]

Thank you to everyone who commented on this. I did not have a contract for this job. However, what I did not say is that I work 3 days per week and previously I wanted to work only as a substitute when someone was off work. I asked him if I could train my daughter to do my job and then be a substitute. He agreed and my daughter started working there. She ended up quitting and I immediately went back to doing my part-time job. I appreciated that he had let me do this and felt bad that my daughter did not even stay a year. I also started working full-time for 3 months after my office manager had a stroke. He did something nice for me and I reciprocated. He is a nice man. He finally gave me the "Uncle Don" (my uncle that I went to live with when I was 11) look, that showed disappointment in me. I called the new office manager Monday night and told her what had happened in order to keep her in the loop. She said that she hated to see me go, but not to worry, she would talk to him and tell him that it would be okay.

I went to work today and wondered how it would be at the office. He was back to his normal self and told me good morning and good night which is our normal conversation, unless he asks me to refer a patient to another doctor. He is a sole practitioner and is very busy. I felt much better and I don't think that he will say anything else to me about it. I am planning on 5/15/15 being my last day and hope that no one says anything else about it.

 

[TallTim]

I may not fully fit the thread, as I'm only 48 (planning to RE by 49 if not sooner) and sort of had a soft-ball conversation with my new manager (one of them, I have 2 - one functional and one organizational) ... but its so typical of what you all have seen, so adding the story.

I was an executive officer of a ~$1.5B US public company up until we were acquired early this year by a larger European based firm. After closing, of the 6 exec officers, only two remain (me and one other); not a surprise in terms of who have left, but I don't want to get specific as it may out me to others at my co (never know who reads this forum) ... any case, I and some others committed to stay for at least 6 months post-closing to help with transition, etc., basically all the myriad of details that need to be addressed in this kind of situation, and given my seniority and functional role, it's a natural fit to stay on. Since then, NEWCO has (to its credit) tried very, very hard with me and my team to entice us to stay in whatever ways they really can ... but bottom line is that I've gotten a lot of flexibility from sale proceeds (definitely now FI, from being close before) and I'm no longer interested in putting up with certain things, plus the overall demotion from being "sold' to NEWCO ...

So, I went to see my new manager and let him know that 'this probably isn't going to work .. and they shouldn't expect me to stay past my contract time .. and plan accordingly for succession and hand-off of my items, etc". Amazingly, it was near total denial, as though I had said something about the weather. Just went on with the conversation and then added an anecdote about how change is always hard and just to be patient, etc. ... to which I said more or less, 'no, but I don't think you understand what I'm saying here ...' On like that for maybe 15 min back and forth and ending with a 'well, let's stay in touch on this and feel free to come to me any time ..." Amazing, and in some ways disappointing and not a surprise, really.

What's odd to me is that this guy knows the windfall circumstances, obviously, since not only is the comp public, but he was deeply involved in negotiating the transaction with me, so knows in detail who got what and amounts, etc.

I'm going to have a similar discussion with my functional manager when I see him in person at an off-site in Europe at the end of the month; I think I will need to be clearer and firmer in my point of view.

Yeesh!

 

[pb4uski]

No worries, just keep telling them when the situation is right and when you get near to the end of your contract period and remind them that you are leaving at the end of your contract period while they might be disappointed it won't be a shocker that you decided not to stay on. I wouldn't sweat it... it is their problem, not yours. BTW, congratulations!

It might get easier in that as you are jointly planning for the future you can keep reminding them that you won't be there. It was great for me... "Well, I won't be around to see the results but I would ....."

 

[ArkTinkerer]

Thank you to everyone who commented on this. I did not have a contract for this job. However, what I did not say is that I work 3 days per week and previously I wanted to work only as a substitute when someone was off work. I asked him if I could train my daughter to do my job and then be a substitute. He agreed and my daughter started working there. She ended up quitting and I immediately went back to doing my part-time job. I appreciated that he had let me do this and felt bad that my daughter did not even stay a year. I also started working full-time for 3 months after my office manager had a stroke. He did something nice for me and I reciprocated. He is a nice man. He finally gave me the "Uncle Don" (my uncle that I went to live with when I was 11) look, that showed disappointment in me. I called the new office manager Monday night and told her what had happened in order to keep her in the loop. She said that she hated to see me go, but not to worry, she would talk to him and tell him that it would be okay.

I went to work today and wondered how it would be at the office. He was back to his normal self and told me good morning and good night which is our normal conversation, unless he asks me to refer a patient to another doctor. He is a sole practitioner and is very busy. I felt much better and I don't think that he will say anything else to me about it. I am planning on 5/15/15 being my last day and hope that no one says anything else about it.

So how did this work out for you Dreamer?

 

[Dreamer]

I told him on 5/11/15 that I really wanted to retire 5/15/15 and that if I were to stay I would need to be paid $20.00 per hour. He said that they had been interviewing and they had a good prospect and he did not want to stretch me out. I told him that was good and that my last day would be 5/15/15. He came out and shook my hand tonight and thanked me and wished me well in my future endeavors. I told him that I enjoyed working there and thanked him. I am free!!! No more schedule! Thanks for asking.

 

[Al in Ohio]

Glad to hear it all worked out for you dreamer. Enjoy your ER.


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[Dreamer]

Thanks. It has started out well. My 37 year old son got engaged this morning, then we went to his fiance's graduation for her Master of Science degree and then they moved into their new to them townhouse. He has never owned any real estate before this, so very big step for him. He has never been engaged or married before either.

 

[ArkTinkerer]

I love a happy ending! Or beginning for that matter!

 

[Rick_Head]

My boss (who was about 10 years younger than me) asked "can you afford it", then realized that with my my LYBM lifestyle I probably could. He congratulated me, told me of his goal to be out at my age, and then asked me to stay an additional 90 days so he could find a replacement. That 90 days proved fruitful (another year's options that eventually yielded about 2 year's pay).

A few months ago, after being retired for 8 years, I got an invitation from mega-corp to come to former-boss's retirement send off. He suggested that I was his insiration to do it. I also heard that his wife was having health issues and I know he was at least s frugal as me. When your number is called, it's best to answer.

 

[ArkTinkerer]

Word has been leaking out, and honestly I have gotten where I am not shy about letting people know, that I will be departing in August. To a person they have all be supportive, congragulate me, generally happy for me. The only "I hate you!" was said by a past co-worker who had come back to interview and was obviously in jest. A couple comments from people who say they wish they had my salary (but who also said they were just not good with finances) was about the most negative thing I heard.

Lots of other people bailing out on Megacorp this year but I think I'm the youngest at 51.

 

[doneat54]

A couple comments from people who say they wish they had my salary (but who also said they were just not good with finances) was about the most negative thing I heard.

I hear that occasionally too and have to bite my tongue and not say "no, you wish you had committed to living below your means in your 20s..........!"

 

[TallTim]

No worries, just keep telling them when the situation is right and when you get near to the end of your contract period and remind them that you are leaving at the end of your contract period ... I wouldn't sweat it... it is their problem, not yours. BTW, congratulations!
.."

Great advice, as usual.

Stuck to my guns in a series of meetings last week in Europe and came in today to an email and and meeting where my US manager, the HR VP and I all agreed on July 3 for my last day. Draft acceleration agreement sitting on my desk, my no. 2 accepted the promotion this afternoon into the role and our VP sent me a draft transition announcement that will go out @ end of the week.

Whew! Can't wait until July. It's going to be a VERY nice holiday weekend -- Independence Day, indeed !

 

[MBAustin]

Good job, TallTim! Enjoy counting down those days to your personal independence!


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[irishgal]

Today was my final meeting with my boss. My last day is June 5 but he is out on PTO next week so this was it. As we were wrapping up he said "I would also be honored to serve as a reference for you in your next chapter". It suddenly occurred to me he is not buying that I'm retiring.
So I guess his reaction is denial.


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[Beldar]

When I informed my manager that June 5th was my last day, he feigned surprise & shock. Then he gushed on how I was an invaluable employee, blah blah blah. I was thinking "Then why the bad review & poor raise?". I was also thinking "Who cares?"

One more week of living on the set of "Office Space"