[purrfect10]

I worked for a public company for 4 years. I was always pleasant and always professional. Unfortunately their was no upward mobility because the company I worked for had a mentality of “We’ve always done it this way.” The average employee age was 56. I was a millennial who had prior experience in accounting to working for this company.

I gave my two weeks notice. Was polite, courteous, and grateful for the opportunity. The following day, after I gave notice, the manager called me to her office at about 4:30, asked me to gather my things and leave. I would be compensated for my 2 weeks of notice, and vacation time. I would not get my bonus that I had earned for the quarter (she waited to turn in bonuses to payroll, the day after I gave my notice).

I was so outdone! In the moment, it was not about the money. I had spent 4 years building relationships with people of all ages and backgrounds. I was not allowed to say goodbye to anyone.

I now realize that it wasn’t me, it was my manager. She did not have my best interested and did not want to see me grow. But, what do you think?

How should I feel? How would you feel?

BEC(07/30/2016)
AUD (09/03/2016)
REG (TBD)
FAR (TBD)
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." ~ Winston Churchill

[Anonymous]

This is the policy in some companies and may, in fact, have nothing at all to do with you. As an example, I used to work in banking; in some positions within banking, you wouldn't be allowed to work out your 2 weeks' notice, because the bank saw it as a liability, so they'd ask you to leave (and usually pay the 2 weeks) in order to reduce risk. I don't know what industry you were in or what the standards were in the company, but especially if you haven't seen many people leave since they all stayed there forever, it may just be that this is the standard in the company.

Either way, given that they're paying you the 2 weeks, just see it as a gift of a 2 week vacation. I know it stings right now…but you probably won't be able to take vacation for a bit at your new job, so this way you'll get a nice vacation before starting your new job. It does suck to not get to say goodbye to people (I had a job that I had coworkers at remote locations; for some time, my boss didn't want me to tell the closest coworkers at the other locations, and the others that I didn't work as closely with weren't told till after I left to my knowledge), but you've still resigned not been fired, so don't worry about it for your future job options.

Hopefully this was just company policy and not anything personal against you from your former boss. If it was anything personal, then that sucks, but still try to enjoy the vacation and look forward not back. It's not every day that your boss (or former boss 🙂 ) offers to give you 2 weeks paid without using vacation time!

P. S. With the exception of one job I've had, every other job, my relationship with my boss has turned suddenly sour after I resigned. We could have gotten on great, and then somehow between 2 weeks' notice and my last day, it turned to where you'd have thought we never got on. 😐 So, I've made a point to make sure I treat people who are leaving well, and now that I am a manager, if I had to deal with a resignation, I'd try extra-extra hard to make sure I didn't change how I treated my employees.

[nadroj]

Some companies, as policy, ask resigning employees to leave immediately. If that's the case, it's not personal.

[ruggercpa2b]

This is very common in a lot of workplaces. Especially if you really do not have much work to do. I have seen it in public and private.

People I know that have worked at places where you get a bonus will usually wait till their bonus is paid out before they leave.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[acamp]

As others mentioned, this is common. Does seem like a jerk move though to terminate your employment without paying your quarterly bonus–hopefully the “free” two weeks off is close to or more than the bonus.

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[CPA2BEE]

Don't take it personally, this is common. That is a bummer you're not getting your bonus, but on the flip side just try to enjoy the next two paid weeks off! Take a mini-vacation or something, enjoy the free time.

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[Missy]

Unfortunately there are employees who can do a lot of damage to a company during their last 2 weeks after notice is given…from emailing confidential data to a personal email address to deleting files they had access to. Its not you and its not your manager, its the reality of the world we live in that is better to show someone the door rather than letting them stay those two weeks. No big deal.

regarding the bonus, I've never heard of a company that will pay out a bonus if you're not employed there on the day bonuses are disbursed. They may exist but they're a rare exception, no doubt your company's bonus policy says as much.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[bhunt815]

Same thing happened to me early in my career. I was controller at a small construction company and gave my 2-week-notice. I was in a position to do a great deal of harm if i chose to do so (I was a check signer and purchase order approver), and I guess that didn't sit well with the owner. That was cool with me. I got a week off before my next gig.

FAR 04/11/2016 - 84
AUD 05/12/2016 - 79
BEC 07/06/2016 - 81
REG 08/29/2016

[Andyred04]

2 free weeks of PTO!!?? I wouldn't be complaining. Use them as a stepping stone and find something better.

FAR: 80 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
REG: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
BEC: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
AUD: 8/27/16

PA Candidate

[purrfect10]

For the most part, I agree with everyone. However, I was not a key person in the company. I was a low-level accountant. I did not hold any power and no one really depended on me. It was not company policy because others before me, had left and worked their full two weeks including in my same department. I just think the manager took is personal. I just hate that I didn't get to say goodbye to anyone.

BEC(07/30/2016)
AUD (09/03/2016)
REG (TBD)
FAR (TBD)
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." ~ Winston Churchill

[Track55]

They treated you VERY well. At any other company it would have been, if you don't want to be here then go. Here's your unused PTO and no bonus.

AUD - 74, 99 !!
REG - 74, 92
BEC - 83
FAR - 73, 86

Studying for Ethics exam

California candidate
Business and Industry

[Anonymous]

I almost think you should write a thank you to the company for the two weeks of free PTO.

[acamp]

Would the bonus have come during the next two weeks that you thought you were going to be employed? Also, how does the bonus compare to the free two weeks of PTO?

Also, you could email your coworkers and see if they'd like to meet for drinks or whatever after work… let them know your schedule is WIDE open the next two weeks! haha

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Peterman25]

I would feel happy because I am getting a 2 week paid vacation, but then I would be a little miffed that I didn't get my bonus. Remember, as soon as you give that notice you are telling them that you don't want to be there any longer. It is 50/50 on whether they will keep you or just tell you to pack their things.

I would use this as a learning experience – if there is a bonus in play give the notice after the bonus is in your bank account. This scenario happened to my wife. She gave a 2 week notice during the Christmas holiday and a bonus was due. She worked the entire 2 weeks, but no bonus made it her way even though it was for the entire year just worked. People suck like that.

BEC 7/14 - PASS
FAR 10/14 - PASS
AUD 1/15 - PASS
REG 4/15 - PASS

AZ license - Official 8/20/2015

[Author]

Replies