TL;DR: If I leave, the company is screwed.
I’ll try to make this brief, but I’m sure I’ll fail.
I took over a small division of a CPA firm a few months ago, and I quickly realized it was a mistake. In retrospect, it is set up for a team (which it used to be, pre-covid), and not one person (me) doing everything. Mostly because the scope or the work is so far, and so deep, that I honestly cannot imagine someone qualified to do it, besides me, especially at this pay rate.
I do budgeting, billing, collections, selling, the admin work, filings, it’s like I’m self-employed, but have no profit sharing (the division brings in 3x what I make).
I replaced someone who had been here since it was a 4 person team, before it dwindled down to what it is now, and I had no idea of how disorganized it was. No processes are recorded in any way, and they’re different for every client. I’ve been developing systems, tracking systems, organizing files (actual paper files as well as digital) all while doing all the work.
Some of this was not disclosed to me, as I don’t think they realized how much was going on here, but I suspect some was hidden deliberately. I was told I would have agency to make the needed changes to streamline processes, but I have received nothing but pushback on it, because my predecessor was fine with how things were.
Anyway, I was also told I would have a more flexible schedule, and that I would not need to do a few time-suck admin tasks that are not a value-add in any way, buuutttt…..a few months later, they changed their tune. I was told I absolutely would be doing those reporting tasks, and WFH was different. I asked HR for clarification on the WFH policy, which I was originally understanding to be 2 days or so a week, and HR indicated that it would be like an occasional a few times a month thing at most, and that would be revisited in the summer, so at this point, I am in the office every day, with an admin watching what I do all day.
I had looked for a few jobs, and had actually resigned myself to just making the best of it at this point, as I am getting things under control, mostly because this is not the first sh!t-show I’ve walked into, so I know how to fix it, mostly,.
I got a call yesterday for a job with a 40% raise, totally remote, and at a higher task level- I would be reviewing and consulting, but not doing all the work. Teh benefits are expensive, but I still come out way ahead.
Thing is, they want me to start in 2 weeks, and I want to leave, but if I do, this whole section will implode. there is noone that can do this job in-house, and honestly, finding anyone who will work in the office with my skill set, in 2 weeks, seems impossible. So if I go, I don’t think they even know the damage control they will have to do.
I don’t have any particular affinity for this place, but I’m sure when I get the offer letter and hand in my resignation, all hell is going to break loose. We are getting into the busy season, and there is no way I can do all the work needed to keep them afloat.
I’m not sure what advice or feedback I’m looking for here, but any opinion is appreciated. this situation is really wierd to me.
28 comments
Buisness is buisness.
If it’s in your own personal best interest to find a new job, leave. The company would let you go if it were in their own best interest, don’t forget this.
They would fire you in a second if it was in their better interest. Give them their two weeks. It’s not up to you to make sure their business is successful or even healthy. This is the basics of capitalism, and you’re putting feelings into a situation that should only be facts. Keep moving forward and don’t look back.
Your employer had plenty of time to figure out what you do for them. If they didn’t know all of it, they could have figured it out in these two years by looking at the amount of work you have been assigned. Instead, they decided to line their pockets with profits while you struggled as a one man team, slaving away.
If the organization cannot function without you, then they set themselves up for failure. A good organization adapts to its needs as needed. Better ones plan for it and take steps ahead of time to weather tough situations and staff turnover. Your employer falls under “fuck if I know” category where they just don’t give a fuck.
You do not owe them anything other than the 2 week notification as per the contract. Follow the contract, pack your stuff and enjoy the new position.
Edit: spelling
They have been hoarding the pay of 3 other workers this whole time. You’re doing the work of 4 people but not getting the pay of 4 people. At any point they could have been replacing the team, but instead they were greedy. If they had managed the staff properly, this would only be a minor inconvenience for them. Any fallout from this will be a direct result of their short sighted management.
It’s not your company, or your problem.
Don’t do any work for them once you leave without billing them (heavily) as a contractor.
“I’d be happy to help anytime going forward. My rate is $XXX/hour.”
Never EVER think about the company’s well-being. They have already fucked you and will fuck you out of your job in a heartbeat in the blink of an eye. Go forth to the new job and get that bag.
Not your company. Not your problem.
I mean, I’d be as nice as possible about it, document everything, don’t burn any bridges, and grin and smile and watch the next 14 days go by. Don’t do any career-limiting behavior, and help them as much as you want to help them, but nothing more.
I’ve been in this situation multiple times, which maybe is an indictment of my own codependent problems. But every time I thought the company would crumble when I left, and they figured it out, more or less.
They’re probably not as screwed without you as you think. I believe a lot of people feel this way but tbh most companies will pick up the pieces and move on.
Them misrepresenting the position and them reneging on accomidations they agreed to when you took the position should be plenty for you to feel no guilt, but if its not, this statement right here:
> I was told I would have agency to make the needed changes to streamline processes, but I have received nothing but pushback on it, because my predecessor was fine with how things were.
…is all you need apart from all the other stuff they’re doing to screw you.
Your conversation with your boss goes like this:
“The work needed as described to me prior to me accepting this position vs what is actually needed to accomplish the goals the company is asking for is drastically different. I understand this happens. I’ve communicated what I’d need to be able to accomplish the goals as specified today. The company has again and again rejected my requests for the resources I need to be successful in this position. The reasons I were given was that these resources weren’t needed by people doing this job before. The implied belief on the part of the company is that this job is able to be accomplished by a single person with zero additional resources. With this clarity, I’m going to give the company the opportunity to find that person as it isn’t me. This is my two weeks notice. Please let me know who you’d like me to hand over these duties to in the interim until you find my replacement.”
Then take that other job!
If someone told your company they could increase their profits by 40% without you on the books how do you think they’d react? They’d probably fire you and not look back.
I went through something similar a few years ago, stuck it out at a company that was headed in a bad direction (not sure what your exact situation is) because I felt loyalty to the company. Even passed on headhunters offering better hours/benefits/salary.
Guess what? They fired me and replaced me with someone cheaper.
They’re response? “I know it’s a tough pill to swallow and we personally like you, but we’ve got to do what’s best from a business standpoint”
You’ve got to do what best for you and your family brother.
*The company does not care about you the same way you care about it*. Maybe you care about doing a really good job and you use this as a way to justify your self esteem and validation. Maybe you go the extra mile when you don’t have to. But it doesn’t always matter, because if push came to shove, the company does not care about *you*.
As someone who gave 110% in the corporate world (unpaid overtime, etc) and was let go unexpectedly during the pandemic due to cut backs, I can tell you that they definitely don’t care. If you died, they’d be looking for a replacement with no problem. I didn’t even get to use my PTO for things like Dr Appointments because I had a bunch of responsibilities and no fill in. If I wanted to use a day for an appointment they would ask how busy my calendar was and tell me I didn’t have time to take it. You know how illegal that is? I often never had any structured breaks. Freaking ridiculous. Never get yourself emotionally tied to a company due to guilt. If all hell breaks loose, guess what? You’re not there anymore. It’s no longer YOUR problem.
It’s THEIR problem.
This kind of thinking only holds you back. You’re being too conscientious when the reality is they will find a way to get by without you. The best part is that it is not your problem to worry about. Do what is right for you.
One time my dad told me that in 100 years, it wouldn’t even matter. So I took off on my skateboard barefoot and bombed a hill I was scared of throughout all of my teenage years. I rode down the hill through a red light and called him to pick me up at the bottom. He picked me up and on the way home I called wal-mart and told them I wouldn’t be coming in there forth. Now I work in surgery and I’m ready to take hop in that skateboard again. BOUNCE man. NOW!! Retention rates will always be lowest when it comes to a company’s budget. The clock ticks melting memories into tear drops 💧
I would explain the expanded job description and the workload as your for reason leaving. If they complain about getting screwed, remind them the position used to have four employees covering the tasks and they downsized themselves into this position, not you.
– give two “working weeks” notice if they will pay out your PTO, if not walk. Get it is writing.
– offer up to 10 hours of consulting work per week at $100/hr if they would like additional transition time, 4 hour minimum per day (so your commute is worth it) assuming they can meet your schedule of weekends or evenings. If you work a couple of Saturday’s for great money good for you and them.
What is wrong with you? Your old job sucks because they lied to you, you owe them nothing. Take the new job and run.
You know people like your current employer take advantage of people like you, right? “Oh, you’re only giving 2 weeks? What about X, Y an Z, you’re hurting your coworkers?”.
Sorry, that’s a THEM problem.
You owe them nothing. Their bad business practices got them where they are. It’s not your fault, and you should only be worried about yourself. Make the jump, they will figure it out. Or they won’t. It really doesn’t matter.
This sound like a person stressing over leaving an abusive relationship.
You owe an employer nothing beyond earning the money they pay you. Which you have done in spades.
If they implode once you leave…that’s capitalism, baybee.
Best of luck at the new job.
Reality check: in 1 month it’ll be like you were never even there. Source: worked at a small CPA firm for 7 years (audit/tax mgr), gave them 1.5 week notice and everything was fine
It was a mess when you got there. You’re probably leaving it in better shape than you found it.
Plus, you can give them two weeks.
Go for it and don’t look back.
Never, ever, ever, **ever** put the company’s well being in front of you own. They wouldn’t do that for you so don’t extend that offer to them.
Take the 40% raise and give appropriate notice, tie up loose ends, then enjoy your new life with more money. You deserve it.
Don’t let you being a good person stop you from doing what is best for you. It’s a business, if the economy tanked and they had a cheaper replacement, they’d let you go. You may feel bad for the coworkers who may need to pick up the slack when you leave, but that is also on the supervisors.
They’ll probably realize they can’t do the job you do and hire one or more people to fill the gaps. If they don’t get any candidates then they’ll raise the salary until they do.
I recently left a job where I was running multiple projects with no support from my higher ups and all the people who were supposed to be assigned to my team were pulled off to work on other teams. So I was working my ass off doing design, review, admin etc. I put up with it for months hoping it was temporary. Then when things didn’t change I quit. I really enjoyed that company and office environment and the vast majority of my coworkers were people I respected and liked. But I needed out. New company had similar benefits and a 25% raise.
I’ve kept in touch with some of them. They are doing fine. They are still trying to find a replacement for me and I’m sure my direct supervisor is a little stressed as he was stressed before I left. But they are fine. I felt bad about leaving when we were super busy and in the middle of big projects that only I had worked on. But that’s the risk the company makes when they have 1 guy doing a bunch of essential duties.
It’s their business to keep it going, and not yours if they can’t do it without you. I did this almost two years ago being the sole IT person for a company after they fired my supervisor. If you do end up leaving, you could offer consulting/contractual work at an hourly rate until they get someone who can take over.
Pshhh, leave them high and dry. They don’t care that you’re working the job of 4 people, why should you care if you leave them with no one. They screwed themselves. That’s not your fault.
None of us works for a company; we all work *for ourselves* at a company. You get paid to protect the company’s interests; not to sacrifice your own.
To whom it may concern:
This is the notice of my resignation effective<DATE>.
Sincerely,
<NAME>
That’s it. They didn’t adhere to the bus principle. It’s an expensive lesson but they need to learn it.
honest truth screw the company. Look after your interest first. Put it this way, they would drop you first opportunity they get.
Their lack of resources is not your problem. As you said, you have no stake in this company. Put your 2 weeks in and congratulations on the new job.
Your only regret should be that you didn’t steal more before you quit.