TL/DR: Ahole boss makes comment after I inform him I am now homeless due to water damage in my home that I should take that as a sign not to retire as scheduled
I am scheduled to retire on May 31st. I could have retired on November 30th, but at my Director’s request committed to an additional six months.
On February 10th, I watched our condo get destroyed when a sprinkler pipe in the unit upstairs froze, water coming through the ceiling and three inches of water in every room. I texted my boss to let him know I would not be in, complete with pictures of the collapsed ceiling and showing the water on the floor.
He told me that maybe God was sending me a sign I shouldn’t retire. I told him it was a sign I should have retired in November.
I didn’t sleep for a week. Lost 10 lbs. Started up again with my anxiety meds. Was able to work remotely for two days when that monster storm hit the Northeast recently. Talked to the Director about working remotely and was asked for how long, like a week? When I told him it needed to be longer than that, he said he would need to run it up the chain.
After snapping at a member of the public I realized I don’t have the bandwith to deal with both the BS in my personal life and at work. Went to my doctor, blood pressure was through the roof and she wrote me a note taking me out for two weeks, along with a referral to counseling.
Sent the note to my supervisor and director via email. My supervisor had the decency call me to tell me he can’t imagine what I am going through. Director just responded to the email telling me to feel better.
My leave is up next Monday. Director is going to be presented with two options – max possible remote work or my doctors will extend my leave. If I don’t get the remote work, I will exercise the nuclear option and telling him I am pushing up my retirement.
WIBTA?
If you just randomly disappeared you can bet they’d have someone in your spot in a week or two. You owe them nothing, you did a job and got paid for it. If it were me, there would be no question, I’d be done now.
NTA You take care of you first. Period. No job is worth burning your brain or life to the ground. You’re presenting them with an option to continue with you so you’re being as reasonable and accommodating as possible under the circumstances. If they won’t accept that then pull the plug.
That’s the plan. Be reasonable and I will do as much as I can before I retire or I can leave it for someone else to clean up.
I’d like to leave on good terms if I can, even though I won’t need them for a reference in the future.
You would not. Email to manager or whoever. “Due to the personal challenges I am facing, I am moving my retirement date up. This is my two week notice that I am ending my employment on xx/ xx/xxx”
NTA – If you want to retire and can afford it, do it. It sounds like they have known your retirement was coming for some time and honestly with the series of recent events likely are already making preparations for your early departure.
Do you have insurance? Financially is this flood thing a problem?
Are you “homeless” or just out of your house until they clean it up? I’m sorry for your flood, but your word choice throughout seems a bit dramatic.
We have insurance and are also dealing with our condos insurance as well since the damage will exceed the max on ours.
Perhaps “displaced” is a better word. We’re living with my Dad and if it weren’t for him, we would indeed be homeless (or living in a hotel). All walls, ceilings, and floors, plus electrical in the unit need to be replaced. All our stuff is now in storage. Over 150K in damage that will take months to repair.
You may think my word choice is dramatic but try having three inches of water in every room, a ceiling fall down, water pouring from ceiling light fixtures, as you watch your home and belongings get ruined, knowing there isn’t anything you can do to stop it and see if you wouldn’t have described it as I did.
No you’re NTA. You’ve already given them 6 more months than they deserve. You’ll retire and they’ll have a replacement in a month. You owe them nothing. Retire and enjoy your life.
NTA. Nobody is entitled to your labor. If you’re on the cusp of retirement, you’re either lucky or you worked hard for a long time for it.
You owe nothing to that company. If they could increase profits by 2 cents by firing you tomorrow, they would.
NTA. Never postpone a retirement for an employer’s benefit. They would never extend the same courtesy if they wanted to cut headcount.
NTA. If you’re at the point of retirement, you’ve put in an amazing amount of effort in your professional life to this point. Don’t hesitate to put yourself before any of that nonsense, it’s not worth any impact to your health or happiness and they will be just fine.
Edit P.S. Sorry you’ve been going through all of this. I hope everything gets resolved soon and you can start to enjoy your well deserved retirement!
NTA
How many gave asked how they can help you with your home situation?
If your employer has *directors*, it’s a pretty big place. With that in mind, if departure would be that big a deal, then they have been chronically understaffed for a long time.
And they clearly haven’t actually been preparing for your departure anyway.
Not your problem.
Bounce
This is easy. Retire right right away. Let them know you can come back as a contractor for an hourly rate of $100/Hr\*. If the business needs your time, they will pay the fee and you can use the cash to fix your house. If they don’t pay the wage, then they don’t need your services and you can retire guilt free.
\*Pick a high number here, 2x your salary is a good place to start.