to walk away from work 3 days before my last day because I'm angry and upset, maybe for a stupid reason?

[onmyhighhorse]

Some perspective would be really helpful, but please don't be too damning as I?m pregnant and I think my upset may be hormonal and not reasonable (hence why I?m asking!).

I'm 23 weeks pregnant and decided to resign from my current employer because my work is very stressful. It is stressful because my manager is amoral, unethical and a nasty piece of work. However, he is very senior within the company so complaining would have been useless.

My resignation means that I forefeited maternity pay. I just could not work a moment longer as I really cannot stand this man and it has become a personal dislike as well as a professional one. I don?t want him to have any reach, influence or power over my life. Having worked for him for over 3 years, I've paid my dues but I was not willing to risk the health of my pregnancy as I was so stressed out by him.

Having worked 3 months notice, I now have 3 days left until the end of the month.

Bonuses and pay-rises were given today. When I say bonus, I don't mean anything monumental, just a back-office compensation within financial services. I'm (disproportionately??) angry and upset that I was not given a bonus, nor was it explained to me why I did not get one.

Per our compensation policy, the bonus is paid in respect of the year's performance, for which I was assessed well as I have worked very hard in a position of responsibility. There is no clause saying that this is not payable during notice. I know that this was a personal decision made by my manager as we do not get on. This is why I'm upset I think, as well as being hormonal and pregnant!

It's not about the money, it is about the recognition that I worked a good year and extended my notice period to cover the year end (January) as my team were short staffed. I work a lot of extra hours and put in considerable extra effort. I feel that what he has done is unethical, though technically not wrong as a bonus is discretionary.

I'm so disproportionately upset that my efforts haven't been recognised that I don't want to work my final 3 days. I want to leave tonight and let him pick up the huge amount of work he expected me to complete before the 31st.

I'm ready...please tell me how unreasonable I am....but please be gentle because as I said, my petty response could well be down to hormones.

Yanbu, is there anyone you can raise this with? for you

I don't think you are, well I do think you are for resigning you should have gone off sock then taken mat leave as soon as you could.

No, leave.

Do you have an exit interview where you work?

Sounds awful for you. Agree can you raise tit with anyone?

Are you reliant on him for a reference?

HR might at least explain how the bonus system works.

You've just got to get through Friday, and then see how you feel over the weekend.

YANBU in my eyes. Normally I'd say stay till the end as it might reflect badly on any future references but in this case I think that's going to be a slight issue anyway.

I would however be tempted to put your grievances into writing and send it to the highest authority in the company by recorded delivery while keeping a copy just so that you have it in hand should any future issues arise.

Fuck him. Call in sick for three days and then enjoy the rest of your life!

it not tit! Although the manager does sound like a tit.

Sorry you are going through this! If your yearly reviews were positive up to now, and you had always gotten a bonus, then I would wonder if he had a hand in this.

Is there an HR manager you can speak to about this?

Some bosses think that if you have quit, then you don't get a bonus, even if this bonus was based on the past years performance.

Get thee quick-smart to a solicitor.

I don't really know anything about what your rights are but I would say YANBU to be pissed off as it sounds really unfair.

I suppose in regards to working the last 3 days of your notice, would this affect references? That would be my concern, that you were shooting yourself in the foot right at the last minute.

You must have been really very unhappy to forfeit your maternity pay :(

Whilst I want to tell you to just walk out, don't say goodbye, don't leave any details of what does or doesn't need doing...

BUT

could this person impact your ability to get a job in the future? if so and you intend to go back to work after the baby think carefully.

I really feel for you and wish you had done what LBWSJ said and went off on stress leave and still got your SMP

What did he say when you queried the lack of bonus

tbh I would never walk away like you are proposing. Unless you don't want to be employed where you live again? Other employees will see you walking away 3 days early and it si perfectly feasible thus a future employer will hear that you did this. Just do the last 3 days however angry you feel.

Do you work for Barclays op? Only because I know our annual bonus' were announced today. I would definitely raise with HR as if it's anything like our bonus system it is awarded based on Jan-Dec 11 performance and the corresponding PD grade awarded. Oh and yes call in sick!!

Some companies won't pay bonuses if you are leaving and they are paid during your notice period..... Check your contract

If you are willing to forfeit any kind of reference at all, don't go back.

If you want to get what's your due, go back and talk to the tit about why you didn't get a bonus as expected and deserved. If you don't like his answer, go above him. Everyone has a boss and you're leaving in 3 days anyway.

Either way may burn the reference bridge, but one way may get you your bonus and the other way definitely will not.

I do wish you'd posted before resigning, I'd gone for mat leave early then resigned on mat leave (once banked that money) but what's done is done.

Talk to HR, ask them to explain why you didn't get a bonus. Don't do anything that will affect your ability to get a reference.

Also, really don't bother doing anything beyond turning up and doing the bare minimum between now and you leaving.

Phone in sick - there are a lot of bugs going round. Provided your sick record is fairly 'clean' - I'd do it.

BUT! I do think you were daft to resign and frfeit maternity pay. If he really is that bad, go to your union/CAB and investigate constructive dismissal. You have the grounds (no bonus - pregnancy) provided you have your annual appraisal in writing with no concerns about your performance.

Aw YANBU but please don't fall on your swords because of your boss. He will be well aware that you will forfeit your maternity pay if you leave without working your notice so don't give him the satisfaction.

I agree with others that you should approach HR and ask them to explain the bonus procedures.

Sword - not Swords.

sounds like a case of constructive dismissal. Have you thought about this?

stay, do very very little, smile and be smug at him BUT take it up with HR, Union, higher boss or someone. You deserve an explaination as to why. seek it but do not let the bastard win by seeing you leave. you NEED and are ENTITLED to your maternity pay.

I understand you feeling so upset so YANBU.

But, this could potentially mean that you are in breach of contract for failing to complete your notice period. I'm not sure whether this is something that will show on future references or not, but I wouldn't be willing to take the risk.

If you have not told anyone that you are not intending to return, then I would just grin and bear it over the next 3 days and finish properly. Will it be him personally that picks up the huge amount of work, or will it be passed onto one of your colleagues? Your colleagues may also have arranged and contributed to a nice send off for you as well, I'd be a bit annoyed if that was the case and I was one of them (unless you were off sick).

I do think though that you are entitled to an explanation as to why you've not receieved a bonus. You can then decide whether you wish to take that issue further or not.

i would come down with a sudden mystery illness...