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by itafroma 3834 days ago
1. Yes, they are allowed to do that, assuming you're an at will employee with no contract that specifies otherwise.

2. I'd give notice, citing the change in performance review and withdrawal of the promotion/raise as the cause. It's one thing to work in what appear to be horrific conditions, it's another to then be retroactively denied compensation.

The main X factor is when you give notice, and that's up to you: personally, I'd probably give notice immediately and see if the company counters with an offer to reinstate what you were promised. Otherwise, start looking for another job and give notice as soon as you get an offer.

This will certainly come up during your next job interview, so you don't want to burn any bridges or get too emotional about this (even though you have the right to, for sure):

- Be calm and factual when explaining why you're giving notice, to prevent poisoning the reference: your performance review was changed after the fact, and you were denied compensation and an advancement opportunity you were previously promised. In any situation, this is a reasonable and justified reason to leave a job.

- Do not give K as your reference. Give one of your other superiors.

- When explaining why you left your previous company during interviews, you don't want to throw them under the bus. Explain that you were looking to advance and grow as a developer, but those opportunities were not available at the previous company.

2 comments

This. Quitting is the right option. Very easy to explain to future employers too (you've only been there a few months, mistakes happen).

What you're experiencing is a great learning experience. Reflect on it and you'll come out stronger.

For future: when you're a lead you should be focus on setting boundaries, expectations, systems, plannings etc. You'll probably only code for 1/3rd of your time, if you're lucky.

Don't feel comfortable with that? Then don't apply for those positions :)

I don't agree with giving notice without giving K's boss a chance to prove they can right this thing, and that can be done at no cost to the OP and potentially has a huge upside.
The cost to OP is all the opportunities they don't take in the mean time and whatever mental cost they're paying by persisting in a horrible environment.

It might be worth it if they had an awesome relationship with their boss, a lot of trust built up, but it doesn't sound like that's the case. If they'd a decent relationship, and decent managers, the situation would never have reached this point in the first place. Add to that the fact that the company went back on their word...

They're either liars or stunningly incompetent. Neither's worth counting with.