It is time for a new segment here at Oh Sugar Please to share stories from the working trenches. I've been working ever since I was fifteen years old [grocery store, pool concession stand, nanny, front desk at my dorm, state legislature page, political consulting, dog walker/house sitter, local government employee, the Hill & law firms] and let me tell you, I've seen a few things. Something I never thought I'd see was a bill from my employer when I quit.
Here's the backstory. As I've mentioned, I had some health problems last year. I decimated my leave balance with my first surgery last year. Though I accrued a few days back in the fall thanks to ongoing health problems I had to take more days off. In December I had to take a day for a procedure (I'll tell you about that joy at a later date). After I submitted my request, I received a charming email from HR informing me that I was out of leave time, but out of the goodness of their hearts, I was being granted ONE additional day off. I'm not sure what would have happened if they had not granted me this ONE additional day off since this procedure was happening whether they liked it or not, but the message was clear: I had no leave.
Fast forward to February. I had only accrued a few days leave but found out that I had to have another operation. I asked for a month off work but I would not be paid while I was on leave. I get that legally they were not obligated to pay me when I was out of leave. But seriously? They couldn't find somewhere a few bones to throw my way? I'm a student. I work hard. I made them quite a bit of money. I don't get why it's so hard to be decent.
I negotiated with HR that since I would be missing a paycheck, we would double up on my benefit deductions at the beginning of March on my last paycheck. Halfway through my recovery, I decided that I needed more time to heal and finish my semester of law school, so I looked at my finances, figured out a way to swing not working for a few months and turned in my notice.
Then I got a bill. For $400. SERIOUSLY?!?! WHO BILLS A DEPARTING, SICK EMPLOYEE?!?!? Apparently the deductions were not taken out at the beginning of March as we had discussed and now I had to pay for them out of pocket. Oh and they wanted me to cover the balance in my FSA, even though I know I had money left over from 2011 and submitted receipts during the grace period, so that was covered anyway. I argued my way out of paying for the FSA balance. I didn't write a check immediately because frankly, it was not a priority for me to give them money. Then the comptroller called me asking where my check was. Not only did they bill me, but not even a month after sending me the bill, they're already leaning on me to pay them $200. I guess they're hurting for cash? It is a down economy for law firms, but this is pushing it.
I recognize that it's not illegal for them to be acting like this. If there's one thing I've learned in law school it's that it's not illegal to be a dickhead. But is it so hard for people to be decent? You stay classy former employer.
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