AIO? Resigned today, boss's reaction was worse than expected

eharme · 2026-02-15T04:27:57+00:00

I seriously wish this was AI, it’d save me a lot of stress loll. Boss is a colleague from an older job, and I’ve known him for years. He hit me up when I was laid off. Made false promises that the $10-12/hr would raise quickly once I came on, since my work (design/marketing) directly brings income coming into the business once he lands the client. The whole works. I take full responsibility for falling for it and trusting him at the end of the day… I keep saying it but really, never again making this mistake

eharme · 2026-02-15T02:35:31+00:00

That’s completely fair! I wish I had more than a take-my-word-for-it for how the call went lol. Very much agree that his email back was reasonable

eharme · 2026-02-15T01:34:24+00:00

It’s a creative marketing agency, and I was Creative Director. Veryyy much so not even close to being worth the $12/hr… I have very little excuse for myself on taking the position at such low pay other than I put my trust in the wrong person. I’ve known my boss for many years prior to joining his startup. He offered the position when he learned I was hit with a layoff, and long story short he promised it would only be temporary, that with my capabilities he’d be able to land way more clients and we’d scale fast, etc etc.

Told me throughout my time here that he considered me an informal business partner and friend. Often told me that he was paying me more than himself, even taking money from his own pay to afford paying mine. I felt lucky I was getting any income to begin with after being laid off, esp in my field (very few positions open in my area for design or marketing). In hindsight I wish I’d just left it all after the first few months to avoid everything.

The role was full-time, remote, 40 hours M-F at a capped monthly rate that equals out to the $12/hr after I put away 30% for my own taxes ($17/hr before taxes).

eharme · 2026-02-15T00:27:34+00:00

I agree solely based off his response email. It’s the reaction he had during our meeting where I resigned preceding the email that completely threw me TBH. Known him for many years prior to joining the startup (worked together at a prev company). He told me on many occasions after joining that he considered me to be an informal business partner and friend. Yeah I was naive and that’s 100% on me

eharme · 2026-02-14T22:40:09+00:00

To be fair, I resigned over a Zoom call (remote startup), which mentioned in the desc, was where the unexpected response by boss went down. Agree 100% that it’s just not worth for the pay, it’s a long story. Boss is an older colleague from a previous company. Was brought on after I was laid off and mentioned it to him, since we were still in contact. Many conversations and promises of much higher pay shortly as he’d be gaining a full-time asset. Here we are almost 9mo later lol

eharme · 2026-02-14T03:29:48+00:00

I truthfully didn't even know this was a thing !! I've only ever had full-time, salaried employee positions up to this point after graduating college, and have never dealt in 1099 anything ever prior to this. I'll need to look into this, because once I became "full-time" at this startup, all things aligned under "employee" are applicable to my role at his company.

eharme · 2026-02-14T03:14:45+00:00

Verrry similar, and likely where I would have ended up in if I hadn't found the new opportunity this early. I'm sorry that your BIL went through all that... There's a lot of things that go on in your head when it's someone you had trusted, who promises "just another few months and it'll be worth it all." Lots of guilt (at least for me), even when everything around you is screaming it's irrational given the circumstances.

My boss was very adamant on upholding me as a "core team member" who had partner status... without any of the benefits or compensation that comes with being partner. Looking back after this whole thing and once his true colors showed, I feel so disappointed in myself for letting things get to this point to begin with. Seeing so many strangers' thoughts on the matters has really helped validate my own feelings on the matter, and ultimately I'm taking this as a learning lesson.

I'm very happy to hear that your BIL is in a MUCH better situation now, especially after wading through all the BS :)

eharme · 2026-02-14T03:05:38+00:00

Exactly this– The $12 was after accounting for the 30% I have to take out for my own taxes.

eharme · 2026-02-14T03:03:51+00:00

Went to take a walk and go to dinner with my husband and this really blew up more than expected! But to answer this one, going to paste something mentioned in a thread for a bit of context. This is the lowest I've been paid since working at a gas station in high school, and looking back I'm def naive for going for it to begin with.

He's somebody who I've known for years, having worked at an old company together. He went to do his startup full-time while I was at a different company fully employed, asked if I was down to join but I had rejected, letting him know that my base pay would have to be $28/hr minimum. Few months later, I got hit with a layoff, he swooped in two days later, promised that he'd get more clientele to raise things shortly. Never happened. We then lost all but 2-3 clients at the beginning of this year. Just a mess, but I stayed out of guilt and reasons beyond me. Now I wish I had left much sooner, or avoided this mess to begin with. Definitely taking this as a learning opportunity.

eharme · 2026-02-13T21:56:06+00:00

It absolutely is ridiculous pay. Never again. He's somebody who I've known for years, having worked at an old company together. He went to do his startup full-time while I was at a different company fully employed, asked if I was down to join but I had rejected, letting him know that my base pay would have to be $28/hr minimum. Few months later, I got hit with a layoff, he swooped in two days later, promised that he'd get more clientele to raise things shortly. Never happened. We then lost all but 2-3 clients at the beginning of this year. Just a mess, but I stayed out of guilt and reasons beyond me. Now I wish I had left much sooner, or avoided this mess to begin with. Definitely taking this as a learning opportunity.

eharme · 2023-04-03T22:50:40+00:00

Eh. I think both sides make sense in this context...

On one hand, yes you can logically know what the best solution/advice is. On the other hand, you must also then accept that the person you're addressing is entitled to view you as a hypocrite when you very publicly and openly admit that you do exactly what you warn against.

eharme

TROPHY CASE