One thing we’ve all learned about working over the years is that bad employers are in not short supply. When an opportunity for a better career, personal growth, and higher salary comes along it would be hard to say no, even if your current job is upset about it.
Redditor LOKIs-Spirit-Guide ran into conflict at their current job when opportunity came knocking and they answered. After a lecture on “loyalty” they turned to the Am I The A**hole (AITA) subreddit for opinions on the situation.
They asked:
“AITA for taking a better job at the same time my coworker is leaving for maternity leave?”
The OP (Original Poster) explained the work drama over her leaving:
“I didn’t go seeking a new job, but one found me. This job is the head of the department, has better hours (no weekends!), better pay (by a lot), and amaaazing benefits. And it’s a nonprofit so I can get some student loan forgiveness after however many years.”
“I’d be in a position to do a lot of good for an underserved population in my community and I’m so excited about that. But here’s the kicker…”
“I’m supposed to start around the same time one of my coworkers is leaving for maternity leave. There are only 3 of us at my position.”
“Three people will suddenly become one. And the workload will be nearly impossible. My boss is understandably pissed.”
“He says I will cripple them if I leave and I should show some loyalty. I feel terrible for the timing, but why should I turn down my dream job when my coworker will be back in 12 weeks?”
“Everyone at work is making me feel like an AH because we are already short staffed and can’t get anyone hired right now, but why is that my fault?”
The OP asked Redditors to weigh in and rule:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
There was no question on this ruling, Redditors gave this OP a giant NTA for their employers response.
“NTA. We no longer abide by the old school way of thinking that company loyalty matters. We all know it does not.”
“About 99% of employment contracts state that employees are at-will, meaning your employer can dismiss you for ANY REASON. If companies want loyalty, then they should offer it to their employees.”
“If they valued loyalty, then they wouldn’t have this clause in your contract. Granted, that 1 individual will have trouble keeping up with the work but that means that management must step in and share the workload or bring someone in from another department to help cover.”
“Companies should always cross train people for situations like these. They don’t because training someone else takes time. And as the cliché goes, time is money.”
“I didn’t see this mentioned but is the move within the company? Did a different department reach out to you? If so, why can’t department managers come to an agreement where your time is split between both positions?”
“If its in the same company, why don’t they find a solution where, if you’re willing, you’ll be able to train for the new job, while training your replacement for the other?”
“If the new job is at a completely new company, is it safe to assume you still have a little bit of time at your old position? If so, why isn’t your current manager trying to pull someone from a different department to shadow you while you’re still there?”
“They can then shadow the 1 employee that’s left until they get the hang of it. Can the job be done remotely? If so, see if maternity leave is willing to do limited work from home while the 1 person at the office trains your replacement?”
“Your manager has a lot of options available to make this work. It seems they’re not willing to put in that work to make the transition somewhat easier.” DonLucoIII
“NTA. If it suited your boss to replace both of you for cheaper hires, then he certainly would. Work for you and only you.”
“The fact that they are short staffed isn’t up to you, that’s up to management to get bodies in the door. Your coworker’s leave doesn’t involve you at all, everyone else is just upsetti spaghetti because the system relies on too few people to run smoothly.”
“If you’d been in terrible accident or became ill instead of accepting a new job, I doubt anyone would cover for you past the bare mininum, and once you ran out of sick leave and they figured out how to do it legally, you’d be fired.”
“You just gave ample notice and he has plenty of time to find replacements and rearrange his scheduling to continue business as usual.”
“Edited to say: Congrats on the new career opportunity and I hope it’s just as amazing as it sounds! You seem like a good, hardworking person and you deserve it.” ijustneedtolurk
“This!! So we’re in a VERY similar situation at my workplace: 3 of us in the same position, but 1 just made a lateral position change and I applied for a promotion in a different department without knowing about the other person.”
“That last person left? She would’ve been fired months ago if we didn’t need her bc her performance is that subpar and has been since pre covid.”
”I felt really bad when i realize the first person had accepted the other position just as i applied to a position everyone up the chain seems certain I’ll get (I’m not gonna make assumptions tho), but you know what my direct supervisor said?”
“I shouldn’t pass up an opportunity for a position I really wanted and was qualified for just bc of them – that they would make it work if I did get the promotion and they actively wanted me to pursue this other option, especially bc oof how rarely a spot opens up.”
“They gave me their full blessing and encouragement bc they give a sh*t about me as a human. OP (and everyone) deserves bosses like that – who encourage their people’s growth and happiness, regardless of some bottom line or whatever. NTA, and go enjoy that dream job!” Acceptable-Bike-7983
“NTA jobs that demand loyalty give none, and a good boss doesn’t get mad at the employee who is offered a better position (they may be privately annoyed but they don’t express it to employees) rather they wish them well OR make a counter offer.”
“If you are so valuable they cannot afford to loose you, then you boss should prove it to you by offering a comparable or better deal.” Wrong-Construction40
Do not sell your soul or pass up good opportunities for an employer that doesn’t value and uplift you. Take the job OP and congratulations!