Law Students

Regarding the benefits, I was given a surprised look when I mentioned them even though they were clearly a part of the discussion prior to accepting the job offer. Then I was told that Massachusetts will penalize me (via state taxes) if I don't get health insurance. Yes, I know. So how about those benefits? They would "work on it," I was assured. Uh oh.

Pay day was on Friday, which relieved me. BUT, I was told that they would withhold my first week of pay. Flabbergasted, I inquired whether it meant that given the pay cycle and the start date, it would delay my paycheck, but they replied that, no, they withhold the week's pay as a security until I ended my employment at them. Why? "It's our policy." Oh. Afterwards, I was determined to find out if it was illegal, but a cursory search seems to indicate that it's not, though it is in various other states. Apparently Massachusetts is a holdover from the days of making sure factory workers didn't steal the equipment or something like that. But how little respect does an employer have to have for his employees to do such a thing, even if permitted by law?

Got in to the office today at 8:15 a.m., left at 8:15 p.m. I might have even taken slightly more than that allotted half hour for lunch, though we were not given dinner or even a dinner break. Packed up my things discreetly and worked diligently until Partner finally declared that they were closing up. Was given my first compliment on my work, as I put on my jacket and handed him the resignation letter, stating that as an at-will employee I was resigning immediately, I was returning all company property and leaving my office as I found it, and wishing them luck in their future endeavors. Partner didn't seem overly surprised, accepted the letter, and wished me luck. It was remarkably restrained for me, but believe me I did have an unedited version that was much better. We'll see if it *actually* ends so civilly and I get paid my full wage or whether I have to go to Small Claims Court to get the rest.

So yeah, easy come, easy go. I wouldn't have predicted that the position would have been like that based on our interview and talk about what the position entailed. But they call lawyers liars for a reason, I guess.

Full post as published by Wicked Words on March 17, 2008 (boomark / email).