How to resign from company that will fail if I quit [duplicate]

manpreet Best Answer 3 years ago

I work for a startup in Ottawa, and have been with the company for just over a year now. The CEO promised me stock options, a massive completion bonus, and a month of paid vacation to offset the massive overtime I put in. I helped bring this company from a 2-employee operation to 25 people.

The CEO has reneged on most of her promises, I don't have the money to launch a lawsuit, and don't want to go down in history as the guy that sued his boss and stain my reputation. I know for a fact that there's plenty of money to spare. I have a much better offer from another company, and was planning on leaving with minimal notice. The company will almost certainly fail with me leaving. I'm not a director, just a "Web developer", but given the lack of redundancy, we're guaranteed to miss a critical funding milestone if I left.

What is the best excuse to give when the boss asks "why" I'm leaving? Stress leave? Medical? Be honest and say "you should honor your contracts"? I suspect she's the type of person to exact personal vengeance via nasty twitter comments (she speaks whatever comes to mind on twitter). I want to avoid retribution, and have already given up on trying to get her to honor her promises. I just want to get on with my life without making myself a target. Her company sinking is a free bonus.

I don't want my coworkers to suffer. But I've been pushed too far to care. I'm not being immodest about the company failing if I leave. I'm certain that's the case.

manpreet 3 years ago

Just resign, you're not obligated to explain anything. Set your focus on your own future and don't worry about that company. Once you have seriously decided to leave you have one foot out the door already.