unreasonable?
Okay, here’s the situation…
About 2.5 years ago, I worked for a small start-up. It was a good gig. I worked from home, kept busy and had some great co-workers. One day, they couldn’t make payroll. They kept telling us the money was coming, so we kept working. A month went by and still no money…so we were all laid off, while the founder continued to try and make the company work. I knew that this might happen. That’s the risk with startups. We were told that the back wages would be paid at some point in the future and I took that to heart.
Time goes by with only the occasional word from the Founder about this deal or that deal and how it was going to be the company’s big break. Nothing happens. We are told that the back wages are still on the books and will be paid in 2007. I try to be patient. I know that Founder has a ton of money sunk into the venture and I want him to recoup his investment. My back pay seems like a small thing to quibble over. I continue to wait to hear something.
Flash forward to today – December 20, 2007. In my email, I see a note from Founder sent to a distribution list. The company is hiring a dev manager to work with their overseas dev resources. They have many projects and are desperate for this new manager. They want our help recruiting. Yay Company! Note that it has been maybe 9+ months since I spoke with Founder.
I’m quite offended that Founder has decided to hire new people without so much as a word about paying the old ones. I mean, I understand that he’s trying to make the company successful, but at some point, don’t you need to take care of the people you left hanging? Even if you can’t afford to pay them yet, don’t you at least stay in touch and let them know that they aren’t forgotten?
I sent a note back to Founder letting him know about my disappointment and my expectation that we would now receive our back pay. While I am admittedly angry/offended, I also feel a bit selfish/petty that I am hassling him for this money when he says he has been struggling to keep the company afloat. I just don’t think I should be expected to forget about a month’s salary. I don’t think I and my former co-workers should be the last people paid what’s owed, while new people come in.
Is it unreasonable to expect some resolution or at least a concrete plan for a resolution? What should I do if there’s no progress? Should I just let this go?
It is my opinion that you have been far kinder than you should be. The debt owed to you is not so great that it would sink the company even further to close the books with old employees. In fact, if he had done so, you might be more willing to help out from time to time when he asks. Instead, you feel jaded and frustrated and, unfortunately, guilty for wanting to be compensated for your time.
No matter what, do not let this go. You are owed this money. He made a commitment to you as a professional, and he should want to see that through. Perhaps offer him the option of a payment plan so he doesn’t have to see the money come off his books all at once.
And stop feeling so guilty!
It’s not your fault he has made the decisions he has with his own funds and the investments of others.