AITA For telling my old boss that it’s just business?

Shirley Stafford Hours
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In a bustling office where ambition meets opportunity, a young professional faced a crossroads that could redefine their career. Fresh from college, they dove into a small company, hoping its cozy vibe would fast-track their growth. But when their hard work didn’t translate into the raise they deserved, frustration set in like a slow-burning fuse. The real twist came when a client offered a dream job, pulling them into a whirlwind of loyalty, betrayal, and cold, hard business decisions.

What happens when you leave a job that undervalues you, only to face accusations of sinking the ship you left behind? This Reddit tale unravels a juicy workplace saga where personal effort clashes with corporate realities. Readers are drawn into a story of ambition and accountability, wondering if “just business” can ever be that simple.

‘AITA For telling my old boss that it’s just business?’

I got my first job out of college at a relatively small, privately owned business in my field. I had interviewed at larger companies, but I liked the smaller company feel and I thought it would be a great opportunity to get experience in a lot of different areas so that I could advance my career, or even step into a larger role at the company sooner than I could at a larger one.

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The current owner of the company had purchased it from the founder a couple years before I arrived, so he inherited a lot of the clients and contracts that the original owner had acquired. The owner didn't believe in annual employee reviews and always said that if anyone had an issue to just talk with him whenever.

So after I had been there for about 18-months, I called a meeting with him and asked for a raise. He told me he would think about it and get back to me. He called me into his office a couple days later and said he ran some numbers and that he could only afford to offer me a token raise and some extra vacation time with the promise that we would reevaluate things in a year.

He told me that it was 'just business, no hard feelings.' This was frustrating to me because I had already been heading many of our more lucrative contracts and projects and I knew we were bringing in a lot of revenue that was directly related to my work.

About 6 months later, one of our clients that had been with the company since the previous owner and that I had been working closely with since I started, approached me about taking a position with them that would be a huge jump up for me professionally.

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I thought about it for maybe a week and decided to take it. I put in my 2-week notice and my boss was pissed. He called me ungrateful and that I was leaving them high and dry. With one week left, he told me not to bother coming back into the office for the final week even though I was in the middle of helping people transition into my projects.

At my new job, one of my first tasks was evaluating the contract that my previous job had. I asked my new boss if this was any kind of conflict of interest, but he said I wasn't the only one working on it and he wanted my opinion.

So I tried to be as diligent as I could and found that there were better and more affordable options for us than my previous job. The other people evaluating the contract found the same thing, so the higher-ups decided not to renew the contract with my previous boss.

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When he found out about it, my old boss reached out to me and called me a t**itor and accused me of purposely telling my new boss to end the contract out of spite against him. I told him I don't appreciate being accused of such things and that it was 'just business, no hard feelings.'

A former coworker reached out to me shortly after and said that with the lost revenue from the contract, it's possible the company may need to lay people off or close altogether. He said my old boss fully blames me for it. I feel like I was just doing my job and did nothing wrong.

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Navigating workplace transitions can feel like walking a tightrope between loyalty and self-interest. The Redditor’s story highlights the tension of leaving a job for better prospects, only to face accusations of betrayal. Their former boss’s reaction—calling them a “t**itor”— reeks of sour grapes, but their decision to evaluate the contract objectively was sound. After all, businesses thrive on efficiency, not sentimentality.

This situation underscores a broader issue: small businesses often struggle to balance employee retention with financial constraints. According to a 2023 study by the Society for Human Resource Management , 60% of employees leave due to inadequate compensation. The Redditor’s boss, by offering a token raise, risked losing talent. As Dr. John Sullivan, an HR expert, notes in a Forbes article, “Underpaying high performers is a surefire way to push them out the door.” Here, the boss’s stinginess backfired.

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The Redditor’s due diligence in their new role aligns with professional ethics. Their findings, corroborated by others, suggest the contract’s end was inevitable. Advice? Stay professional, document your work, and don’t let guilt cloud your judgment. Small businesses must innovate to compete, and employees must prioritize their growth.

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

The Reddit crew didn’t hold back, dishing out spicy takes like a potluck of opinions. From fist-bumps for the Redditor’s hustle to eye-rolls at the boss’s tantrum, the comments were a lively mix of support and shade. Here’s the unfiltered scoop from the community, served with a side of wit:

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secretoutlet736 − NTA, your ex-boss didn’t appreciate the work you did, so you left. You and a few other ppl found better options, you didn’t do this out of spite. I’d say you did your job, and he’s just butthurt about it

Caribe92 − NTA. Please don’t be guilted by this. I’ve worked for a small private company as well, led a massive project which was also one of the most profitable and didn’t see a dime in bonus. Left the company right after.

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Small companies always have the same excuses, not making enough money, limited contracts, etc. But then they pull up in the most expensive cars, take the most expensive trips, etc. They forget that it’s the team that holds the company afloat.. You did the right thing. I’m a no nonsense type of employee. So I would’ve done the same.

2buckbill − NTA - Your old boss had to do the best thing that he could for his company, and your loyalty to the company ended with your last paycheck. Now your loyalty is to your new company, and you have to do the best that you can for your new employer. Since what you found was a common finding amongst a capable group, it sounds like your previous employer was simply not offering the product or service that he could or should have.

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the-mirrors-truth − NTA. It's just business, ain't karma grand?

KatFrog − NTA. Your new company didn't renew the contract because there were better alternatives. I think your old boss doesn't want to acknowledge that he made some mistakes in not giving you a decent raise and not being the best option. It's easier to blame you.

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ginger_gorgon − If losing one client sends the business into a tailspin then they weren't doing well anyway. NTA

kumenchi − NTA. I have something similar going on I work for a small company with less than 30 employees. I was hired on to be a devops engineer. I now handle tech support, equipment acquisitions, Security engineer amongst other things and the only person who played multiple roles within the entire company.

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My first year review I was the only one they withheld a raise from because they didn't think i was pulling my weight, 2nd year they made up for it, albeit still a bit stingy. One of the things I've accomplished was achieving an ISO27001 certification for this company under a get it done or we part ways sort of stick.

Well I got it done in under 6 months alone on top of maintaining other duties. This certification led our company to be acquired by a larger company because of our security ratings. Going into this I was told by both my company and the new parent company I would receive assistance education wise for any security related education I wanted to pursue (part of the acquisition contracts).

I though this was great and got myself into a cybersecurity boot camp that would provide me the means to take a security+ test when I was done. I presented my case to all the relevant parties for reimbursement either partial or full,

and immediately was denied any assistance for the bill due to 'Corona has presented hard time and all education is suspended' even though we were acquired in sept of 2020 so this is something they should have made known ahead of time. Well when it comes down to it and I'm done with my boot camp and pass my test in roughly 2 months. It will be a strong 'Goodbye, nothing personal, just business'

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starchy2ber − Nta. Your boss made a terrible business move by being rude to you and cutting your notice short. When a former employee leaves for a client the old boss should go out of his way to keep a cordial relationship to keep the business. He also shot himself in the foot by not allowing you to properly transition your projects.. If the business goes down its solely dye to your boss's poor management skills and short sighted thinking.

Queerability − NTA. First off, r/ProRevenge if you haven't already because this definitely qualifies.. Second off, nothing else. You did nothing wrong, your boss played stupid games and won stupid prizes.

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PrincessTrunks17 − NTA Your old boss wasn't treating you in a way you cared for, you took a better job opportunity when it presented itself (like ANY sane person would do) and you did your job accurately and without spite, it just happened that helping your new company and saving them money it cost your old job a contract. You said yourself, other noticed the same thing so it was bound to happen eventually.

These Redditors rallied behind the poster, cheering their career move while roasting the boss’s hypocrisy. Some saw the company’s woes as a sign of deeper mismanagement; others just loved the karma. But do these hot takes capture the full picture, or are they just fanning the flames?

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This tale of “just business” reveals the messy dance between loyalty and ambition. The Redditor played their cards right, prioritizing their career while staying professional. Their old boss’s meltdown? A classic case of blaming the messenger. Workplace decisions ripple, and this one might’ve rocked the company’s boat. But was it fair play or foul? Share your thoughts, experiences, or similar stories below. What would you do if you found yourself in a similar situation?

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