So to set the scene, I am a Project Manager (full-time remote, salaried) at a very small company. And when I say small, I mean I report directly to the owner and there is no HR department. I started the first week of February and when I signed the job offer, was told that health insurance coverage would be available at 61 days of employment and that PTO would be available at 90 days.
Well here we are almost at the end of May, and I have been given no information about either. By my calculation, it's been 75 business days and 106 calendar days since I started – though from what I gather, the industry standard is that benefits should be calculated by calendar days. On Friday I sent a very professional and level-headed email to the owner, saying that I had not received the relevant information, and if providing health insurance was no longer feasible for them, I would be open to considering financial compensation for acquiring healthcare independently. I also highlighted the fact that the offer of insurance coverage was a primary factor in my acceptance of the position.
This morning I received a reply saying that I was absolutely eligible and had never been “denied coverage” (not something I actually accused them of) and that “it is the employee's responsibility to inform the employer if they want coverage.” Additionally they said they were “confused” why I hadn't notified them prior to 61 days that I was interested in coverage. Essentially, they are turning this around and saying it's my fault that I don't have coverage, because I didn't notify them. Prior to this, I was never informed that I would be expected to notify them, nor does the employee handbook mention this. At previous jobs, my employers always provided me with all the necessary details without me having to prompt them, and from what I gather, the current expectation that it's my responsibility to inform my employer when I'm eligible is NOT industry standard. The above response email also made no mention of PTO and such, so I am assuming they're calculating by business days instead of calendar days.
At this point it just seems like they are trying to cover their butt (this is not the only time my employer has exhibited gaslighting/toxic behavior) but any thoughts about this situation and how you might handle it are appreciated. I'm not planning on staying with this company long-term, but I am trying to find something new before leaving this one.