Hey, so I'm not too certain what I want to accomplish here, though I would like to get more perspectives on this situation. (this is a work-related struggle, but idk if it fits this sub)
So, I've tried to quit my job for the past few months, since February 10th (when I submitted my two weeks). Now, I am a HUGE sucker for helping people and being courteous to the people around me. This has unfortunately landed me in the position that I am in now. As in February I was talked into staying at this place, as it would be considered good for my career path, also because the owner would told me that he would not be able to replace me within the two weeks of notice.
To clarify what I did, My title was Office Manager, of a smaller health clinic that focused on physical therapy, exercise therapy and massage therapy. I was there to manage 7 workers, and seasonally 1-2 students. What I did normally, was take care of insurances, payroll, invoicing, scheduling, maintenance, and all the IT support. This was what I was doing at work. While “on the side” the owner is starting up his own podcast, which I had quite the role in helping him as he knew that I am very tech savvy. So for this position, I was the audio tech, video editor, I uploaded all the episodes to YouTube, podcast platforms and the podcast's website (which I had also created). This is fine, since I initially said I wouldn't mind helping out if he needed it. Though I didn't expect him to not compensate me for this, as he instead agreed that I would be able to leave work early on those days that I worked on his podcast.
I knew that the owner was dodgy, as he bragged constantly how he “saved” money on his million dollar home by just not paying certain workers like the floorers or refused to pay the garbage company that he used. But, unfortunately me being a sucker, for some reason, believed that he would be able to stick by his promises of change and wage increases/bonuses to me.
Now, on March 10th, I decided again that I was wanting to quit. So I had sent in my two weeks notice again, this time agreeing to one of his stipulations detailing that “if I were to stay to help train a replacement, he would pay me out $7000.”
We discussed this more at work, to which he had lowballed me into doing this service for $4000 instead. I was super fine with this amount, as it didn't matter as long as I was able to leave the place with a decent conscious. I had asked the owner to write this out and sign it for me, as I wanted proof for what he was promising. He had detailed everything in an email instead, which was whatever. Though I had tried to get him to pay me half upfront and half when I had completed the service. To which he had turned down and told me he wouldn't be able to do that.
So by the end of April, I had hired a qualified managerial staff member that could handle the at work part of my job and successfully trained them. Now I say successfully trained, though I could have stayed longer to make certain that they were good to go. But before I was able to do any more training with the new hire, the owner had told me, and told them that “this would be my last day”.
So since that time, I have been taking a look for new job prospects. I haven't been paid since, and was curious so I texted the owner, to which he said he was looking into past expenses and has decided that he was not going to pay me.
Though I am not a spiteful person, I was wondering if there were anything I could do to maybe get him to compensate me, or at least send a message that it was kind of a messed up thing to do. (anything without the involvement of lawyers, as I don't think the investment would be worth it?)
I do have all the saved messages/emails detailing the agreements and my notice of leave.