#storytime

Once, there was a new hire that somehow got pass technical interviews. On the first day of orientation (a Friday), I met with him and he proceeded to tell me how awesome his crypto business was going before he joined. I tried asking him for details but he kept sidestepping. Regardless, I continued to show him around the various facilities, floors, plazas and utilities, amenities, warning him about different cameras, sensors, etc. "Don't call 911 or you won't get comp'd. Our guys have to take care of you at our place if you get hurt on the job. Then you can take paid time off."

The next week he said he caught COVID. Two weeks later he caught it again. Two weeks after (now 4 weeks passed since 1 day orientation) he says he needs to cash in on his vacation time and is asking for us to file COVID relief pay for him. Specifically my boss, who then asks me if I promised him vacation pay before he ever actually got out of probationary period.

"Heeellll noo!" I said over chat- I never curse in front my handler (I do in front of everyone else though- it's a casual environment, people talk about games, drinking, etc). I'm applying subtle emphasis at this point.

Handler goes offline for two weeks. I hear nothing from either person despite the new hire apparently still accessing issued laptop (delivered inconspicuously to his apt by a private contractor) for some reason for really brief moments and random times of the day. This whole time everyone else is wondering wtf is going on- this guy was supposed to fill the wall. Has anyone even bothered to make sure he knows how to get paid yet?

Some weeks later, it must have been 3-4 months since the first day by this time and everyone just let it go by this point ("the heads will take care of it")... I get an email telling me the new hire is voluntarily quitting after a pay dispute with whoever was bringing him in. From the way it sounded, rhetorical fists flew but he gave in.

Fast-forward to the next day, I met up with him to retrieve all issued equipment- and the guy was smiling like he won the lottery! I understand the pull those above me have- I see it all the time when leaks get wiped and people go away for good- but I still don't get what could make the guy so happy to quit without EVER GETTING PAID. This was confirmed after I talked to one of the heads directly in the appropriate roundabout way and asked the bean counters their policy on a non-specific circumstance.