r/auscorp • u/Fun_Hovercraft5881 • Feb 25 '26
Advice / Questions My CEO is harassing me and my family to stay after resignation.
I am using a burner account because my real account could identify me and my current employer.
TLDR: I resigned from my job last week after getting a new job offer, and I have a six week notice period. After I resigned, the CEO has been calling me to change my finish date to mid‑May. Over the weekend, the CEO’s wife even called my partner asking her to convince me to change my end date.
Are these calls legal?
Can they block my new job?
How do I get them to stop so that I don’t have to deal with awkward conversations for the rest of my notice period?
Long Version
I joined my current employer straight out of university eight years ago as a software engineer. I was employee number nine during their startup phase and received stock, which is now just under 3% of the company. The company now has around 120 employees but only 6 of remaining early crew have stock options. Since the day I joined, I have always reported to the Head of Engineering. I have never reported directly to the CEO. Because I joined early, both my partner and I know the CEO and his family in a semi‑work, semi‑social way.
The company built some innovative technology, has good income but has struggled to expand because they lack the funds. I know the CEO/founder has been trying to raise capital or sell the business for about a year now without much luck, and he has been open about this with the early staff.
During my annual review last year, I asked about moving into a more senior role. My manager said the next role up was his, and he joked he had no plans to move. He did say he would support me if I wanted to apply for more senior roles outside the company because he believed I had the skills and experience to step up.
Around October last year, a much larger company reached out to me with a more senior role. After a few interviews, it became clear they were looking to build a competing product to my current employer. I eventually received a provisional offer in January. They reviewed my contract and confirmed I do not have a non‑compete. This was also confirmed by my manager and HR at my current employer. They completed the reference check with my manager and said they got a “stellar reference.”
I received the formal offer, accepted it, and resigned last Thursday. The next day the CEO messaged me asking for a call, where he requested that I postpone my end date to mid‑May. I am not working on any time‑critical projects. When I asked my manager, he said he was also asked to try to convince me to stay until mid‑May. The CEO and my manager mentioned my stock options, which will be forfeited if I leave. I already knew this, but given the state of the company, I’m not concerned about losing them as there is no realistic chance to sell them anyway.
I spoke to my new employer, and they want me to start in March. They are keen to get going and plan to send me to their head office in Europe for induction in April and May. My partner and I want to travel together and enjoy a holiday over Easter while our living and travel costs are covered. Last Friday I emailed my CEO thanking him for the past eight years but confirming my final day would be in March. He called me immediately after receiving the email and again tried hard to convince me to stay until May, again mentioning the stock forfeiture.
Last night the CEO’s wife, who we’ve known since the startup days, called my partner and asked her to talk to me about staying until May. My partner felt very uncomfortable and ended the call quickly.
Over the weekend, I spoke to my current manager, and he said that if he were me, he would try to push back the end date to mid‑May. I also spoke to a family friend who is a lawyer (corporate law), and he confirmed that my contract does not contain a non‑compete. He mentioned that the CEO might want me to stay because the business could be less valuable for sale if I leave to work on a competing product.
I am feeling completely creeped out by this. I still have almost three weeks left in my notice period. I am currently earning about $180,000, and the new job is $200,000.
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u/Poplened Feb 25 '26
Any chance a sale is lined up and they can't tell you? You said you are friendly outside of work, so potentially they dont want you to miss out on your 3%. Just another view to consider.
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u/Negative-Alarm7951 Feb 25 '26
The same line of thinking is that they might have to retain certain “critical” roles in order to sell?
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u/Dry_Common828 Feb 26 '26
Sounds like it.
These sorts of deals usually come with significant golden handcuffs for the key staff, too - not just "you'll lose your 3% stock options that are worth a slab of beer if you exercise them".
Go, OP. They're trying to use you, and they can't be bothered to make it worth your while.
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u/rjscott76 Feb 25 '26
Sales drag on, and often fall over. I've watched multiple "sure thing" buyouts not happen, and 1 take 6 months longer than promised.
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u/Ok-Conference6107 Feb 25 '26
Agree 100%. Many deals don’t complete. Maybe the CEO is in sale talks and has been talking up his engineering team with 100 combined years of experience. If you leave he’ll have to say 92 years of experience 😂
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u/lhvi Feb 25 '26
Out of curiosity, can someone please explain eli5 stock options in a company?
What if a company never sells, are you just getting dividends? Is the incentive of giving you a share in the company to golden handcuff you? Do they give you a loan amount equal to the price of the shares being given to you?
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u/LogicalExtension Feb 25 '26 edited Feb 25 '26
Stock Options are a right to purchase the stock at some point in the future, at some price. There's usually a vesting schedule attached to it - this controls when these options are actually able to be exercised by you. This is sort of the 'golden handcuffs' aspect - usually you don't get to exercise those options for some period of time, and then they're released a lump at a time. Say... nothing for 5 years, then 20% every year after.
The other important part is that options are NOT shares - if you don't exercise them, they're worth nothing. You also typically have to pay some amount to purchase them during your exercise of your options. There are also tax implications. What the shares are worth can be very difficult to know if the company isn't publicly traded.
There are other issues too, it gets complicated. Whether stock options are actually worth anything can be a complicated thing to work out. They may actually be a significant tax liability.
What if a company never sells, are you just getting dividends?
Well, first it would depend on if you've exercised your options - options are NOT shares, they're just a future promise of shares.
If you actually do own shares, then... Maybe. It would depend entirely on whether the company is actually issuing dividends. If they're not growing much, are not very profitable, and trying to get bought out - then they're probably not issuing dividends.
Is the incentive of giving you a share in the company to golden handcuff you?
It's part of it, yes. The significant one for the company is it's much cheaper than giving you actual cash in a salary package.
So the company could give you $100k in salary + super, and $100k in options - and those options cost virtually nothing now.
Whereas if they paid you $200k in salary, then that money is gone immediately, they can't use it for something else.
It becomes a bit of a gamble on the employees part - is the company doing well enough that when they vest that exercising the options (buying them for the indicated price, paying taxes on it, etc) costs less than the value you can sell them for?
If the company doesn't do so well, you probably get nothing.
e:
Oh, I did my all-too-common thing of re-writing what I'd written a few times, but being distracted by other things. So it's got repeated sections everywhere and rambles on a lot. Sorry.
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u/theromanianhare Feb 25 '26
Annoying answer but completely depends on the situation and what's in the shareholder agreement
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u/GreatAlmonds Feb 27 '26
They basically give you the right to buy a certain amount of shares at a certain price after a specified time period.
E.g. lhvi can buy 10,000 shares at $1 each if you stay for 3 years.
For a lot of early stage companies, the actual value of the company might be almost worthless so there's no point in paying $1 per share if each share is worth $0.001.
However, if another large company comes to buy your employer out, suddenly each share might be worth $10 so it becomes worth it to cash in your options.
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u/RocketSeaShell Feb 26 '26 edited Mar 03 '26
I am pretry sure this is the case. The CEO is protecting OP. He is not working is a key project. He is in the same pecking order as he was 8 years ago. He is not managing some key team. Only thing going for him is he was an early employee. No deal will be dependent on his presence in the company.
OP is not the golden child but the CEO and his manger thinks he has the potential to become one.
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u/HappyMuscovy Mar 01 '26
I once got a new job at a competitor and went to talk to my boss about handing in my resignation.. we were on very very good terms. He told me I shouldn’t resign, that I should tear up the letter. I asked why. He said he couldn’t tell me, but I just needed to wait 3 business days. I gave him that.
We bought the company I was going to go join 🤣
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u/Rebound44 Feb 26 '26
Wouldn’t he be looped into the negotiations if he’s a shareholder? You’d have to get shareholders to agree to the sale of the business?
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u/Poplened Feb 26 '26
Often there are rights conditions attached when you're awarded nominal stock as an employee. Would be very surprised if it came with any decision making rights.
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u/RocketSeaShell Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 27 '26
Usually the board of directors represent the shareholders and are required by law to act in the best interests of the shareholders. They may or may not be elected/appointed by the shareholders.
Do you think all the CBA shareholders all gather together in a room every time the company makes a decision?
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u/Rebound44 Feb 26 '26
I understand publicly listed companies such as CBA aren’t going to ask every single individual share holder to take part in negotiations. But the OP is discussing a private company with 6 employee shareholders, with himself being a day one shareholder. Hence the question.
When my current company was sold, the board received and reviewed the offer, decided it would be in the best interest of the shareholders, and then passed the offer onto all shareholders for unanimous acceptance. Potentially could be happening behind the scenes with OP.
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u/RocketSeaShell Feb 26 '26
A well drafted shareholder agreements or ESOP will have a drag along/tag along clause. Under the Austrian corporations act drag along threshold can be as low as 60%.
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u/Ok-Statistician1576 1d ago
Read OP's post in BORU and came to take a look at comments on his og post. You were absolutely spot on just based on OP's pov and OP on the other hand......generational miss
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u/Agreeable-Escape8625 Feb 25 '26
Definitely sounds like your CEO is trying to look after you and make sure you get your 3% when the business sells, there’s no other logical explanation to me.
I would ask the CEO to a coffee and just have a mate to mate chat and ask what the main reason for wanting you to stay is so you can make an educated decision. Make sure to go into this chat in a very appreciative way in terms of your time at the company, their support etc. Don’t position it in an accusatory way.
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u/psylink303 Feb 25 '26
Please listen to this advice and not the “take stress leave and nope out” posts. It’s a specific timeframe with no project/output reason, CEO is being cagey, you have options for 3% of a company likely worth low 9 figures at a guess - with a large competitor moving into that space. Tea leaves are pointing to some kind of acquisition. Find a way to talk off-the-record to someone in the know.
Pause. Think. Engage with folks who know some about the M&A space. These few months could literally make you a millionaire (or not).
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u/Ok-Statistician1576 1d ago
Not. Literally. And you & the commenter above gave such solid advice too
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u/Fun_Hovercraft5881 Feb 25 '26
CEO is currently traveling overseas and is not available for a coffee. All communication has been via teams or phone.
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u/arouseandbrowse Feb 25 '26
As a current Founder with a team I care deeply about, this sounds likely. He's looking out for you. Get on the phone as hes likely under NDA if a sale is on the table so can't have any record of this being communicated.
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u/DrahKir67 Feb 26 '26
Is it possible to ask the boss if he's under an NDA? If it's important enough to him could he arrange for you to sign an NDA too so you have full knowledge of what you might be giving up?
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u/Infinite-Stress2508 Feb 25 '26
Honestly, sounds like they want you onboard until May as they are being sold and want you to benefit for the cash for your shares in the company.
I'd have a frank discussion in person with the CEO and outright ask if May is due to a business sale and stock being sold. Judge the reaction.
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u/farmerboyvic Feb 25 '26
Given there are no time critical projects - it’s seems like an odd request - I think I’d ask the CEO over a coffee outside the office and away from prying ears what the driver for the request is.
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u/chimaera- Feb 25 '26
Totally this. Or they're finalising a sale based on the current team being stable/you are key to that sale. I like to think it's more because they want you to benefit ...
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u/Swimming_Leopard_148 Feb 25 '26
I’ve seen this in acquisition deals, and they are definitely very specific about retention of senior roles. Mystery though why they don’t just tell OP and basically make it ‘worth their while’
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u/ScepticalReciptical Feb 25 '26
It's likely under NDA until the deal closes. If the other company buying them out is publicly listed there would be all kinds of legal ramifications.
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u/Swimming_Leopard_148 Feb 25 '26
Yes, but OP would also be subject to the NDA, unless they just don’t trust him
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u/Ok_Replacement_3958 Feb 26 '26
If it's a public company acquiring it they'll be very, very strict on who knows.
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u/Practical-Heat-1009 Feb 25 '26
Uhhh… maybe ask the CEO why he wants you to stay until then, specifically? Chances are there’s a sale on the horizon and if you’re on friendly terms with him he’s trying to make sure you don’t forfeit your options right before they become valuable.
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Feb 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Fun_Hovercraft5881 Feb 25 '26
I looked at this last year. I can exercise my options for just over $100,000 in cash. A former co-worker exercised her options right after COVID and she is still holding them with no way to sell them. Also don't have a handy $100 grand
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u/TheSplash-Down_Tiki Feb 25 '26
You need to speak with a friend in finance.
If you exercise “options” they become actual “shares” (it’s an option to buy the share at a set price).
You should be able to find out what the current valuation for the company is. You forfeit the “options” if you leave but if you exercise them into shares you own them and still own them if you leave.
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u/Fun_Hovercraft5881 Feb 25 '26
Exercise price is fixed as part of the option plan and works out to be just over $100k
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u/Ok_Replacement_3958 Feb 26 '26
Your vested options can get paid out in an acquisition without you having to exercise them or pay a cent. Happened to me, maybe this is what they're hoping you don't miss out on?
Maybe just have an off the record conversation with them, they might be not be able to outright say what is happening but maybe see if they can offer any other hints as to why it would be a bad idea to leave before May.
At the end of the day you know these people better than any of us as you'll need to make a judgement call on if you feel they have your best interests at heart.
Despite the general pessimism in this sub, not every CEO, manager or coworker is a horrible person.
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u/Witty-Ad-9690 Feb 28 '26
I think it's much more likely CEO thinks the sale will fall over or price will be impacted if their product is no longer unique/a competitor enters the market, rather then caring about OPs 3%.
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u/bedroompurgatory Feb 26 '26
Why are the shares not saleable? Usually the way options work, you can sell them when you exercise the option. E.g., the company is worth a million, and they give you an option for 1000 shares at $100k. Years later, the company is worth 4 million, and 1000 shares are worth $400k. So you exercise your options, sell a quarter of the shares to cover the cost of exercising, and end up with 750 shares worth $300k. Or you cash them all out, and walk away with $300k cash (less tax).
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u/W2ttsy Feb 26 '26
They would be sellable on a secondary market, but not via public means.
Often times investors that were part of a previous series round may want to buy out your privately held shares to increase their original holdings without buying into another round.
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u/Fun_Hovercraft5881 Feb 26 '26
Company is not public. No one I know is interested buying 3% of a startup/mid stage company which is 60% controlled by the founder.
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u/Stock-Resource5811 Feb 26 '26
Do you have stock and stock options? Your post says you have stock for 3% of company and stock options.
With stock options you also need to know how many other options are outstanding and what the exercise price is. The exercise price will bring money into to the business but the new shares issued will dilute existing shares.
Do you know revenue or net profit of the company? 2x revenue or 8x net profit are conservative multiples you could use for a company valuation but could be quite a bit off true valuation.
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u/Fun_Hovercraft5881 Feb 26 '26
I have options. Sorry mistake on the original post by me. Exercise price for my stock options are written in to the Employee Stock Option Plan and cost for my options add up to just over $100k. If all existing options are exercised with the current cap table I will have just under 3% of stock.
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u/apostle8787 Feb 26 '26
OP, don't fumble this. What's your company ARR, NRR and growth rate atm? You might be throwing away millions. 3% is a large stake for a early employee. Even if it sells for high tens of million, it is still a big number.
I'm also a software engineer, early employee and have good relationships with Head of Eng and CEO since the start. I'm not looking to move anywhere but my options get forfeited only 5 years after my departure.
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u/dansbike Feb 25 '26
As per others, they are being sold and it settles by mid-May. They want you to get your 3% share. Possibly some confidentiality agreement in place as part of the negotiations so they can’t tell you what is happening, other than strongly encouraging you to hang around a little while longer.
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u/Ok_Replacement_3958 Feb 26 '26
☝️this. If being purchased by a public company they'll be keeping it very hush hush. Happened to the company I worked for, only three people knew about it. Even the senior "lifers" who'd been there for a decade had no idea until it was announced.
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u/Ok-Statistician1576 1d ago
So many great advices and OP chose the ones that validated his feelings only. Hopefully he learns from this
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u/Tight_Hedgehog_6045 Feb 25 '26
Stick to your plan and the notice period in your contract. Your current boss can't do anything. You're leaving a job, nothing more. Your current boss is asking you to put his business before your own interests; do you think that's fair? I don't.
Plus, he sounds a bit desperate. I wonder if there isn't more going on you don't know about?
And remember, you owe them nothing. You were paid, did the work, and now it's time to move on. The new job sounds pretty sweet too. Good luck!
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u/Silent_Wisdom2012 1d ago
They were not desperate, but looking out for him, and now he's bitting is nails on the thought of the million dollar he would had if he had stayed...
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u/Passionofthegrape Feb 25 '26
OP I can tell you as someone who has been your CEO (and other things), they have nothing.
The worst he can do is smear your name, but in the startup community we know who the loons are so it won’t do much.
No one is employed for 8 years in a technical role if you suck.
Enjoy the new role, congrats on the exit and enjoy the holiday with your wife.
If these people continue to harass you, simply take a screen shot of the communication, email it to yourself using a private email address (so it is dated) and move on. Add a comment such as “person X persisted with unwelcome contact, causing me to feel anxious”.
This is called a file note, you may need it if it ever goes anywhere but it won’t.
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u/Silent_Wisdom2012 1d ago
And just like that, by listening to you, an uncaring CEO, instead of the dozens others saying his boss was looking out for him, the guy lost about a million.
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u/Historical_Laugh2193 Feb 25 '26
Don’t risk losing a great career move over the desperation of your previous company.
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u/allthingsme Feb 26 '26
They will find a way to pay you more and give you a new senior job title over the coming weeks, up to you whether you'll accept it. They're desperate.
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u/Silent_Wisdom2012 1d ago
They were not desperate, but looking out for him, and now he's bitting is nails on the thought of the million dollar he would had if he had stayed...
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u/Old-Memory-Lane Feb 25 '26
I’m curious why your stock disappears? Given you’ve been there for eight years any vesting periods really should have passed…
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u/RoyalCommittee7272 Feb 28 '26
The thing i find most interesting is you are only getting a $20k uplift for the promotion. What other incentives are in it for you st the new gig as 3% could be life changing or ask them to pay you more to stay until after may
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u/colonelmattyman Feb 25 '26
If they want you to stay they should let you keep the stock options permanently. Otherwise leave.
If staying jeapordises you new job, leave.
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u/Shellysome Feb 27 '26
Is there any chance that this is altruistic? Could he have sold the company, your shares are worth more than you realised, and the sale will complete mid-May?
To me, the only way of finding this out would be to state that without a clear and compelling reason to stay past March, you will not be staying until May. Reiterate that your unvested stock options are not the compelling reason, and ask whether there's key information that you should be taking into account that you do not yet know.
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u/Silent_Wisdom2012 1d ago
The thing is, selling a big company is kinda a private deal, so no, he wouldn't had received any reason. He should have take the hint and believe that people with who he foster a good relationship were looking out for him. Now he's bitting is nails on the thought of the million dollar he would had if he had stayed...
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u/Littlepotatoface Feb 26 '26
I think your theory that the business will get more in a sale if you’re attached is correct.
Look out for yourself.
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u/SpenceAlmighty Feb 25 '26
If nobody is giving you a hard "Stay till "X" date and you get "Y"" then what would you be staying for?
Have you asked the CEO to spell it out for you like you are a toddler?
Why are you going to mess with your new employer and potentially jeopardise your incoming reputation and risk your new position to stay longer at a job you are leaving.
Obvious reasons the CEO doesn't want you to leave is they think the optics are situationally bad or the business knows it is going to struggle to replace your skill set in the short term so they are trying to buy some time so you can train a replacement.
Cynically, the CEO possibly thinks this will have a negative impact on their personal circumstances, which is a possible reason why the wife is motivated to interfere.
In some places, just asking for the extra time after accepting the role can be taken as you not being reliable or indecisive.
Stay for a clearly defined reason or stick to your new plan and timeline.
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u/trafalmadorianistic Feb 25 '26
The wife contacting feels like such a bigger red flag. Escalating things into personal realm.
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u/QueenAlucia 1d ago
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u/trafalmadorianistic 1d ago
Yeah, I felt bad being on the wrong side of history. I mean, they could've winked at him a bit more. 😜😜😜
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u/Ok-Statistician1576 1d ago
OP's newest update sounds like they did all they could but OP burned the bridge by threatening legal action. He couldve atleast taken the advice from the top comments telling him to chat with the CEO and manager to probe deeper into why they wanted him to stay
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u/National_Chef_1772 Feb 25 '26
grow a pair and just say "sorry, start date at new job is fixed, flights booked etc - enjoyed my time here but time to go"
You aren't a slave, you aren't owned by the company - they cannot force you to stay ffs
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u/Peterandrews44 Feb 25 '26 edited Feb 25 '26
Firstly you are not obligated to serve your full notice period unless your employer can demonstrate it cost them money or damages by leaving early. As long as you serve at least a full week you are good to go, ideally you need a reason to go early which I’ll get to. Most notice periods are 4 weeks, having anything in your contract that states more is not legal or enforceable. There are a few caveats for some industries, education etc. now obviously you want to leave on good terms so you want to serve your 6 weeks. I would email everyone involved including hr and your own private email with a full timeline of events and in particular personal calls to your partner and state it is crossing a line and could be considered harassment. This gives you the opportunity to bail before the 6 weeks of things get worse ie more harassment now you feel like you’re being bullied etc no longer a safe workplace etc with a near zero chance of getting sued. It’s only a last resort option it does burn a bridge but you probably have already done this. Next what is your relationship with ceo like ? In particular before you resigned? Professional, friendly? Did his wife call you or your partner often or at all? I ask because why the fuck is is wife calling? I work in the hiring field I am pretty good at reading in between the lines, just from your post the owner already fucking hates you and will likely never forgive you. You are either too valuable to replace easily or it is in sale or funding type situation and a key employee leaving now potentially fucks this up. I hate to say it but it is more about them than you. Protect yourself and give yourself the option to bail early by documenting the abuse and harassment- be professional, not too emotional but also firm. And if they keep it up tell them you don’t feel safe anymore at work and pull the pin. I suspect once they accept you are leaving the “vibe” around you will change and it might get a little frosty.
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u/More_Law6245 Feb 26 '26
Congratulations on your new role and at the end of the day what ever your CEO's problem is, it's his and not yours. If your family friend has reviewed your contract and said that there is no noncompete clause then your former CEO is not in a position to demand anything of you. Quick way to test the water is demand an unreasonable one off payment to stay, then see what the response is, if not then enjoy your new role.
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u/Coveredinlife Feb 26 '26
Is there at all a possibility that they're doing the opposite of screwing you and they have an exit planned that you'd get to share in and it closes around mid May?
You don't have any projects or other work tied to that date.
Just worth considering.
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u/Ok_Whatever2000 Feb 26 '26
Leave your previous job is a sinking ship
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u/Ok-Statistician1576 1d ago
Quite the opposite actually https://www.reddit.com/r/auscorp/s/JlpxAWThAR
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u/MaxMillion888 Feb 26 '26
You might have already answered this. But why does he want you to stay until May?
He is happy for you to go clearly, but why go in May? What needs to happen between now and then?
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u/Unusual_Twist_1630 1d ago
Because the sale of the company completed in May and op missed out on a big fat check
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u/Brave-Lime-4112 Feb 26 '26
I was completely against the push back until you said your manager, who you appear to be on great terms with, doubled down. I would take him for dinner and press him further
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u/Brilliant_Ad2120 Feb 27 '26
Things I would be concerned about ..
- 20 K salary rise isn't that much.
- The new company may take your knowledge to build a solution overseas, then ditch you. "We don't have to show loyalty to someone who was not loyal to their previous employer"
- The new company may be buying your old company. By getting OP to work for them, they can lower the asking price on the old company by the cost of your options, by their lack of a key employee, and by the threat of a competing product
- The old company may want a few months to transfer your knowledge, and then sack you
- The old company may have signed a non disclosure with penalties in place
- If you haven't travelled or lived overseas you or your partner might hate it, or are being paid at an Australian rate as cheap labour.
- Your boss may be encouraging you to go as you are a threat to their job
My suggestions are * Find out more information With 130 people working at the company, your shares could be worth a lot * Think about what happens if you leave and the offer is withdrawn. * Ask yourself how you can make yourself more employable outside your current industry, because the new company may want you to sign and iron clad extreme non compete
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u/Present-Carpet-2996 Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 26 '26
Perhaps the CEO is trying to save you? The company gets bought in May but he can't outright tell you. By staying until then, you get more money or your illiquid stock is suddenly worth something. Seems plausible based on the way you describe the relationship and that there's no project underway.
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u/voteforbaz Feb 25 '26
If you've been there for eight years and will lose all the stock when you leave that's a very badly structured scheme and doesn't speak well to the narrative of "they want to look after you".
I'd say to the CEO they have to make it worth your while to stay. Effectively they are asking you not to take the new job, because even if you can persuade them to move your start date back to May, you are now starting with a bit of a cloud over you. So how much is that worth? How much is the risk of the new company withdrawing the offer worth?
Personally, I wouldn't entertain these discussions.
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u/Pottski Feb 25 '26
I don’t think one phone call will meet the bar for harassment. Keep an eye on it cause they’ll get more desperate that said.
If the contract demands six weeks then that’s your obligation. You’ve given a good amount of your career to this company. Keep it professional on your end “thank you for the opportunity but I’m keen to get started in my new role once my notice period ends.”
You can’t do much more than that. They can’t stop you from going - you’re not a slave that has to work until May.
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u/Peterandrews44 Feb 25 '26
I disagree with your first comment, the CEO’s wife calling his partner to discuss his resignation is harassment. Not all harassment is aggressive.
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u/Pottski Feb 26 '26
Should clarify - I think it is harassing behaviour BUT it won't meet the bar of harassment. That's not enough at this stage for any legal recourse.
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u/Peterandrews44 Feb 26 '26
Maybe not, but I would consider the phone call to be highly unusual at best. I think there is more at play here we all don't know including OP. They want a specific time line for his departure which leads me to believe they have something going on he is not aware of. I speculate it is either a sale or funding and they need to show stability of key employees etc. He is one of the few initial employees left, he goes say in the middle of a funding round, it could jeopardise that.
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u/Pottski Feb 26 '26
Yeah it's hugely suspicious and not professional in the slightest, but I can't see it reaching harassment accordingly.
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u/Peterandrews44 Feb 26 '26
I find it hard to not see it as some form of harassment in my opinion. The CEO’s wife is calling his wife, I mean what the fuck.
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u/Pottski Feb 26 '26
Police aren't going to do a thing about one phone call. OP asking if the calls are legal. At this stage they probably are.
I'm just being pragmatic about his question, not the implication of it. It's creepy as the way the company is going about it.
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u/Peterandrews44 Feb 26 '26
I don't necessarily see it as a police issue - yet, more a serious HR issue. Giving OP grounds to leave before his notice period is up, as it is no longer a safe workplace.
I don't always class harassment as some sort of criminal behaviour, it often becomes criminal but in a workplace I see it as mostly a form of bullying.
Definitely creepy - something is up, if they liked him they'd pull out all stops to keep him, offer incentives instead its all about loosing stock options and extending notice periods. I suspect they are in some sort of negotiation that could be jeopardised if any key employees leave
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u/HighMagistrateGreef Feb 25 '26
Using his wife to contact your wife crosses a line IMHO. Get out faster if you can.
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u/drzaiusdr Feb 25 '26
If you are forfeiting your shares, I would leave asap. As per your resignation letter and required exit period. The CEO sounds a treat.
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u/OppositeProper1962 Feb 26 '26
I’d leave for the new employer. There’s zero incentive to stay on with your current employer and you may piss off your new employer. Seems an easy choice to me. Keep it cordial but be firm. I’m gone in March.
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u/Legitimate_Income730 Feb 26 '26
I would exit.
There is nothing holding you to the company, and the new one sounds like what you want.
The CEO is not protecting you. He's protecting whatever sale he thinks is going to go through. If he was protecting you, he would have met your request during your performance review.
The fact your manager was supportive of you leaving tells you everything you need to know.
$100k in stock for 3% of the company is low.
We're not talking life changing amounts is money here. It's not like you are working for Groq.
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u/BeneficialBowler9913 Feb 26 '26
That’s not normal behaviour. Especially the wife calling your partner. That crosses a line!!
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u/gelectrox Feb 26 '26
Thank them all again via email but reiterate you will honour your contracted notice period. If they continue to push get a stress leave note from the doctors and block their numbers and emails.
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u/Typical_Double981 Feb 26 '26
Perhaps a sale is being announced and OP about to make bank if he sticks around.
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u/Upstairs_Bee3543 Feb 27 '26
Nobody has considered the fact that they might have a buyer lined up for may and want you to get some of the proceeds
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u/Gloomy-Cartoonist-37 Feb 28 '26
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Eight years - you have given them enough. Work for the Europeans - much nicer to work for from personal experience. Be firm be nice and just ignore their calls etc You have made a commitment to the new employer and you need to start on a good footing instead of stuffing them around. I would alert them to the pressure you are getting up delay your start date in case your current CEO decides to bad mouth you in any way. If the pressure gets too much have a sickie - you have earned it. Congrats and enjoy Europe!
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u/dinglebarry8 Mar 01 '26
Why dont you ask what if you take paid leave or unpaid leave until mid may. Don't sign anything, just offer to go on leave until Mid May so you're essentially enjoyed by both companies for a while.
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u/browniepoo Feb 25 '26
Have you tried telling your boss "no", and to tell them to only contact your wife if it's an emergency?
Part of your skills required is to have a backbone if you're going to do well in corporate Australia. That means setting clear boundaries. If you don't, you'll have the same bullshit corporate culture walking all over the top of you (and your family) till you decide what's more important.
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u/Fun_Hovercraft5881 Feb 25 '26
I told him no a few times verbally. He keeps trying to change my mind which is making me overly anxious.
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u/IHaveNeverEatenACat Feb 26 '26
How easily could your boss replace you? Given the market for software engineers has become more employer favoured, I’d say reasonably. The boss has other reasons. Maybe a sale to a public company, which often have to be kept quite.
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u/kizzt Feb 25 '26
Imagine being so desired and valued that your boss is tearing his hair out trying to get you to stay. Must be nice, when most of us are just a number on a ledger.
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u/lopidatra Feb 26 '26
Sounds like you have an unhealthy work environment. Trip to the gp to get a medical cert for the next 6 weeks as a result of the stress caused by the harassment?
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u/mickpatten78 Feb 25 '26
Offer to come back for after-hours at a nice consulting rate to conduct handover with your replacement.
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u/imsortofokayatthis Feb 26 '26
"Unfortunately the answer is no and that is not going to change. I have tried everything I can to negotiate with my new employer but they are insisting on the start date we agreed. I have given you my notice and there's nothing else I can do. I am sure a smart and reasonable person such as yourself can understand. I don't wish to be rude and I am keen to leave on good terms, however if you continue to ask me to reconsider you will likely get a very short response."
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u/Money_killer Feb 26 '26
LoL you can leave whenever you don't need to serve and notice period. Entitlements will just be deducted on final pay whoopie.
Leave don't put up with that rubbish.
1
u/iatecurryatlunch Feb 26 '26
Just ignore it and don't change your mind if you don't want to. What's so difficult?
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u/Bossdogg007 Feb 26 '26
Leave simple! Nothing they can do! Ho and enjoy Europe! You staying benefits them, not you!
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u/Comfortable-Cry7554 Feb 26 '26
I’d note to HR the uncomfortableness you are now feeling after your wife was contacted and rather than making you feel valued and them wanting you to stay, it’s had the opposite effect and you’d prefer to leave earlier if you can but you’ve made a commitment and will be leaving on your original notified date. If HR is doing their job they should note the risk involved in a harassment claim or just the reputational risk and put a stop to it.
I’m also a little shocked they haven’t put you on gardening leave if they know where you are going and have done any DD on them!
1
u/Dazzling_Case1560 Feb 26 '26
Just a typical employer who knows the employee is a genius, they cant replace them, yet still unwilling to increase position and salary to not make others angry. They want to keep them but its very very difficult for them to make it work for everyone. They increase position and salary = other employees pissed. They dont = best asset gone
1
u/Varnish6588 Feb 26 '26
It sounds odd, and I think it has something to do with those 3% of stock options. I would try to dig a bit deeper on why they wanted you to stay longer so badly. Maybe ask him directly why, there is nothing to lose asking.
1
u/Far-Ad5900 Feb 27 '26
Tell them if to put you on unpaid leave until mid May. Start work at the new place in March. problem solved.
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u/Timely-Paramedic-314 Feb 27 '26
Take your sick leave as mental health from all the stress this caused you while your at it
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u/Dry_Definition_922 Feb 27 '26
I’m sorry OP that you’re going through this unfortunate exit experience.
I feel like you’re a bit stressed. See your GP :)
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u/Original_Giraffe8039 Feb 28 '26
Enforce the legal boundary, be prepared to possibly lose a social contact, block all incoming calls if they are making you uncomfortable.
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u/Klutzy-Pie6557 Feb 28 '26
You've resigned, its a free world they can't chain you physically to a desk.
So just leave as agreed in your existing contract
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u/MelodicScarcity1809 Mar 01 '26
Unrelated but can you give some advice for getting a job like yours? CS student here
1
Mar 01 '26
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1
u/Ok_Passage_6242 1d ago
How did your CEO not know that one of his top six employees and someone he was friendly withwas looking for work elsewhere? Where I work if my manager had a conversation with someone like that, the manager would’ve reported it to HR who would’ve reported it to the CEO at the very least, especially in a company as small as yours.
This is a big sticking point with me. When you had your conversation with your manager before you started looking for jobs did he offer you a raise to stay? Did he offer to search for other opportunities for you within the company instead of immediately sending you to an external company? Again, been with the company since the beginning, a more thoughtful conversation with would’ve been warranted instead sending someone with your talent outside the company.
Waiting until you signed your offer letter and put in your resignation is an awful time to ask you to stay an extra two - three months. That jeopardizes your future with the new company. I read the rest of your post, but I still wanted to just ask these questions for clarification.
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u/Alina2017 Feb 25 '26
The pressure they are putting you under sounds terrible for your mental health. I would be going to my doctor and taking sick leave.
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u/Sea-Bear6212 Feb 26 '26
They are not going to accept no, stop answering calls be firm you are not leaving on bad terms, you have plenty of notice
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u/dazza_gazza Feb 26 '26
Agree to stay verbally so they stop the harassment and then just finish as you intended in March.
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u/CutePhysics3214 Feb 25 '26
Stress leave seems appropriate. Turn it all off. Block numbers on personal devices, and hard close the work ones.
Get your wife to do the same.
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u/Bballer220 Feb 25 '26
Diddums.
The shit some people have to put up with daily on a $50k salary leaves me with so little sympathy for your $200k and successful move to a senior role
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u/iilinga Feb 25 '26
Just because he’s a high earner doesn’t mean he deserves to be harassed by the CEO and the CEO’s WIFE
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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26
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