10 days before my notice period ended, I got a call from my manager.
“There are 3 back-to-back holidays falling on your last day. Please send an email for notice period extension. Write that your work isn’t complete, and you need more time.”
Now this was the manager I trusted fully.
However, what I trusted (and still do) more than anything else is my capability to finish my work on time. And do it very well.
I calmly suggested, if it is the matter of work not being done, my work will be done before time, and I am happy to let go of before 3 days, but I can’t write a lie.
Eventually, to accommodate the company, I wrote the reason of one-day extension as “on suggestion of the company due to three back-to-back holidays.”
I won. They did too. Probably.
I still don’t think that manager had evil intents. We are very well in touch till date. However, in picking between the company and someone who is anyway leaving, most people err on the side of the convenient, not conviction.
In life, some situations land in your kitty just so you can learn how to stand for yourself. No one else is going to do that. But if you do, you teach everyone else how to treat you.