>Not only does it create bad blood, which could only be bad for you in the long run, it may also leave you open to a lawsuit.
Don't buy this fud. There's nothing illegal about walking away from a shitty deal. Whatever your motives just plainly state "this deal no longer makes sense for me".
If you're a great engineer, then have some self respect, and walk away from a shitty deal. Go somewhere else where they respect the people that build value.
And if you aren't a great engineer, you weren't going to get anything anyways, so go somewhere that will raise your game and better positions you for the future.
>People who always get their revenge tend to have no friends and lots of burned bridges
There's a big difference between being bitter on a daily basis vs coming to terms with your past three years that are basically only going to net you an extra 100K (which you could easily get hustling in a few months consulting in SV).
Think deliberately about what you're toiling away for. An extra 20K? An extra 100K? REALLY? All the extra weekends for years is worth that? Get mad at yourself. Demand more. And if they deny you, walk, and position yourself better next time.
Walking away from a deal is one thing - deliberate harm is something else.
At one point I was at a company that had built a web product for another company. The external party decided they weren't going to pay their bill, and at the time we'd been covering the cost of hosting several of their servers for months. Obviously our first reaction was that we'd just turn them off but our lawyers told us in no uncertain terms that we couldn't. It would be obstruction of business and we would definitely be found to be in the wrong. (This was in the uk)
Was the external party eventually forced to pay the bill for hosting their service during the time it was being disputed since you couldn't just turn it off?
They tricked us into signing up to some sort of gentleman's agreement where they folded the company and re-launched as a charity (or something weird like that). Basically, they said, if you chase us for the money, you'll take us down, then you won't get any money. If you let us do this our way you'll get your money if it all works out. So they fairly well held us to ransom.
I don't recall how it all worked out in the end but we definitely got some (all?) of the money - I recall my boss telling me we'd received a payment a good year or two later!
I was pretty amazed at how few rights and options we had in the situation. We had the lawyers talking us through our options at every step and they said there wasn't a lot else we could do.
That was one of a catalogue of mischievous plays I witnessed there. We were a company that were very honest and ethically sound so it was always sort of shocking to see others acting dishonestly.
The whole situation ended up being somewhat overshadowed by the accountant nicking £50k from the company savings!
I've definitely learnt to make sure you're covered as much as possible in business. Always get everything in writing and be aware that sometimes people don't act in good faith. At my current startup, my co-founder and I have a fairly all guns blazing approach to people not paying their invoices on time (we start chasing before it's even late).
First, I was against doing intentional harm. I absolutely think s/he should walk away, but making enemies doesn't solve any problems and certainly could create some.
Second, you seem not to understand the difference between "breaking the law" and "getting sued". Intentionally screwing over a company can be both legal and lead to a lawsuit that you end up losing.
1) You are critical to the company's success yet..
2) They don't want to compensate you to your liking..
3) So you walk. Yes, this is meant to intentionally hurt the company with the only lever that you have (your skill set and institutional knowledge).
You working for this company costs you opportunities elsewhere.
You're convincing yourself to stay because it "doesn't solve any problems and certainly could create some." Your vague fears are holding you back.
But if we get rid of these vague fears, here's what we know is certain:
1) You're critical to the success of the company.
2) But you're not going to be compensated to your liking
3) And you're costing yourself other opportunities by sticking around.
Quit being scared, look them straight in the eye, and say "I am walking unless I get X,Y,Z." If they say no, then kindly resign and don't look back. Bring on the lawsuit (highly doubtful).
There is no way you're going to end up getting sued for leaving, intentionally or not, regardless of your intentions if employment is at-will (and most likely it is).
Don't buy this fud. There's nothing illegal about walking away from a shitty deal. Whatever your motives just plainly state "this deal no longer makes sense for me".
If you're a great engineer, then have some self respect, and walk away from a shitty deal. Go somewhere else where they respect the people that build value.
And if you aren't a great engineer, you weren't going to get anything anyways, so go somewhere that will raise your game and better positions you for the future.
>People who always get their revenge tend to have no friends and lots of burned bridges
There's a big difference between being bitter on a daily basis vs coming to terms with your past three years that are basically only going to net you an extra 100K (which you could easily get hustling in a few months consulting in SV).
Think deliberately about what you're toiling away for. An extra 20K? An extra 100K? REALLY? All the extra weekends for years is worth that? Get mad at yourself. Demand more. And if they deny you, walk, and position yourself better next time.