Was working in tech back in 2001. I was working as a traveling consultant, going onsite and implementing solutions using the software our company sold. My division was a very small division in a much larger company. My previous employer was bought out by the larger company they could gain market share in healthcare. Our product was very different than the core products at the new, larger company and they treated us like a bastard stepchild The tech bubble burst and our company was laying off people. My division was making money hand over fist with implementing HIPAA compliance. Yet we got cut too. My co-worker and friend, who was the only other person in the company who understood how our product really worked, was laid off. Which left me holding the bag for all the upcoming travel. Anyone who travels knows it can suck. I was already on the road about 75% of the year, now they wanted to book me 100% of my time. I complained and they said I was lucky to have a job. I ended up with a new boss who then cut my salary by 1/3. At this point I was ready to quit myself. But we had a conference coming up in San Diego and I wanted to go. The conferences were the only time of the year I got to see all my other fellow employees and we partied on the company dime. I waited until I was at the conference, with me booked to give a couple of speeches to clients - then I dropped the bomb. I was quitting. I didn't even tell me new boss. I told my old boss instead.

My new Boss was pissed. She was back in NYC because she was not allowed to go to the conference to cut back on costs. She tried calling my friend who got fired, asking him to come back, but he laughed and said no thanks.

In the end, I stayed for the conference and quit the next day. The company was forced to hire ex employees of the company to fulfill my obligations at a cost that eliminated all profit on the jobs.

The boss who cut my salary by 1/3 was laid off shortly after.