[PA] Constructive discharge ultimatum + locked out of work email after 3 months W-2 with no signed employment paperwork, software platform on entirely personal infrastructure
Throwaway because the situation is active.
Location: Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania W-2 employee, paid via payroll for ~3 months at a small company. I have signed NO employment agreement, IP assignment, NDA, non-compete, or offer letter. Only a W-4 and background check authorization.
Built a custom software platform for the company entirely on my personal infrastructure: my personal GitHub (private), my personal Supabase, my personal OneDrive, and a personal laptop that was gifted to me by the CEO via documented text exchange before formal employment began. No company hardware, accounts, or credentials used at any point.
CEO publicly stated in marketing calls (with witnesses present) that the platform will generate $3.4M in first-year revenue.
What happened today (Friday):
- 10:12 AM: CEO emailed introducing a friend (Director of IT at another company, NOT a lawyer) for a meeting about the platform
- I declined the meeting in writing, offered async exchange and a public progress page link
- 3:17 PM: CEO replied that the friend has "critical points to make about the legal issues we need to address before you keep working," demanded a meeting be scheduled today for Monday, said "not up for debate"
- I asked for the legal concerns in writing first (since the friend is IT, not an attorney)
- 3:45 PM: CEO replied "Either schedule the meeting or I will accept your resignation"
- Before I could send my prepared response, my work email account was deleted by the company
- 5:21 PM: I emailed from personal email stating "I have not resigned. I will respond Monday."
- 5:33 PM: CEO sent a structured demand list (apparently AI- or attorney-drafted) requiring by Monday 10:30 AM: meeting with friend booked, written halt of all platform development, full inventory of platform infrastructure, transfer of all administrative credentials to CEO AND the outside friend, migration of all platform work off "personal hardware"
Status:
- Have not resigned (in writing)
- Have not complied with any demands
- All emails preserved in personal accounts
- Want a negotiated separation (severance + IP transfer), not unilateral resignation
- Actively seeking PA employment counsel this weekend
Questions:
- Does this read as constructive discharge under PA law?
- Given no signed IP assignment + work entirely on personal infrastructure + the documented gift laptop, what's a realistic IP ownership position?
- If I cannot retain counsel by Monday 10:30 AM, my plan is to send a brief reply stating I'm in the process of retaining counsel and refusing immediate compliance with the demand list. Is that the right play?
- Realistic separation package range to target (severance + IP transfer)?
Thanks in advance.