Employee Told Off The Awful New Store Owner, And It's Hilariously Good

The OP worked for a large company that began selling off franchises because business was not going well. His place was sold to a man called Ken, but it took some time for the transition to be finalized. For six weeks, the OP worked with the Head Honcho guys from Corporate on making everything ready for the transition. But Ken kept pushing in:   

“He wanted us to change displays. order specific products, etc. HH guys had already told me to ignore his demands, so all of them were met with some variation of: No, Ken. I work for Chain, NOT for you, and this isn’t your store yet. Which sent Ken off in all his huffing glory, yelling that I wouldn’t be acting like that once HE ran the place.”

On last day that the store was still owned by the Company, the OP came in and help wrap up the day. Then he gave his key and the store now belonged to Ken:

"Once that was done, something close to the following happened.

HH: Okay, Ken, we’re done. It’s all yours now. (They start packing up to leave)

Me: Just making sure; Chain no longer owns this location… Ken is in charge now, yes?

HH confirms, so I step out from behind the counter. Of course, Ken starts yelling. (I think yelling was his default mode.)

Ken: WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?

Me: Home, what does it look like?

Ken: YOU GET BACK HERE AND GET YOUR BUTT BACK BEHIND THAT COUNTER WHERE IT BELONGS!

Me: (calmly) No. I don’t work for you.

Ken: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NO? I TOLD YOU THINGS WOULD BE DIFFERENT WHEN I TOOK OVER AND NOW YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT =I= TELL YOU TO DO!

Me: (with a HUGE grin on my face) You just don’t get it, do you? (Ken looks confused) You bought the store, you bought the inventory… but you did NOT buy the employees and you sure as hell didn’t buy me. So I’ll say it one last time, and try to get this through to whatever functional cells may be floating around in your empty head: I. DON’T. WORK. FOR. YOU. Never have, never will. And since Chain Store #1234 no longer exists, I don’t work there any more, either. Since I’m no longer needed here, (nod to HH guys) I’m leaving."

And Ken was completely lost when he grasped, he didn’t have anybody to work the register:

"Of course, I can’t help myself… as I’m pushing the door open, I turn around, give Ken my best customer service smile, and a cheery “Have a nice day!”

He says the shop was closed for a couple of days while Ken was looking for new employees, but he had a bad name already. When he finally opened the store, it closed soon after.

The comments are a blend of praise for the OP and remarks about how most companies do include terms in sale contracts that workers will remain at the firm after the sale…but they are in no way obliged to. It’s to shield them, which the OP didn’t wish for:

Treating the employees with respect is the key to good business, but unfortunately, some people still cannot understand that.