Points taken. However, at a minimum, it is a reasonable professional courtesy to disclose the significance of the backup issue upon exit.
The company did not mistreat the employee, just that it undervalued the employee.
The company did not mistreat the employee, just that it undervalued the employee.
I think the situation is analogous to the company giving the employee a big unwarranted pay raise, and then the employee lazily not doing more work, then the company firing the employee, but then arguing that at a minimum, the company has a reasonable professional courtesy to give the employee hours for their vacation days, even though it isn't specified within the contract.