Is someone allowed to "defect" from forming a minyan to go to work?

Question

This occurred in my shul a few days ago:

A person came to shul and there were 8 people. He was asked to stay a few minutes as within 5 minutes, 2 more people would certainly come and there would be a minyan. The person was impatient and said that if they began later, he would miss his train to work, so he left. As a result, when the 2 people came, there were only 9 people in total, and this ruined things for the others that were already there. (An elderly person who got up early to say Kaddish was livid, as it was a huge effort for him to come to shul, and he did so specifically to say Kaddish.)

My question - halachically, is someone allowed to leave forming the minyan because he must get to work, and by doing so, cause others not to have a minyan at all?

In your answer, you may address not only the issue of forming miyan / tefillah betzibbur but, if relevant, the inconvenience caused to others (e.g. the elderly person as well as others who were there on time / early) to form the minyan. (E.g. perhaps a problem of harming someone's feelings; causing "loss" - that elderly person might have gone to another shul that had a minyan so that he could say Kaddish.) If it matters, I should mention that the person who left was a "regular" minyan attender, i.e., those that came on time expected him to appear and stay for the minyan.

Answer 1

There's a famous story of the Chazon Ish (will edit in the source), where he had nine men and the zman for Davening was about to end. A tenth man came by and said that he'd join the Minyan, but it would mean being late to work. The Chazon Ish told him to go to work, because you can't Daven on stolen time. There was no Minyan.

Similarly, in the case you discussed, if the man showed up late for work, he would have been stealing his employer's money, and thus would have been doing an Aveira. You can't ask someone to do an Aveira so that someone else can do a Mitzvah.

I hope that answers the question.

Answer 2

Bnei Bonim 2:4 says that he left after Chazoras Hashatz since he had to get his children off to school. He says the Tzibur is at fault as they started 30 minutes late.

It seems to me there is an issue of leaving - when there is exactly 10 already - and that breaks the Minyan - and even then for a serious loss it would be permitted. Leaving prior to ten people being there may get someone upset, but is Halachically sound.