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March 27, 2007 | Comments: (0)
Won't get fooled again
Dear Bob ...
I've written you several times, most recently about bullying in the workplace. At the time your advise was to get out, which I didn't take by directly quitting. Instead I worked through the re-organization, getting a new boss, and keeping the joint running.
My new boss just fired me on Friday, approximately 6 months after the re-org. He gave no explanation about what wasn't working out between us, nor any attempt to provide guidance as to what his plans were that I was no longer fitting into. My disappointment in "my company" is that they let a 24 year employee go without the basic communication that makes it impossible to fire truly incompetent and difficult employees lower down.
- Set Free!
Dear Free ...
Sorry to hear the Who turned out to be right - that your new boss was same as the old boss.
If you were fired for cause, shame on your managers for not giving you the opportunity to improve your performance - impossible if you don't know in which direction "improvement" lies. And if, as seems likely, you were fired because of some intangible factor (I've known people who were fired for being the only competent manager in a gaggle of empty suits, for example), shame on your managers again, both for being empty suits and for failing to recognize that you were one of the reasons they were in a position to keep their jobs.
Despite the myths and the books, it isn't the case that being fired is always the best thing that can happen to everyone. It's just that "Being fired was a colossal pain in the neck" is a lousy title for a self-help book.
I think that from what you've told me, in this case being fired will probably turn out to be a blessing. I still contend that for anyone in a lousy employment situation, taking charge of the situation by leaving under your own steam is even better.
Good luck with your next adventure.
- Bob
Posted by Bob Lewis on March 27, 2007 05:24 AM
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24 year employees are often victim of ageism and salary cutting. It's a tough situation, and, speaking from expereince, you have to make a concious effort to take care of yourself, otherwise your health may suffer.
Nice double Whammy, eh?
You had handwriting on the wall and sadly failed to heed it. I'm sorry it happened, but it was not going to end well based on your prior news.
So get to work, start networking and keep plugging. It's not pleasant, but your path now is clear and you are free.
Keep the chin up, find some local networking groups and don't try to do this alone.
Posted by: Silence dogood at March 28, 2007 12:18 PMWhen were you going to vest in the pension plan . . . ?
Posted by: Charles at March 28, 2007 01:29 PMI trust you got a severance package too good to complain about? No? Then retain a lawyer and pursue age discrimination. One does not make 24 years without doing the job at least adequately. Ageism is hard to prove, but you don't really have to - just eliminate the alternative explanations. Pay special attention to how they replace you.
In response to DMF's comments. Not everybody who is sacked is a victim of discrimination. I am not saying that this is applicable to the poster but surviving for 24 years in a company is not a reasonable indicator of competence. It might just be that you've worked yourself into a niche from which it would be difficult to oust you; that you're good at playing politics; or that you have somehow managed to cast a low enough shadow not to attract any negative attention. It can also happen that a once useful employee falls to the side because the skills they have, which once served the company well become less relevant. This is often the case with long serving employees who often suffer from a lack of exposure to new skills - and yes, this is a failing of the company itself and a caring employer would at least attempt a re-skilling. Of course, in the end, these are all generalisations and I wish 'Set Free' the best of luck in finding new employment. Hopefully he will have received a decent remuneration package after such a long time.
Posted by: Simon Ablett at March 30, 2007 04:55 AM|
Three books. Three ways to change the world, your life, or at least Bob Lewis' bank account. Leading IT: The Toughest Job in the World distills the world of IT leadership into eight learnable skills and gives you concrete, practical techniques for each one of them. Bare Bones Project Management: What you can't not do makes project management manageable, even for first-time project managers with no formal training in the discipline. ManagementSpeak: What managers say/What they mean … well, it won't help your career, and won't make you a better manager. Mostly, it will make you chuckle, guffaw, and maybe even chortle. Make friends - it's the perfect gift for anyone who has ever suffered through one of those meetings. Order your copies today! |
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