This is for all the men out there who look at their jobs as a sense of identity....as mine does.
LONG, FAIR WARNING!
Today, Hubbie was dragged in to "counseling" by the corporate hack who in essence said this is no reflection on you but rather tough economic times. No hard feelings, right? Want to add that this moron has no degree in counseling or any degree at all! Hubbie has a degree in Economics and has his MBA but naturally he should be forced to take "advice" from a marketing person. *******! Hubbie sat through 2 hours of bull****, while this idiot told him about all kinds of ways he can "improve" his life. Our only guess is that this "therapy" is designed to diffuse potential psychos from shooting up the place.
So my husband leaves his unasked for and unwanted "therapy session" and then meets with HR.
HR tells him what a fantastic person he is, what a great contribution he has been and then says that due to limited funds he will only get 2 weeks severance pay!!!!! Two months ago it was one months pay for every year you have been there. He has been with this company for 4 years and with the previous (it got absorbed) for 9 years. TWO WEEKS!!!!
Fast forward to tonight. He is on a "deployment call" and a new person joined. Hubbie introduced himself and said "Hi, I'm......, what's you name?" The person on the other end said "Wow, this is weird, I have been hired to take your position". My husband had no idea that his company 1. hired somebody else or 2. Would have the balls to put them on the same call. Hubbie was told that the ENTIRE department was going away.
So while on this call, he gets a text from his boss who just willingly terminated her employment with this company, as of a few hours ago. She texted him that the SVP of Development was given an "incentive" package a few months ago and if he could do more with less overhead, then do it. His "incentive" was that he would get 10% of the salaries of the people he laid off. So of course he laid off the highest paid. ****er.
My husband saw that text and it took every ounce of strength not to tell the people on the call to go screw themselves but he has to bide his time. But he will. In the meantime he looked like he wanted to toss furniture. So did I! Grrrrrrrrr. I hate them!!
After saying all that, how do you help a man through this? This is so cruel and total crap!
**Wanted to add that he left after the call was over to go for "a drive". No doubt to scream in the car. I HATE these ****ing people**
He has had ALOT of positive feedback and things are looking good for him. You know what pisses me off the most? He can run circles around these morons! You know what sucks even more, seeing his sad face. God, he is a TRILLION times smarter than these idiots but never believed it. How in the world do you not? MENSA member? Really?
I made chili tonight, which he loved but there was still a chill in the air, if you will. Grrrr. Like I said, I HATE these people.
Boy, that sucks.
All that you can do is be positive for him. Pump him up and be nice. Let him rant and rave, it's huge stress reliever.
I work for idiots, too. It's hard to keep my mouth shut a lot of the time.
How do you help him? I think you already are. It's obvious you're his rock, in love with the man and his biggest advocate. You keep doing that and the two of you are golden.
Most of the people in this world only care about themselves, they don't care how much pain other people are feeling as long as they are not the one who is suffering.
I like TAM because I see loving people here, but how many people are there on TAM?
I stay away from big companies because I know I can't deal with the ugly side of people. Even in a small school, there is back stabbing and a lot of ugly things.
It is difficult for us wives when we see our husbands are in pain, you are a very loving wife, I see it now. Hope your husband sees how much you love him and support him and in the future, he will always remember the great support you give him when he is down.
Life is full of ups and downs. When we are down, it is only a short term, it gives us time to get ready to climb up another peak. We will, believe me. Your husband will, trust him.
Oh, it get's better! They earlier this afternoon (courier) sent him his "non-compete" agreement that he signed, 13 years ago, with the former company that got absorbed and threatened that if he works in this city within a 50 mile radius he will be in violation.
His lawyer/hubbies best friend/ in a different state is working on this. It will NOT hold up.
Brennan,
Is he over 40? Have you cashed the severance check yet? If not, talk to an employment attorney. I am not much for suing people - and I believe companies "sadly" have a right to terminate staff "at will" but I also think that 2 weeks is incredibly unfair after 13 years of continuous employment.
If you "don't" take the severance, then you don't have to sign a release of claims. And that leaves the door open for some type negotiation. I am not a lawyer but I do have some experience with corporate HR stuff. Sometimes you can get a settlement without having to actually file a suit. Depends on the situation. Going from 1 month/year to 2 weeks for 13 years seems like an incredibly sharp drop. As for the prior HR person and their bonus plan - likely VERY bad PR for the company if that came out. A lawyer will know far better than I do.
I genuinely wish you both luck.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brennan
This is for all the men out there who look at their jobs as a sense of identity....as mine does.
LONG, FAIR WARNING!
Today, Hubbie was dragged in to "counseling" by the corporate hack who in essence said this is no reflection on you but rather tough economic times. No hard feelings, right? Want to add that this moron has no degree in counseling or any degree at all! Hubbie has a degree in Economics and has his MBA but naturally he should be forced to take "advice" from a marketing person. *******! Hubbie sat through 2 hours of bull****, while this idiot told him about all kinds of ways he can "improve" his life. Our only guess is that this "therapy" is designed to diffuse potential psychos from shooting up the place.
So my husband leaves his unasked for and unwanted "therapy session" and then meets with HR.
HR tells him what a fantastic person he is, what a great contribution he has been and then says that due to limited funds he will only get 2 weeks severance pay!!!!! Two months ago it was one months pay for every year you have been there. He has been with this company for 4 years and with the previous (it got absorbed) for 9 years. TWO WEEKS!!!!
Fast forward to tonight. He is on a "deployment call" and a new person joined. Hubbie introduced himself and said "Hi, I'm......, what's you name?" The person on the other end said "Wow, this is weird, I have been hired to take your position". My husband had no idea that his company 1. hired somebody else or 2. Would have the balls to put them on the same call. Hubbie was told that the ENTIRE department was going away.
So while on this call, he gets a text from his boss who just willingly terminated her employment with this company, as of a few hours ago. She texted him that the SVP of Development was given an "incentive" package a few months ago and if he could do more with less overhead, then do it. His "incentive" was that he would get 10% of the salaries of the people he laid off. So of course he laid off the highest paid. ****er.
My husband saw that text and it took every ounce of strength not to tell the people on the call to go screw themselves but he has to bide his time. But he will. In the meantime he looked like he wanted to toss furniture. So did I! Grrrrrrrrr. I hate them!!
After saying all that, how do you help a man through this? This is so cruel and total crap!
**Wanted to add that he left after the call was over to go for "a drive". No doubt to scream in the car. I HATE these ****ing people**
Seems awfully cut-throat!! This can't be a Fortune 500 or better company can it? I've really never heard of such a thing. It's usually the small companies 200 million market cap type stuff where "side conversations" and "side deals" rule the roost.
I've had nothing but a great experience with the 2 corporate jobs I've held. One a Fortune 50 company just a awesome experience and now a Fortune 500 company and to be honest they aren't nearly as generous, but still very awesome. You just don't feel quite as protected as you do in a larger corporation.
Best of luck!! If he is skilled as you say there are still are jobs for quailified people. 3 of my friends have taken new jobs in the last 6 months by choice all are what I would consider good at what they do.
As far as being identified by "your job" can't relate. I would retire tom. if I could. I work for $$$$ and that's it.
If I could make more money cleaning toilet bowls with a toothbrush I would be doing that. Whatever get's me to retirement the fastest, but I'm easy going and could do just about anything and have fun.....it's all in the attitude.
Brennan,
Is he over 40? Have you cashed the severance check yet? If not, talk to an employment attorney. I am not much for suing people - and I believe companies "sadly" have a right to terminate staff "at will" but I also think that 2 weeks is incredibly unfair after 13 years of continuous employment.
If you "don't" take the severance, then you don't have to sign a release of claims. And that leaves the door open for some type negotiation. I am not a lawyer but I do have some experience with corporate HR stuff. Sometimes you can get a settlement without having to actually file a suit. Depends on the situation. Going from 1 month/year to 2 weeks for 13 years seems like an incredibly sharp drop. As for the prior HR person and their bonus plan - likely VERY bad PR for the company if that came out. A lawyer will know far better than I do.
I genuinely wish you both luck.
Brennan,
I would echo this.
Do not accept the severance and sign nothing.
Contact the best employment attorney in town immediately and have him/her give them a call.
Make sure he lets them know that the position was not "eliminated" as someone else (cheaper) has already been hired.
They'll cough up some more money.
There is a yellow streak down their backs a mile wide.
Don't know how things work in Texas, but in MA, the scenario you described I believe, is illegal. If in fact they are claiming a reduction in force (lay off) but made a new hire to fill his position.
And it's illegal for just that reason. Any company could lay off all of their more experienced, older, and more expensive employees and replace them with new, lower cost workers at will. If he is being either terminated or laid off - a non-compete isn't worth the paper it's written on. They can't prevent someone from earning a living.
I agree with MEM and Conrad, no harm talking to an attorney, they are far more likely to at the very least cough up more severance.
Don't know how things work in Texas, but in MA, the scenario you described I believe, is illegal. If in fact they are claiming a reduction in force (lay off) but made a new hire to fill his position.
And it's illegal for just that reason. Any company could lay off all of their more experienced, older, and more expensive employees and replace them with new, lower cost workers at will. If he is being either terminated or laid off - a non-compete isn't worth the paper it's written on. They can't prevent someone from earning a living.
I agree with MEM and Conrad, no harm talking to an attorney, they are far more likely to at the very least cough up more severance.
Hey guys. Thanks for all the advice. To clarify, he hasn't received a severance check yet as his job isn't officially over until Dec. 31st. He will sign nothing when that happens. His non-compete agreement was signed when he started with the company 13 years ago and has language in it that implies it is contractual for 5 years. It will not hold up under any circumstances. Why they sent it over without looking at it is laughable at best.
No, this isn't a Fortune 500 company. It is large though. They have however been having layoffs for over two years. They have shut down entire departments and those that weren't laid off, absorbed the job responsibilities of those that were. If for whatever reason, the work load got too much, they would either outsource it or terminate a higher paid employee to hire 2 lesser paid ones. This is an at will employment state and he is not over 40 (yet) so that argument doesn't hold up.
What does hold up? Changing the rules to suit their game with regards to going from 1 months pay for every year of employment (which would be 13 months of his salary) to now saying sorry, you only get two weeks, we need to save money.
He spoke with his best friend/lawyer this morning. He is going to give us some names of employment lawyers out here. He also mentioned that CLEARLY it is not known to the company that any of the "laid off people" know that this incentive package exists. If the company knew that one of the minions knew what was going on, they would change their actions regarding severance in a heartbeat to avoid a public relations nightmare. My husband's (now former) boss resigned yesterday. As I mentioned, she texted him this information while he was on a work call. She is awesome and always had his back and was furious that they are letting him go. I think he is the only one who knows about this incentive deal of the "laid off people" and with knowledge, there is power. I think she knew that too.
Whatever attorney we hire will also know that. I wish it didn't end like this but he and I are prepared to nail them.
People get laid off all the time, it happens. Changing the rules though, big difference.
Update and a true rant... 
