You're not fired... yet.
May 12, 2012 4:32 AM Subscribe
Being scapegoated at work in an already toxic environment.
I've been back in the office a week after working remotely for a few months. I took a week off to move, during which my supervisor and CEO went to a meeting with our consulting company. Before I left, I discussed over the phone and via emails issues I was having with the consulting company; specifically, that the work they were giving me was incredibly time-consuming because most of the data was unusable.
Yesterday, I was brought into a meeting with the CEO and my supervisor, where I was told that I was a terrible employee, it was 'obvious to everyone' that I'm 'just coasting,' I don't have even 'basic work skills,' I'm too stupid for my job, and I shouldn't have been hired. From the discussion I gleamed my supervisor has been lying to the CEO about my work and her knowledge of it, my supervisor's supervisor has been blaming me for her errors, and the consulting company is claiming I haven't done any work for them (possibly to get out of getting in trouble?).
The problem I'm having is I'm not sure whether this is other people using me because I wasn't there to defend myself, or if it's because they've realised they can get an intern to do my job for free and they're laying the foundation for firing me. (They interviewed a potential intern Wednesday. She couldn't do the technical part of my job, but she could do the editorial things.)
My work has always been extremely toxic; I've never, not even on my first day, felt good about my job. I was really misled about it when I accepted it, and its description has changed about 4 times since I started 9 months ago. Another thing I was berated for was for not 'living' for this job -- and I was told that since I'm not interested in making it my life, I should be in the office for 2+ hours than what's in my contract, and my commute is already an hour.
I'm really only interested in keeping this job until I can get another one, but I don't want just any other job -- that's what got me into this mess to begin with.
My first question is whether or not it's worth it to fight this, given that my supervisor is my CEO's right hand and favourite, and that I want to leave? Or if it's better to make sure my CEO is CC'd on all my emails so no one can argue later that I didn't do my job? If I do fight this, how do I do it without coming off as defensive? How do I request a one-on-one with my CEO without my supervisor without her getting suspicious?
This is a small company of about 10 people, and we don't have an HR department. We're based in the UK.
I've been back in the office a week after working remotely for a few months. I took a week off to move, during which my supervisor and CEO went to a meeting with our consulting company. Before I left, I discussed over the phone and via emails issues I was having with the consulting company; specifically, that the work they were giving me was incredibly time-consuming because most of the data was unusable.
Yesterday, I was brought into a meeting with the CEO and my supervisor, where I was told that I was a terrible employee, it was 'obvious to everyone' that I'm 'just coasting,' I don't have even 'basic work skills,' I'm too stupid for my job, and I shouldn't have been hired. From the discussion I gleamed my supervisor has been lying to the CEO about my work and her knowledge of it, my supervisor's supervisor has been blaming me for her errors, and the consulting company is claiming I haven't done any work for them (possibly to get out of getting in trouble?).
The problem I'm having is I'm not sure whether this is other people using me because I wasn't there to defend myself, or if it's because they've realised they can get an intern to do my job for free and they're laying the foundation for firing me. (They interviewed a potential intern Wednesday. She couldn't do the technical part of my job, but she could do the editorial things.)
My work has always been extremely toxic; I've never, not even on my first day, felt good about my job. I was really misled about it when I accepted it, and its description has changed about 4 times since I started 9 months ago. Another thing I was berated for was for not 'living' for this job -- and I was told that since I'm not interested in making it my life, I should be in the office for 2+ hours than what's in my contract, and my commute is already an hour.
I'm really only interested in keeping this job until I can get another one, but I don't want just any other job -- that's what got me into this mess to begin with.
My first question is whether or not it's worth it to fight this, given that my supervisor is my CEO's right hand and favourite, and that I want to leave? Or if it's better to make sure my CEO is CC'd on all my emails so no one can argue later that I didn't do my job? If I do fight this, how do I do it without coming off as defensive? How do I request a one-on-one with my CEO without my supervisor without her getting suspicious?
This is a small company of about 10 people, and we don't have an HR department. We're based in the UK.
There are not stacks of jobs out there. Put all effort into looking for one but grin and bear this until you have to resign (which should be shortly before you are sacked (if that is what they are working towards) or you find something better. Since you might be there for a while then start keeping a diary of anything that might go toward constructive dismissal, plus ask for meetings with your bosses to lay down in writing what is expected of you so that you can then record yourself achieving it.
posted by biffa at 5:11 AM on May 12, 2012
posted by biffa at 5:11 AM on May 12, 2012
You can't claim constructive/unfair dismissal unless you worked there a year before being dismissed, so I wouldn't waste time collecting evidence. You can try fighting it through the company's internal procedures, but since they know you can't get the law onto them, I doubt they'll pay much attention.
I have seen this sort of thing in action and was once on the receiving end myself. I very much fear that, one way or another, you're not going to last the next three months.
Look for other work (I'd even contact temp agencies at this point), and also save up all the money you can in case things get unbearable.
I can tell you from experience that there are worse things than a spell of unemployment - a toxic job is one. This sucks right now, but you'll be fine. Good luck.
posted by Perodicticus potto at 5:58 AM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have seen this sort of thing in action and was once on the receiving end myself. I very much fear that, one way or another, you're not going to last the next three months.
Look for other work (I'd even contact temp agencies at this point), and also save up all the money you can in case things get unbearable.
I can tell you from experience that there are worse things than a spell of unemployment - a toxic job is one. This sucks right now, but you'll be fine. Good luck.
posted by Perodicticus potto at 5:58 AM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
I've always been of the firm opinion that life is too short to spend much of it working for arseholes. I can think of no reason why I would ever put up with being made a scapegoat for other people's incompetence. If I were in your present work circumstances and had just been through a meeting like the one you've described, I would just leave. I wouldn't even give notice or collect back pay.
Personally, I'd have wound up my attendance at that meeting by saying since they obviously didn't want me there then they wouldn't be seeing me again, and I'd have walked out, collected my personal belongings, and not come back. I would leave their petty little power game behind without a backward glance, exulting in the knowledge that such good work as I had managed to do for them would be missed and that its absence might be enough to collapse their whole ridiculous house of cards.
And the reason I'd get away with this is that for most of my working life I have followed the rule of behaving as if I were paid half my actual wage, and socking the rest away to cover times of being without an income. The fact that, like you, I live in a country whose national health care policy does not amount to de facto enforcement of indentured servitude helps a lot too.
If you have enough savings to get you through the next couple of months, just go.
posted by flabdablet at 6:28 AM on May 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
Personally, I'd have wound up my attendance at that meeting by saying since they obviously didn't want me there then they wouldn't be seeing me again, and I'd have walked out, collected my personal belongings, and not come back. I would leave their petty little power game behind without a backward glance, exulting in the knowledge that such good work as I had managed to do for them would be missed and that its absence might be enough to collapse their whole ridiculous house of cards.
And the reason I'd get away with this is that for most of my working life I have followed the rule of behaving as if I were paid half my actual wage, and socking the rest away to cover times of being without an income. The fact that, like you, I live in a country whose national health care policy does not amount to de facto enforcement of indentured servitude helps a lot too.
If you have enough savings to get you through the next couple of months, just go.
posted by flabdablet at 6:28 AM on May 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: FWIW I do have enough savings to last 6 months of unemployment, but I'd rather stay in this job until I can get another one. Otherwise I would go ahead and resign.
Thanks for the advice so far!
posted by toerinishuman at 6:37 AM on May 12, 2012
Thanks for the advice so far!
posted by toerinishuman at 6:37 AM on May 12, 2012
Thirding just going, if you are financially able to do so. I was in a situation much like you described and thought I could stick it out for just a few more months, until the end of the year, when we would have enough money saved up to cover me being unemployed for several months. I ended up leaving almost immediately after we had settled on that plan, after the proverbial straw incident, when I realized I literally could not stand one more minute in that office. That was almost two years ago and I'm so, so much happier now.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 6:40 AM on May 12, 2012
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 6:40 AM on May 12, 2012
Best answer: If you feel like you can continue to stand it (without the job having negative impacts on the rest of your life) then you might as well try to stick it out until the breaking point, because that will come, and you'll have that much more money set aside.
I've been in situations like this, and I've handled them differently, but both resulted in me leaving. I am so glad I did, because it allowed me to get to a better place in life.
Here's my recommendations:
1) State to them the CEO that you have been thinking about what was said at the meeting and it just doesn't make sense to you due to reasons X, Y, and Z. These should be your actual work performance.
2) Then tell the CEO that of course you are a team player and wish to do what you can to improve the workplace and the products of the company.
3) Ask the CEO if he can look over the information you have given him and give you feedback on your concerns.
This will either show you that the CEO gives a shit about your work performance, or that you need to DTMFA.
Also:
4) Document everything.
5) Copy the CEO on all e-mails to your Supervisor.
6) Collect a portfolio of your work.
7) Start looking for new jobs immediately.
Finally, I wonder at your reasons for wanting to stay at this job -- is it that you don't think you could find another job in your field? General concerns about finding a new job? You need the experience on your resume to advance in your career? Something else?
posted by DoubleLune at 6:50 AM on May 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
I've been in situations like this, and I've handled them differently, but both resulted in me leaving. I am so glad I did, because it allowed me to get to a better place in life.
Here's my recommendations:
1) State to them the CEO that you have been thinking about what was said at the meeting and it just doesn't make sense to you due to reasons X, Y, and Z. These should be your actual work performance.
2) Then tell the CEO that of course you are a team player and wish to do what you can to improve the workplace and the products of the company.
3) Ask the CEO if he can look over the information you have given him and give you feedback on your concerns.
This will either show you that the CEO gives a shit about your work performance, or that you need to DTMFA.
Also:
4) Document everything.
5) Copy the CEO on all e-mails to your Supervisor.
6) Collect a portfolio of your work.
7) Start looking for new jobs immediately.
Finally, I wonder at your reasons for wanting to stay at this job -- is it that you don't think you could find another job in your field? General concerns about finding a new job? You need the experience on your resume to advance in your career? Something else?
posted by DoubleLune at 6:50 AM on May 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
I've been in your position. There's nothing you can do to make this better, and having this job will make it harder to get another. If you have six months of savings, quit. Screw 'em.
posted by Etrigan at 7:07 AM on May 12, 2012
posted by Etrigan at 7:07 AM on May 12, 2012
Response by poster: @DoubleLune, my main concern is the economy's so bad that I'm not going to be able to get a new job quickly enough. I can easily get a new job doing this exact work (editorial assistant-type work) right now -- in fact, I've seen several adverts at other companies for this job -- but I'd rather go back to what I was doing before this (teaching/training in an academic setting), which is a much smaller field.
I worry that if I put in a ton of applications and don't have a job within 3 months of quitting, I'll do something desperate like take any job offered, even one that gives me a bad feeling. I took this job partially because it was described to me very differently than how it turned out, and partially because I had just come out of a postgraduate degree and was broke. At least if I'm employed and looking for work I can take my time without that desperate feeling.
posted by toerinishuman at 7:11 AM on May 12, 2012
I worry that if I put in a ton of applications and don't have a job within 3 months of quitting, I'll do something desperate like take any job offered, even one that gives me a bad feeling. I took this job partially because it was described to me very differently than how it turned out, and partially because I had just come out of a postgraduate degree and was broke. At least if I'm employed and looking for work I can take my time without that desperate feeling.
posted by toerinishuman at 7:11 AM on May 12, 2012
Take one of these other identical jobs in the hope that the environment will be less toxic, and you'll be able to engage in your real job hunt with less stress.
posted by Rat Spatula at 8:06 AM on May 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by Rat Spatula at 8:06 AM on May 12, 2012 [5 favorites]
Another option, which is probably more trouble than it's worth, given that you don't really want to stay in this field - become a sole proprietor and have these other outfits subcontract with you rather than hire you. It changes the dynamic in a really good way.
posted by Rat Spatula at 8:14 AM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Rat Spatula at 8:14 AM on May 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think Rat Spatula's first option sounds good.
Could you talk to a recruiter or anyone else who would know your industry to try to work out if finding another job within 3 months is realistic for you?
posted by EatMyHat at 9:41 AM on May 12, 2012
Could you talk to a recruiter or anyone else who would know your industry to try to work out if finding another job within 3 months is realistic for you?
posted by EatMyHat at 9:41 AM on May 12, 2012
I would get another job in editorial so that you remove yourself from your current workplace and give yourself a chance to properly look for the job you really want.
posted by mleigh at 9:54 AM on May 12, 2012
posted by mleigh at 9:54 AM on May 12, 2012
So basically you're choosing to stay in a workplace you know for sure is toxic in order to avoid the risk of ending up in some other workplace that might be toxic?
You might want to rethink that.
posted by flabdablet at 10:54 AM on May 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
You might want to rethink that.
posted by flabdablet at 10:54 AM on May 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
I don't think you want a one-on-one with the CEO because you'd be asking for the CEO to side with you against your supervisor and I don't have the impression that would happen.
If you really want to fight this (note: American perspective), first thing is that you have a paper trail - use it! You have all those emails detailing the work you did, the issues with the consulting company, the information you sent your supervisor about this work, and the data provided by the consulting company that hasn't been of sufficient quality for you to do your job effectively. I would write a polite email to the CEO and include the supervisor (and other management if they were present at this discussion) for the chance to discuss issues in the workplace, and then attach copies of the emails/documents/information about the issues you've been having with the consulting company's product and what you've done to fix it, and how you've communicated this. The approach would be that you are glad to have had the chance to discuss these issues and would like to clear up any misunderstanding about the work you've been producing despite the challenges caused by the (documented) issues with the consultants' data.
Basically smile and thank them for the input and show them the hard work you've done, and express how surprised you are that the consulting company has misrepresented your interactions, and is there a way in the future to better communicate issues with the consultants' work so that everything functions more efficiently all round?
I am kind of advocating politely offering them the consulting company as a scapegoat so everyone can save face, because there's no way the CEO is going to tell you you're right and the supervisors in-house are wrong. It seems that if you have documented proof that you did good work as expected then you need to show the CEO and supervisor that, and copy them both on correspondence.
posted by citron at 11:21 AM on May 12, 2012
If you really want to fight this (note: American perspective), first thing is that you have a paper trail - use it! You have all those emails detailing the work you did, the issues with the consulting company, the information you sent your supervisor about this work, and the data provided by the consulting company that hasn't been of sufficient quality for you to do your job effectively. I would write a polite email to the CEO and include the supervisor (and other management if they were present at this discussion) for the chance to discuss issues in the workplace, and then attach copies of the emails/documents/information about the issues you've been having with the consulting company's product and what you've done to fix it, and how you've communicated this. The approach would be that you are glad to have had the chance to discuss these issues and would like to clear up any misunderstanding about the work you've been producing despite the challenges caused by the (documented) issues with the consultants' data.
Basically smile and thank them for the input and show them the hard work you've done, and express how surprised you are that the consulting company has misrepresented your interactions, and is there a way in the future to better communicate issues with the consultants' work so that everything functions more efficiently all round?
I am kind of advocating politely offering them the consulting company as a scapegoat so everyone can save face, because there's no way the CEO is going to tell you you're right and the supervisors in-house are wrong. It seems that if you have documented proof that you did good work as expected then you need to show the CEO and supervisor that, and copy them both on correspondence.
posted by citron at 11:21 AM on May 12, 2012
All you need are a couple of temporary editorial gigs while you look for your desired full time position. If you have a few gigs, then you can write on your CV that you were consulting for the duration of your full time job search.
Quit ASAP and temp.
posted by crazycanuck at 11:44 AM on May 12, 2012
Quit ASAP and temp.
posted by crazycanuck at 11:44 AM on May 12, 2012
Best answer: I was in this scenario a few months back. Two of my senior colleague were telling the boss lies that I wasn't doing my job, and also coming to me with lies (one of them was supposed to be my mentor) about how I was supposed to do my job - which did end up with me not doing some parts of my job correctly.
About every month for three years I was hauled into the boss's office and she told me that she had reports of me not doing my job correctly, which I repudiated. I was almost fired at the end of my second year, and again a few months ago.
Two things saved me
1: my union - the first attempt at firing went against contract (but with only 10 people, I'm assuming you don't have this)
2: documentation
prior to the second firing I met with my boss and once again showed her all the documents. The e-mail from senior colleague 1 saying the file was due Friday that week, my email back showing the file attached, dated Thursday that week, objectively clashing with his claim that I'd never sent him the fire - and many, many more like that. One claim was that I was doing a bad job because "more people failed or dropped [my] training than anyone else's!" but I brought my boss the data from other people - including the two senior colleagues - that showed that yes, more people failed my training, but more people requested training from me, and percentage-wise I was equal in failure rates to the other two. I was told I was only preparing classes a week ahead of time, but I had emails showing they were constantly reassigning my classes a week before the start date.
At one point my boss actually apologized to me - she simply hadn't expected the two senior colleagues to blatantly lie to her like that.
Now, a few months later, my job is very relaxing and I'm focusing on what I *want* to do. One of the senior colleagues is looking for a transfer and the other is on the chopping block (even though both were favorites of the boss before).
Likewise, I recently had to line someone up to be fired, and once again I used documentation for this. He was not doing his work. He would make arguments like I had asked him for "x" but then at the last minute changed my mind and wanted "y" instead, and that's why he hadn't prepared x (...yes he hadn't make y, either), and it was my fault. However, I always make objective claims like that through e-mail so I said, "show me the e-mails". But he couldn't (because they didn't exist), and so he didn't have a case.
TL;DR - seeking a meeting with your CEO may not be a bad idea, however, you need to make sure you're *objectively* in the right. You can't just *know* you've been doing the work and that it's enough. Bring work from employees in comparable area so you can show the CEO your work is similar. Bring emails from the consulting company and say that this was an unreasonable amount of work - try to shoulder some of the blame though. Say, "I probably should have delegated some of this work, or charged them more, etc. but when I told [the supervisor] about it, she didn't offer the suggestions, so I didn't think they were viable." Don't just go in there and complain. Also, use their own arguments/failings against them - "I'm concerned you think I'm not doing my job correctly, but my job changes almost every two months - every time I begin to feel comfortable in an area, I'm switched out of it."
Also, right-hands usually become right-hands because no one complains about them, or they push away everyone who did (my senior colleagues had gotten two people before me to just leave).
I know I'm in the minority here, but I would say a private meeting can't hurt, and at the very least it will allow you to assess how your CEO thinks outside of the supervisor's influence.
posted by Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth at 12:38 PM on May 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
About every month for three years I was hauled into the boss's office and she told me that she had reports of me not doing my job correctly, which I repudiated. I was almost fired at the end of my second year, and again a few months ago.
Two things saved me
1: my union - the first attempt at firing went against contract (but with only 10 people, I'm assuming you don't have this)
2: documentation
prior to the second firing I met with my boss and once again showed her all the documents. The e-mail from senior colleague 1 saying the file was due Friday that week, my email back showing the file attached, dated Thursday that week, objectively clashing with his claim that I'd never sent him the fire - and many, many more like that. One claim was that I was doing a bad job because "more people failed or dropped [my] training than anyone else's!" but I brought my boss the data from other people - including the two senior colleagues - that showed that yes, more people failed my training, but more people requested training from me, and percentage-wise I was equal in failure rates to the other two. I was told I was only preparing classes a week ahead of time, but I had emails showing they were constantly reassigning my classes a week before the start date.
At one point my boss actually apologized to me - she simply hadn't expected the two senior colleagues to blatantly lie to her like that.
Now, a few months later, my job is very relaxing and I'm focusing on what I *want* to do. One of the senior colleagues is looking for a transfer and the other is on the chopping block (even though both were favorites of the boss before).
Likewise, I recently had to line someone up to be fired, and once again I used documentation for this. He was not doing his work. He would make arguments like I had asked him for "x" but then at the last minute changed my mind and wanted "y" instead, and that's why he hadn't prepared x (...yes he hadn't make y, either), and it was my fault. However, I always make objective claims like that through e-mail so I said, "show me the e-mails". But he couldn't (because they didn't exist), and so he didn't have a case.
TL;DR - seeking a meeting with your CEO may not be a bad idea, however, you need to make sure you're *objectively* in the right. You can't just *know* you've been doing the work and that it's enough. Bring work from employees in comparable area so you can show the CEO your work is similar. Bring emails from the consulting company and say that this was an unreasonable amount of work - try to shoulder some of the blame though. Say, "I probably should have delegated some of this work, or charged them more, etc. but when I told [the supervisor] about it, she didn't offer the suggestions, so I didn't think they were viable." Don't just go in there and complain. Also, use their own arguments/failings against them - "I'm concerned you think I'm not doing my job correctly, but my job changes almost every two months - every time I begin to feel comfortable in an area, I'm switched out of it."
Also, right-hands usually become right-hands because no one complains about them, or they push away everyone who did (my senior colleagues had gotten two people before me to just leave).
I know I'm in the minority here, but I would say a private meeting can't hurt, and at the very least it will allow you to assess how your CEO thinks outside of the supervisor's influence.
posted by Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth at 12:38 PM on May 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
Seconding suggestions to temp. It gives you the opportunity to try a place out before you agree to be a permanent employee. Sure, some of the folks at a job will be savvy enough to try to hide the huge red flags of a job, but you can spot lots of the major ones in a week or two.
It also gives you a chance to try out a few other industries/fields that you may not have considered before.
As for this job, stick it out as long as you absolutely have to, but don't fool yourself into thinking that this is weeks or months. I'd bet you ten dollars to a donut that you could put in your information with a temp agency, take the typing/etc tests (it sounds like you might even have them test you as a Power User) and get a call for jobs within the week.
my advice is to go through several agencies though. The two that I was working with previously never had anything reasonable for me. It was all $7.50 an hour and 2 hours away from me. Then I got connected to the agency who just started repping me. Love them....
posted by bilabial at 3:04 PM on May 12, 2012
It also gives you a chance to try out a few other industries/fields that you may not have considered before.
As for this job, stick it out as long as you absolutely have to, but don't fool yourself into thinking that this is weeks or months. I'd bet you ten dollars to a donut that you could put in your information with a temp agency, take the typing/etc tests (it sounds like you might even have them test you as a Power User) and get a call for jobs within the week.
my advice is to go through several agencies though. The two that I was working with previously never had anything reasonable for me. It was all $7.50 an hour and 2 hours away from me. Then I got connected to the agency who just started repping me. Love them....
posted by bilabial at 3:04 PM on May 12, 2012
If you leave the job on your own, are you eligible for unemployment pay? Read your contract; is there any severance pay required?
Document the work requested, the problems with data, etc. If they fire you, you may be able to say they set you up to fail, did not give you adequate supervision, communication, etc., and owe you unemployment and/or severance.
Lawyer up. That's how you find out what your rights are, how to interpret the rules, etc.
Better to take 3 months to job hunt with some income, than use all your savings. Good luck.
posted by theora55 at 5:31 AM on May 13, 2012
Document the work requested, the problems with data, etc. If they fire you, you may be able to say they set you up to fail, did not give you adequate supervision, communication, etc., and owe you unemployment and/or severance.
Lawyer up. That's how you find out what your rights are, how to interpret the rules, etc.
Better to take 3 months to job hunt with some income, than use all your savings. Good luck.
posted by theora55 at 5:31 AM on May 13, 2012
I just wanted to reiterate that the OP is in the UK and has been at her job for only nine months. Under British law she has no recourse against dismissal at this point, unless she can prove she has been discriminated against because of a protected characteristic (race, sex, disability, etc.). "Lawyering up" will not help. It's rough, but that's how it is.
posted by Perodicticus potto at 5:58 AM on May 13, 2012
posted by Perodicticus potto at 5:58 AM on May 13, 2012
I think the OP should ask an actual lawyer about the OP's particular situation rather than accepting from strangers on the Internet the assurance that there is no help to be had in that arena.
posted by Etrigan at 6:28 AM on May 13, 2012
posted by Etrigan at 6:28 AM on May 13, 2012
Would you find the British government a more acceptable source?
posted by Perodicticus potto at 6:54 AM on May 13, 2012
posted by Perodicticus potto at 6:54 AM on May 13, 2012
(Specific information about the requirement for one year's employment is here. And it's gone up to two years for those who started after 6 April this year.)
posted by Perodicticus potto at 7:02 AM on May 13, 2012
posted by Perodicticus potto at 7:02 AM on May 13, 2012
Mod note: Folks you need to answer the question without insulting other users. If you can not do so, you need to take that to MetaTalk or email. Thanks.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:30 AM on May 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:30 AM on May 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
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It totally sucks when employers do this, but it does have one small liberating effect - stick it out for as long as you can to keep the paycheck and flaunt the rules about looking for a new job at the same time. Sure, continue to perform your duties at the current workplace. Meet your deadlines as best you can (although I am sure nothing will be good enough for them), show up on time, don't waste company resources etc etc etc. However, at the same time shift your focus to moving on and when the time comes, give the perfunctory two week notice (which they will probably decline) and move on with as little fanfare as necessary.
Face it, as described, it does not sound like you are going to win this one so you may as well look to the future and make the best of it. Besides, you have always had reservations about the job (I would too) and this is clearly not a great place to work or people that are great to be around.
Finally, given what you have noted, I am sure that you will not be the last person who finds themselves in this situation with this company. Companies like this are staffed with idiots and more than likely, it is that you did a good job that is causing this issue as it is pointing up others' shortcomings. What they have as the sole advantage is that they are chummy with the boss and are exercising that one option.
posted by lampshade at 4:56 AM on May 12, 2012 [12 favorites]