How can I benefit from warning company of possible issue in tender?
June 26, 2018 7:40 AM Subscribe
I am unhappy where I work – overlooked and unappreciated. But I have found out information that could be extremely important to the company's future business. Is it possible to use this as leverage to improve my situation?
My job, which used to be interesting and rewarding, has in the last couple of years become more restricting and unsatisfying. I haven't always responded well to setbacks, but I've still done a good job with what I've had to do. My pay has not increased in four years. I am quietly furious about this, every day, which makes it very hard to get motivated. All in all, my main focus is on finding a new job as soon as possible.
For the past year, the company has been intensely geared towards one particular goal. Imagine it is bidding for a huge government contract – it's that kind of thing. This contract is a huge deal. The company has to some extent gambled everything on this one thing (although there is a high chance of success providing we tick all boxes), and it's been an insanely stressful year.
The company's bid was submitted in April, and it will be accepted or rejected early this winter. Meanwhile, we're going through another period of high-intensity work as we revise and improve the core product that forms the basis of our bid. Making these changes is going to be nearly as much work as the first time round.
But here's the thing: I have been looking into the rules regarding the bidding process, and they explicity prohibit the company from making ANY changes to its product after the bid submission. If we make changes, we're disqualified.
It seems impossible to believe that no one at my company knows about this. It is stated quite clearly in the rules. But we're making a lot of changes nevertheless.
What I think might be happening is miscommunication between departments. The people who make the product don't have much knowledge of legal issues, and the legal people don't have much knowledge of how the product is made. That's just my guess.
Now, obviously, I should probably mention something to someone. But what, and to whom?
Being involved in this kind of discussion is absolutely not related to my job. There is zero expectation that I would have any knowledge whatsoever about these matters, and I would not be surprised if my mentioning this to the people involved was met with a response of, "You don't need to worry about this kind of thing – we've got it covered." In fact, to be honest it's no skin off my nose if the company is disqualified as long as I find a new job before then.
But still, I am pretty confident in my reading of the rules, and I would like to use alerting the appropriate people to make myself look good. What is the best way of achieving this?
My job, which used to be interesting and rewarding, has in the last couple of years become more restricting and unsatisfying. I haven't always responded well to setbacks, but I've still done a good job with what I've had to do. My pay has not increased in four years. I am quietly furious about this, every day, which makes it very hard to get motivated. All in all, my main focus is on finding a new job as soon as possible.
For the past year, the company has been intensely geared towards one particular goal. Imagine it is bidding for a huge government contract – it's that kind of thing. This contract is a huge deal. The company has to some extent gambled everything on this one thing (although there is a high chance of success providing we tick all boxes), and it's been an insanely stressful year.
The company's bid was submitted in April, and it will be accepted or rejected early this winter. Meanwhile, we're going through another period of high-intensity work as we revise and improve the core product that forms the basis of our bid. Making these changes is going to be nearly as much work as the first time round.
But here's the thing: I have been looking into the rules regarding the bidding process, and they explicity prohibit the company from making ANY changes to its product after the bid submission. If we make changes, we're disqualified.
It seems impossible to believe that no one at my company knows about this. It is stated quite clearly in the rules. But we're making a lot of changes nevertheless.
What I think might be happening is miscommunication between departments. The people who make the product don't have much knowledge of legal issues, and the legal people don't have much knowledge of how the product is made. That's just my guess.
Now, obviously, I should probably mention something to someone. But what, and to whom?
Being involved in this kind of discussion is absolutely not related to my job. There is zero expectation that I would have any knowledge whatsoever about these matters, and I would not be surprised if my mentioning this to the people involved was met with a response of, "You don't need to worry about this kind of thing – we've got it covered." In fact, to be honest it's no skin off my nose if the company is disqualified as long as I find a new job before then.
But still, I am pretty confident in my reading of the rules, and I would like to use alerting the appropriate people to make myself look good. What is the best way of achieving this?
Is it possible to use this as leverage to improve my situation?
Probably not. This kind of reads like you're considering ransoming your analysis of the contract terms for a raise. That is not a thing you should do, and it could burn you not only for this job, but for any job in the industry.
Now, obviously, I should probably mention something to someone. But what, and to whom?
Who decided to make the changes? Whoever that is, I would contact them and say "Hey, this isn't my area of expertise, but this clause of the bid instructions [quote] seems to say we can't make changes to the product, but it seems like we're making changes to the product. Thought I would give you a heads-up."
posted by craven_morhead at 8:10 AM on June 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
Probably not. This kind of reads like you're considering ransoming your analysis of the contract terms for a raise. That is not a thing you should do, and it could burn you not only for this job, but for any job in the industry.
Now, obviously, I should probably mention something to someone. But what, and to whom?
Who decided to make the changes? Whoever that is, I would contact them and say "Hey, this isn't my area of expertise, but this clause of the bid instructions [quote] seems to say we can't make changes to the product, but it seems like we're making changes to the product. Thought I would give you a heads-up."
posted by craven_morhead at 8:10 AM on June 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
Yeah, if they already treat you like crap, pointing our their mission-critical error/lapse in judgement isn't going to make them change their ways.
This is a great schadenfreude situation in the making ... these people ignore, underappreciate and underpay you, and now you have the chance to sit back and watch them screw themselves.
Ginger, get the popcorn!
posted by mccxxiii at 8:12 AM on June 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
This is a great schadenfreude situation in the making ... these people ignore, underappreciate and underpay you, and now you have the chance to sit back and watch them screw themselves.
Ginger, get the popcorn!
posted by mccxxiii at 8:12 AM on June 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
If you do alert someone, go as high up as you can just in case it does help you out. I've been burned multiple times by colleagues taking credit for my insight.
posted by FencingGal at 8:17 AM on June 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 8:17 AM on June 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
I'd take the high road and notify. If you say nothing, your situation does change. If you say something, you situation probably won't change. But you get to know you tried, and that at the end of the day you didn't just stand by and watch the world burn. Presumably, even if this means nothing to you either way, it means something to this company and they people they employ, some of whom you may actually like. I'd have a hard time not feeling guilty knowing my silence cost the company that employed me everything. If it's terrible enough to want the ship to sink, don't let it take your soul down with it.
posted by cjorgensen at 8:26 AM on June 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by cjorgensen at 8:26 AM on June 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
I'd take the high road and notify. [...] you get to know you tried, and that at the end of the day you didn't just stand by and watch the world burn.
Yeah, the world just doesn't get any better if people who know better refuse the high road for ... reasons. At least, that's generally my angle. I don't really know your reasons, anon, so please don't take this as judgment. But you asked ...
I would like to use alerting the appropriate people to make myself look good. What is the best way of achieving this?
it seems to me the best way to look good is to actually do good. That would mean at least trying to put your info in front of somebody capable of making the "right" call.
Who decided to make the changes? Whoever that is, I would contact them
Then at least you'll have tried. If the company's truly as messed up as you say, there's every possibility that said individual will pass on your info or otherwise do something dumb/underhanded with it, which could well lead to disaster anyway ... and that sounds to me like an even more delicious schadenfreude. And if they do make the right call, there will be at least one person in that organization who will have seen your value, and who knows how that all might play out in the longer run?
posted by philip-random at 8:41 AM on June 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Yeah, the world just doesn't get any better if people who know better refuse the high road for ... reasons. At least, that's generally my angle. I don't really know your reasons, anon, so please don't take this as judgment. But you asked ...
I would like to use alerting the appropriate people to make myself look good. What is the best way of achieving this?
it seems to me the best way to look good is to actually do good. That would mean at least trying to put your info in front of somebody capable of making the "right" call.
Who decided to make the changes? Whoever that is, I would contact them
Then at least you'll have tried. If the company's truly as messed up as you say, there's every possibility that said individual will pass on your info or otherwise do something dumb/underhanded with it, which could well lead to disaster anyway ... and that sounds to me like an even more delicious schadenfreude. And if they do make the right call, there will be at least one person in that organization who will have seen your value, and who knows how that all might play out in the longer run?
posted by philip-random at 8:41 AM on June 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Can't the company do both: still sell the old version unchanged, but also have a new version they sell to other customers, and possibly next year, after the contract has been won, the big customer?
If you rule out that possibility, I'd catch the boss of the highest level person who should know, catch them in the elevator, or walking in one morning, say "Hi, I'm Jenny from Accounting. You're up on the big push for the new version of our product, right? Well, that may well disqualify us from the bidding." Then hand them a sheet detailing your research. Let them sort it out. You may benefit; you may not, but this approach seems to offer you the best chance.
posted by at at 8:45 AM on June 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
If you rule out that possibility, I'd catch the boss of the highest level person who should know, catch them in the elevator, or walking in one morning, say "Hi, I'm Jenny from Accounting. You're up on the big push for the new version of our product, right? Well, that may well disqualify us from the bidding." Then hand them a sheet detailing your research. Let them sort it out. You may benefit; you may not, but this approach seems to offer you the best chance.
posted by at at 8:45 AM on June 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
I think there's a very good chance that while you may have read the rules correctly, they are enforced differently or your company has received permission to make changes. I would thus frame it more as "out of curiosity, how are we getting around this rule?" rather than "gotcha! I'm smarter than all of you, despite no prior knowledge of the situation."
posted by acidic at 11:27 AM on June 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by acidic at 11:27 AM on June 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
"Yeah, the world just doesn't get any better if people who know better refuse the high road for ... reasons. At least, that's generally my angle. I don't really know your reasons, anon, so please don't take this as judgment. But you asked ..."
The world doesn't get any better either if you bend over to help capitalists no matter what. OP wasn't specific, but it's quite likely their job and business are a net detriment overall and the best thing to happen would be for them to not be around, at least that's the case with most businesses or enterprises.
"it seems to me the best way to look good is to actually do good. That would mean at least trying to put your info in front of somebody capable of making the "right" call. "
Doing "good" is incredibly complicated, there's a lot more to consider than what would be most beneficial to your masters and as a general rule doing "good" for a business means doing more bad for others.
posted by GoblinHoney at 12:10 PM on June 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
The world doesn't get any better either if you bend over to help capitalists no matter what. OP wasn't specific, but it's quite likely their job and business are a net detriment overall and the best thing to happen would be for them to not be around, at least that's the case with most businesses or enterprises.
"it seems to me the best way to look good is to actually do good. That would mean at least trying to put your info in front of somebody capable of making the "right" call. "
Doing "good" is incredibly complicated, there's a lot more to consider than what would be most beneficial to your masters and as a general rule doing "good" for a business means doing more bad for others.
posted by GoblinHoney at 12:10 PM on June 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I find it difficult to believe that they're unaware of this stipulation; maybe they're hoping they'll get away with it, maybe they're hoping to wow them with version N+1 and secure additional funding or a longer-term contract. In any case, I don't really see an upside for you for informing them, even if they are unaware.
posted by Aleyn at 2:24 PM on June 26, 2018
posted by Aleyn at 2:24 PM on June 26, 2018
What acidic and Philip-random said.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 4:41 PM on June 26, 2018
posted by Lesser Shrew at 4:41 PM on June 26, 2018
I would say something, because if they do realize that changing their product will disqualify them, and so stop working on it, you've just saved yourself half a year of pointless hard work and stress
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 6:39 PM on June 26, 2018
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 6:39 PM on June 26, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
There's the nub of it. Why worry about "looking good" (by alerting the appropriate people) when they haven't given a damn about you so far? I promise you, this company won't give you a raise, or regard you in higher esteem because of it.
Keep looking for another, better job, and watch and laugh from afar this winter as Jerk Company screws itself.
posted by BostonTerrier at 8:05 AM on June 26, 2018 [5 favorites]