I got royally shafted at work

[CraigV]

I’ve worked for the same outsourced company for the past 11+ years. I have worked in various accounts in various capacities. Most recently (for the past 4 of those years) I have been the Team Lead at an account we have with an insurance company. The manager of the account started missing A LOT of work, and the rest of us were pressed into involving her supervisor and the HR department. Long story short, she ended up bowing to the pressure and quit - with no notice. She left no instructions as to the pieces of her job that were unique to the site, all at a time when our contract was up for renewal & the client was taking bids from other companies. So, in steps a manager from another site to take the reins. Meanwhile, it fell to me to take up the slack our MIA manager left, and I busted butt doing so. In fact, the whole team pulled together & worked hard, which helped to secure the renewal of the contract. It was a real nail-biter, but we pulled it off. Meanwhile, a young woman was brought in from this interim managers site to help out, and take care of some of the day-to-day nuts and bolts to do’s. Al the while, my co-worker kept saying “she’s going to be the outgoing managers replacement”. “No way” I said “she doesn’t have the experience, and besides, they have to post the open position, take all applicants & interview for the position - no way she’s going to get it”.

Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong. The interim manager was placed as the new manager, and the opening for the old position was posted but cleverly “hidden” from where people looking for it could find it.
And my reward for all my hard work and 11 years of dedication to the company? My hours were cut (with a consequent reduction in pay) and my title as team lead stripped from me and given to this new girl. Why? Well, because the new girl is the special “pet” friend of the new manager. Just like my co-workers suspected, no one else was ever considered for the position.

So now, I have gone from an absentee manager to one who works off site, a reduction in pay, a demotion, and now I have to answer to someone who is half my age, and has less than 5% of my experience

 

[mazersteven]

IMO you should delete this thread. Biatching never helps. In my experience (and believe me I have loads of experiencing biatching) you should sit down with your immediate supervisor, and in a calm politically correct way. Ask "what you can do to improve so next time you will be considered, or given the opportunity for advancement".

This will let them know your not happy.

Remember a person needs to posses these 3 traits to be successful.

Social - Politics - Intelligence

Political like what to say, and when to say it. Politics is the one trait I am the worst at. I speak my mind, and speak it at the wrong times, to the wrong people.

 

[j_garcia]

Politics means "playing the game" and that is extremely true, especially the higher you get in a company. Our company is FLAT. There are three levels: grunts (me and 90% of the company who do the work), managers (few) and the owners and that is ALL. No place to move up, but we are treated well and it is a good job for the most part.

I hated my other corporate jobs because you could tell who the "ladder climbers" were and all they did was play the game so they could get ahead, but they didn't really DO much of anything if you ask me.

The chick they gave the job to probably costs less than you and they can train her to be their new pet monkey. Or she's sleeping with someone.

I agree with Mazer, you should "properly" let your manager know what is on your mind.

 

[mazersteven]

And never voice your opinion to the people you work with. I don't care if you go out, and have beers with them. I don't care if you consider them your friends. I don't care if you've worked with them forever, and think they will never do that.

Word always seems to get back to the boss, and it is looked at negatively against you. Keep your opinions to yourself. Talk to your dog. Seriously.

Don't have a dog. Go to the local pet shop, and talk to the dogs there.

Look they are all ears.

 

[majorloser]

I feel your pain and know just what you're going through.
S.N.A.W. (somebody needs an arse whoopin')

But the guys above have pretty much said it. Unless you plan on leaving the company soon, don't make a public issue of it. Coworkers are back stabbing turds. If you let them they will put you in an even tougher situation. Looked at as a trouble maker. In today's economy, even a crappy job with a steady paycheck is a good job.

But if it'll make you feel better, just watch and picture youself doing this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg4ev0OMAHQ

 

[j_garcia]

Just go watch Office Space and you will feel better

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfCYzJAgwrw

 

[CraigV]

That’s just it - we have all talked it over already, and none of us like what’s happened. It’s a different sort of mix - there are no taboo topics, we talk about everything. And I’ve already made known my feelings to the new manager. I know being let go now would suck, but I’m too old to play games anymore. I also let her know that I intend to do my job as I always have - to the benefit of the client, because they deserve my best. But, I let her know I won’t be a “cheerleader” for the company that saw fit to shaft me.

Besides, the previous manager was absent more than she was there, and when the VP of operations flew in from Kansas to meet with her & our client contact, she was absent again, and didn’t even have the reports ready for the meeting. And nothing was done about it. I’ve seen some of the worst employees skate along for years because the company is too afraid of law suits to fire anyone.

 

[MidnightSensi]

That’s just it - we have all talked it over already, and none of us like what’s happened. It’s a different sort of mix - there are no taboo topics, we talk about everything. And I’ve already made known my feelings to the new manager. I know being let go now would suck, but I’m too old to play games anymore. I also let her know that I intend to do my job as I always have - to the benefit of the client, because they deserve my best. But, I let her know I won’t be a “cheerleader” for the company that saw fit to shaft me.

Besides, the previous manager was absent more than she was there, and when the VP of operations flew in from Kansas to meet with her & our client contact, she was absent again, and didn’t even have the reports ready for the meeting. And nothing was done about it. I’ve seen some of the worst employees skate along for years because the company is too afraid of law suits to fire anyone.

I agree with the co-worker comments. *****ing to them will get you in two situations: Known as the complainer, stuck in nuetral because the boses will be on the defensive with you all the time, or fired. To me, the former is worse, and that sounds like what they do based upon your last comment.

 

[Lordoftherings]

I’ve worked for the same outsourced company for the past 11+ years. I have worked in various accounts in various capacities. Most recently (for the past 4 of those years) I have been the Team Lead at an account we have with an insurance company. The manager of the account started missing A LOT of work, and the rest of us were pressed into involving her supervisor and the HR department. Long story short, she ended up bowing to the pressure and quit - with no notice. She left no instructions as to the pieces of her job that were unique to the site, all at a time when our contract was up for renewal & the client was taking bids from other companies. So, in steps a manager from another site to take the reins. Meanwhile, it fell to me to take up the slack our MIA manager left, and I busted butt doing so. In fact, the whole team pulled together & worked hard, which helped to secure the renewal of the contract. It was a real nail-biter, but we pulled it off. Meanwhile, a young woman was brought in from this interim managers site to help out, and take care of some of the day-to-day nuts and bolts to do’s. Al the while, my co-worker kept saying “she’s going to be the outgoing managers replacement”. “No way” I said “she doesn’t have the experience, and besides, they have to post the open position, take all applicants & interview for the position - no way she’s going to get it”.

Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong. The interim manager was placed as the new manager, and the opening for the old position was posted but cleverly “hidden” from where people looking for it could find it.
And my reward for all my hard work and 11 years of dedication to the company? My hours were cut (with a consequent reduction in pay) and my title as team lead stripped from me and given to this new girl. Why? Well, because the new girl is the special “pet” friend of the new manager. Just like my co-workers suspected, no one else was ever considered for the position.

So now, I have gone from an absentee manager to one who works off site, a reduction in pay, a demotion, and now I have to answer to someone who is half my age, and has less than 5% of my experience

Welcome to the new world Craig.
It's called: 'reality check assessment'.

* No, but seriously, that really sucks!

 

[FirstReflection]

You can legally buy guns in America, right?

Just saying...

 

[Rickster71]

Many great posts above!

Craig, if your company has more than fifty employees, it has to comply with Federal Affirmative Action rules.
If that's the case, they must replace one minority with another. Women are considered minorities.
I've learned that the hard way, when I spent 15 years at the largest telecommunications co. (at the time)

Ironic isn't it? On one hand we all know racism is wrong, while on the other hand government mandated racism seems to be alive and well.

 

[CraigV]

The way it works at work is, we com[plain about – whatever – vent, get it out of our system, make a joke about something, blow off the steam, feel better & get back to work. (The purpose of this section, only live.( Hell, just writing about it here has helped me feel better about the situation already.

 

[jamie2112]

Stuff Happens ............

 

[j_garcia]

Stuff Happens ............

It does, but that doesn't mean you have to LIKE stuff. I like when good stuff happens, not bad stuff

 

[MatthewB.]

Craig, that's F'ed up, so just for you, Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WINDtlPXmmE&feature=related

BTW while watching this video I find it ironic that even though this clip is 30 years old, how relevant it is today.

 

[Lordoftherings]

The way it works at work is, we com[plain about – whatever – vent, get it out of our system, make a joke about something, blow off the steam, feel better & get back to work. (The purpose of this section, only live.( Hell, just writing about it here has helped me feel better about the situation already.

This is a great way to say it Craig. I'm sure your time will come when justice will be done.