A while back, I guess 3 weeks ago, I had started a thread about asking for prayers as I had just been placed on probation at my current job for a period of 30 days. Several things had been outlined for me and the review stated that I could be subject to immediate termination if any of those offenses were committed again. I finished my big project late last week but there were some problems. The biggest being that my boss's boss was not happy with what I sent him over the weekend to review. I tried to explain to him that what he reviewed would not be in the final product but he's one of those guys that really doesn't listen. Immediately after our conversation, he called my boss and my boss closed the door. They talked for like 15 minutes and then my boss walked down the hall towards HR. The next day they had posted my job. I was able to get something more in line with what my boss's boss wanted and he was pleased. And as I mentioned, I got the thing done by the deadline. However, my job is still out there to be bid on. Yet, the lawyer for the company who witnessed my beatdown on the 19th of November told me yesterday that he had not heard anything about the company letting me go or plans of it. He assured me that he wasn't breaking any confidentiality to the company by saying that. I don't believe he would be putting me on but I do wonder if they (my boss and boss's boss) are keeping him in the dark because they know if they told him they are letting me go, he would tell me. I have also been given a couple of more projects that are due by the end of January. Also, at one time, I was told that they would eventually hire another person in the department so that job posting could be that, who knows? My fallback option, I found out today, may not happen until mid January. It was hinted to me though that if I lost my job, they would ramp up significantly and find a spot for me but they don't want to do that now unless I don't have a job or if they have an opening (which they don't have right now). So that stinks that I don't have that ace in the hole. Either next Friday or the following Monday, I am supposed to find out if I have passed my probation. Granted, no one has really praised me but that is the culture there - you only hear about things when you are in trouble. At one time, I felt there was little hope in keeping this job but now I am thinking that it might be 50-50. Don't get me wrong, as soon as the other place has an opening for me, I am taking it. I can't keep working under the conditions I am in and having to do all that driving. It is starting to take a toil on myself and my family. So, with everything I have revealed, what do you think? You think that I am gonna pass my probation and keep my job or not? Cliffnotes: I have been given conflicting signs about my job status: 1) They have posted my job and it is still posted 2) However, I was told that we needed another person in our department 3) I have been given more assignments with several not due until the end of January 4) The lawyer has told me that he has not heard anything about me being let go yet he might be my closest friend there so there is some debate in my mind if my boss and his boss are letting him in on what is going on
I wouldn't want to stay there after all the BS you've dealt with. I think I advocated quitting in the other thread. Doubly so, now. Also, let's kick your bosses ass.
I am afraid that you should be prepared to be let go. The signs are clear. But hopefully, it will turn out for the better for you.
What do you make of them giving me more work and that it not being due until the end of January? I find it hard to believe that they would give me more work if they aren't planning on keeping me within the next 2 weeks. Xero, My fallback option pretty much told me that if I was out of work and needed a job immediately, they would find something. But as of right now, they don't have anything available and they are not able to make an exception for someone who already has a job. But don't worry - I am leaving as soon as I am able to.
Also, question for those who would know: In the corporate world, if management was planning on terminating an employee or letting them go, wouldn't they have to let the in-house counsel/lawyer know about it?
I think it is so that you finish something they still want you to finish, and so that you will stay motivated to do so because you think you have a future with the company. Basically, they want to milk you until the last day they can terminate you within the probation period - that is my impression from what you described. Obviously, I could be wrong - but that's what it sounds like to me, and it wouldn't be the first time I have seen something like that.
You first need to check yourself at the door. Excuses aside, you need to figure out if you're a fit for their operation. Personally, I would be burning the midnight oil trying to land your next job. There is nothing favorable from what you have said. If you're on probation after 5 months, then I highly suspect they have already decided on the outcome. If they are not there coaching you and encouraging you to succeed while on probation, you're likely just a warm body to fill the position. I would be very weary of the new job posting. Even if they plan on bring in additional person, they could view it as an opportunity to hire two people from the same posting. The work load means nothing. If the lawyer knows anything, he certainly isn't going to risk his job and admit anything, no matter how good of a coworker he is. If the company lawyer is your closest friend there, that says quite a bit on how well you fit in the company.
You're toast. They are going to get what they can out of you on the new assignments until they bring in the new hire. You'll probably be asked to bring the new hire up to speed on what you have started before they let you go.
I would tell the fall back place that the hammer is hanging over your head so that they can ramp up and have a job for you as soon as possible so that you can walk out of the current job and tell them to suck it.
At every firm I've worked at, in-house counsel has never been involved in employee dismissals at all, unless the firm thought the employee might pursue litigation against the firm (regardless of whether the firm thought the employee had a case or not) for any reason. If not, it is purely an HR issue and nothing more.
Counsel is out of the loop. HR would know as they would have been documenting it. Also, if I'm not mistaken, you should be allowed to view your personell file. Although asking might draw attention. Them placing you on probation is troubling although from my own experiences it may not be perforamance related (missing too many days, breaking a rule in the employee handbook, failing a drug test, etc..). If it's not performance related and you know you handle your business, my goal would be to work myself into an invaluable position by hunkering down and kicking a$$ at work. If it's performance related and/or also personality BS, then look for another job as diligently as possible. It'll suck when and if you get let go. In the long run you'll look back at it as a blessing. Trust me, when you work under the added stress that you've described and finally get away from it you feel as if the ten ton gorilla has been lifted off your chest. When you do find something be the bigger guy. Give them 2 weeks, be professional and walk out with your head high. Your satisfaction will come weeks, possibly months later when things start working out for you. If you don't pass your probation and they ask you to leave or fire you, tell them your attorney advised you to ask to see your personel file..maybe even ask to make a copy. I'm not a lawyer but I'm pretty sure you are privy to it. Plus it'll scare the hell out of the HR person because they damn well have better documented everything correctly.
This really sounds like a terrible place to work. They posted your job while you still work there? WTF? I seriously don't know how to tell you to interpret their actions, because I've never heard of a company being this dickish. I'd get out of there and consider yourself lucky.
They are not going to pay somebody several grand for the month to do nothing, while their deadlines are falling behind and they are in the middle of interviews for a new hire. Even if they found somebody to interview on the same day the job was posted, it would be at least 2 weeks before the new persons starts. New hires usually have to give their former employers 2 weeks notice to stay in good standing for rehire. You add in a few weeks to sift through resumes, interview multiple candidates in HR, and interview the final candidates by the supervisor. A company is looking to bring in somebody in January at the earliest.
Manny, I work for a fortune 500 company and HR will be the one taking care of letting employees go. To be really honest with you, I've seen this stuff happen before and the best thing for you is to start looking around. They're giving you additional work because it wouldn't be smart to hire someone else right now to do these projects. Most companies are currently in a hiring freeze until budgets are put in for the new year. I know you're under a lot of stress but the best thing you could is start looking as soon as you can. All the signs are on the wall. I wanted to ask you a question but please don't take it the wrong way. How old are you? I've notice employers have little patiences for folks that are older.
I'm 37. I had the years of experience that the job required but I was upfront with them in the interview about having a 2 year gap. I had done estimating at my old job for 8 years and then went to HR for the last 2 years. I was told that there would be training and a learning curve and that really hasn't happened. At any rate, I just hate not being able to fully read this situation. I still lean more towards that they are getting rid of me than they are keeping me but I don't know (thus the thread). They have been known to post a job and then take the job req down later without filling it. A couple of people had recommended that I confront them with the job being posted but I am sure they would make an excuse about it (such as the department is expanding, etc.). Don't get me wrong - staying there is NOT what I want to do long-term. I want to go back to what is my fallback place (the place I had worked for over 10 years). The problem is what CheezyBoy eluded to, it's the end of the year, budgets are in place, and they don't have any openings. I have known their President my whole life and I have a very good relationship with their HR director. I talked to the HR director yesterday afternoon and he all but assured me that they would do whatever they could to get me back there and that I let him know immediately if "my situation" changes. I have not told him that I am on probation or even being possibly let go. I have however said enough to him that he can pretty much figure out what is going on down there. They just don't want to fit someone in when they don't have room in the budget, especially if that person is already employed. I just wanted to be able to have the fallback place as my ace in the hole when this probation period ends. But I have gotta make do with what I have. The HR director at my old place did say that he would talk to the controller about a possible position opening up and mention to her that I had strong interest in coming back to the company. I have a good relationship with her as well, so I do feel somewhat confident in getting a job back there - my only question is when will it be. Please pray for me that he is able to talk to this lady on Monday and that it will go favorably for me.
Are you searching through job databases for possible alternatives as well? Seems like you only look at your current and your former employer right now.
