Horrible disrespect

DisgruntledOne

Sorry for this long post but I have a horrible situation at work here and I need to vent and hopefully someone here has been in a similar situation and can offer advice on how to get through it.

Ive been with my company for nearly 20 years, have a perfect track record as far as all my reviews go and have always gotten along great with my co-workers.  Suddenly a new manager was brought in (about 8 months ago) and my world was flipped upside down.  For the first four months, things were fine but then a switch was flipped and then i started noticing I was being left out of some team meetings and my boss had been cutting back on communication with me drastically.   I knew something was up and i started looking for a new job.  A short time later, I was told I was being demoted (to a positon with less responsibility than when I first started!) and was getting a large paycut.   That was humiliating in itself and i had to accept it because I am divorced, living alone with no other source of income with house and car payments to make.   I stepped up my job search asap because i knew i needed to get out. 

 Unfortunately this has not been the worst of it though.  The part I am struggling with is the massive disrepect I feel i have been getting since.  The person who took over my job has now been assigned to basically schedule my tasks (previously we were all responsible for our own).  I get emails From this person pretty much daily (with her Cc-ing the boss and others in my department) about various things I need to do.  The other two on my team barely talk to me anymore but they will occasionally send out emails to the group about things I supposedly am doing incorrectly and need to be changed (all have been incorrect so far and I have been sending corrective emails to everyone as well as documenting this).  I have worked with the others on my team for 2, 5, and 10 years and had considered them friends all along.   I dont know how these people can turn on me seemingly overnight, nor can I believe that I suddenly forgot how to do my job.  I dont really care what people think about me but to think that all these people had an issue with me all these years and are just letting it out now is a major blow to the ego and self confidence.

 I know my resoultion is to get a new job however I have been looking for several months and not getting many interviews.  Most of the openings i see i am overqualified for so i suspect my resume is just getting tossed aside. I've had my resume looked at by several friends in the same field who say it looks impressive. I am seriously doubting my abilities when applying for new jobs and this whole ordeal has pretty much taken me out of the running for at least one job when I stumbled horribly on a few questions in an interview directly due to my situation and increased self doubt.  I am seriously considering just giving up my career and taking two menial full time jobs that require no previous experience or special skills.

I feel as every day is killing me a little more and more inside.  I dont speak with or make eye contact any of my team (we all sit in cubicles facing each other) so every minute of every day is excruciatingly awkward and uncomfotrable.  We usually do a little thing for peoples birthday however my birthday came and went without anything (I didnt want anything and I dont care about it not being recognized but I just find it rude to treat me differantly than everyone else).

That is the end of my rant, thanks for any input

mrsbyrne

I'm sorry. I don't have any advice. This is a shocking experience for you. Sometimes its just over. I'm ten years in my job. I was once before ten years in a job, and the place closed, but I realised after that much as I loved it, it was over anyway.
You get sick of the place and it gets sick of you. And something like this has to happen to wake you up. I'm sure your excellent at whatever it is you do.
I really hope you find something else soon.

Penny Tration

Tbh, I think you need to consult an employment law solicitor.

Banjoxed

This will not improve. Do your damnedest to find another job and GTFO.

In addition, get counselling to work on your self esteem. Bullies get a kick out of treading on egos to further their position but are good arse coverers.


You will not regret taking these actions.

bideye

Being disrespectful to a fellow employee is horrible as at the end of the day we are all only taking home a wage . Do not stoop to their level always keep your head up and remember you did nothing wrong. Try to keep plugging away at getting a new job. Try to take your mind off your work by getting involved in a club / fitness regime in the evenings to keep your confidence up. Kill them with kindness but keep your head up and remember you will get away from this situation and leave them to wallow in their misery

seamus

There's something you're not telling us. People don't just turn around and say you're being demoted without reason. Has this new manager brought you aside and given you warnings about your work, told you that things weren't up to scratch, etc?

My advice would generally be to go to your boss's boss, assuming you have worked with him for a significant amount of time, and discuss the problem with him.

If you think he's in on it, then make a formal complaint to HR.

I would also privately discuss it with an employment law solicitor. With 20 years' service, your good track record gives you a lot of weight to argue that this is constructive dismissal being applied.

DisgruntledOne

Thanks for the feedback. To answer some of the questions, i was never pulled aside in any way saying my performance was not up to par. I was hit with this out of the blue. I do know my manager has a terrible track record (i have a contact at his previous place of employment and they all hated him with a passion). Two other people in our department had quit without other jobs because they could not stand working him. I really do know its him and not me. I know he is a true bully however my understanding is that I wouldnt have a case if someone doesnt do anything such as discrimination based on race, religion, age, etc or sexual harassment or something along those lines. I have gone to hr several times (as have others) but I think think the company is sticking with him because he's getting results. I will keep up the job search and look into a law solicitor.

Thanks again!

seamus

You do not have to be discriminated against to have a case in Ireland. Constructive dismissal applies to anyone who has been basically forced to quit, though the kicker is that you can't actually do anything until you do quit.

An employment law solicitor will know best your next steps should be.

LLLINDAAA

A short time later, I was told I was being demoted (to a positon with less responsibility than when I first started!) and was getting a large paycut.

Why did you agree to this?

DisgruntledOne

LLLINDAAA wrote: »

A short time later, I was told I was being demoted (to a positon with less responsibility than when I first started!) and was getting a large paycut.

Why did you agree to this?

It was that or be let go.....unfortunately I have bills to pay and after seeing some of my friends go though long periods of unemployment recently, I just didnt want to take that risk.

JDxtra

You should have never agreed to a wage cut or demotion. You should speak to an employment law specialist as soon as you can.

If things are as you say they are, you have a good case against the company.

BorneTobyWilde

DO THIS !

mrsbyrne

I too would encourage you to persue your employer for constructive dismissal . It is possible to do this without legal advice, but in my experience the employer will show up at EAT with a barrister so you actually do need a solicitor. You will have to hunt around for one that knows what he/she is doing cos in my experience it is a specialised area and not something to be taken lightly.

BorneTobyWilde

Are you male or female OP ?

Mrs OBumble

I've been there. Not the 20 years bit. But the new boss, everything was fine at first then suddenly there was a switch and I was evil incarnate. I never did find out why (and I know that karma will get her back one day!)

Youwill find a new job, sooner or later, just like I did. Just keep focussed on that. As well as sending CVs, work your network of friends, ex-colleagues etc. Make you have a good story about why you're suddenly looking for a new job after 20 years in one company. (Even if people know who your new boss is can can guess what's going down, they need to hear a positive sounding line for the hiring process).

And as for the colleagues: I can partly understand that they would react according to the new pecking order, 'cos they have to keep working there. But really they sound spineless to have taken things to the extremes you describe. Be grateful that you've found out what they're really like.

LLLINDAAA

The person who took over my job

"your" job still exists, so what was the reason for you being demoted? if the company was down sizing and being restructured I could understand, but I think you are being treated very badly and as someone else suggested you should seek legal advice.

LegacyUser

I would get legal advice from an employment law solicitor.
I would start to keep a copy of all emails, what was said to you ect and any letters you recieved re the change in your employment.
The new boss thinks if he makes life as unhappy as possible for you that you will leave the company and they won't have to pay you redundancy.

My feeling is that your new boss has had words with the others, they don't like him but don't want to get on his wrong side as they need there jobs. At this stage I would ask one of your co workers out to lunch someday.
When your out with them keep the chat general as they may tell you something about the boss or may comment about how your been treated. You might get some information that could help you out at a later date. I would do this on different days with each of them as it may improve things between you all at work.

In regards to your cv I would do the following - do not put your age/date of birth on this.
Keep it to 2 pages. I would go to a good career guidence service and get there advice re your cv and how to proceed re your job hunt. Ask there advice re sending your cv to companies in the same business that you currently work in on spec. Perhaps your cv could arrive at the right time to fill a vacancy.
If you looking to work in a particular area get your cv into recruitment agencies dealing in this work area. Once you send in your cv I would ring them and make an appointment to see them. Be prepared to email and phone them until you get a job.
I found in the past the more jobs start to come up from this time of the year.

I would not leave your job to work in two dead end jobs. If you have 20 years plus work experience this should count for something. Just because your present boss is horrible don't let what they think of you take away all of the confidence you have built up job wise over the past 20 years plus of work.

OU812

You're being managed out.

As far as I'm aware they can't cut your salary even if they demote you.

They're making your life as difficult as possible to make you leave so they don't have to pay you off z

So here's what you do. First, spend the weekend researching work related stress.

Call in sick on Monday. You don't have to be specific. Tell them you had palpitations all weekend & are going to the doctor.

Get your doctor to sign you out for a couple of days on stress leave. Send in your sick note.

Do not accept any contact from them for the duration of your absence.

Go back to work, keep your head down and if things haven't improved, do it again, maybe go home from work early one day "feeling unwell".

This time stay off for a week and a half. Then go back to work and repeat.

If it continues, call a meeting with your HR manager, tell them that what's happened is having an adverse effect on your health and you're not happy with it. Remember HR is there to protect the company, not the employee. In the course of your conversation, mention NERA. HR don't like to hear that word. Say you were forced under fear of your job to accept a demotion and pay reduction which was illegal and it's having an adverse effect on your health.

If they don't come up with corrective measures, take legal action for constructive dismissal.

DisgruntledOne

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

Are you male or female OP ?

I am a male....does that make any difference?

DisgruntledOne

LLLINDAAA wrote: »

The person who took over my job

"your" job still exists, so what was the reason for you being demoted? if the company was down sizing and being restructured I could understand, but I think you are being treated very badly and as someone else suggested you should seek legal advice.

Sorry, I should have been more clear earlier. In the meeting about the demotion, I was told that he felt I needed to improve my skills as they weren't up to par without providing any details. Up until that point I had never been told anything of the sort (in fact just a few months earlier he had given me a nice raise and a new title...not necessarily a promotion but a more senior title). Unfortunately I should have forced the issue about the reasons but unfortunately during the meeting I was so blindsided I froze up, and since then I have so much anger I cant get myself to even look at him, much less talk to him. At this point I dont care because my job cannot be saved.

One more thing i should mention is that I did not realize this board is in Ireland. I am actually in the US so the laws probably vary but I still appreciate the input and I will explore them as you guys have provided a lot of good input.

LynnGrace

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I've been there. Not the 20 years bit. But the new boss, everything was fine at first then suddenly there was a switch and I was evil incarnate. I never did find out why (and I know that karma will get her back one day!)

Youwill find a new job, sooner or later, just like I did. Just keep focussed on that. As well as sending CVs, work your network of friends, ex-colleagues etc. Make you have a good story about why you're suddenly looking for a new job after 20 years in one company. (Even if people know who your new boss is can can guess what's going down, they need to hear a positive sounding line for the hiring process).

And as for the colleagues: I can partly understand that they would react according to the new pecking order, 'cos they have to keep working there. But really they sound spineless to have taken things to the extremes you describe. Be grateful that you've found out what they're really like.

Same here. I have been there. In my case, new boss wanted a space created to bring in one of his buddies. I was lucky enough to (eventually) get out. But not before damage was done to me. I second those who mentioned counselling, if possible, to help your self esteem. A situation such as the one you describe really eats away your confidence. I also agree re the colleagues. People are anxious to keep well in with the boss, are looking after number one, and think nothing of sacrificing friendships.
Don't rush to give up your career, although I know it is tempting just to walk away from it. I believe you would regret that if you did it.
I have no real advice to offer, that hadn't already been given here. Is there someone else, above him, to whom you could speak about the situation? Is there any other team you could move to? I would definitely recommend getting proper legal advice, and discussing the situation with a health professional. Look after yourself and best of luck.

JDxtra

Being in the US completely changes the situation.

Kensington

Constructive dismissal, or constructive discharge, is recognised and covered under USA law pretty well.

Only problem is it varies from state to state - but from the sounds of it you have a pretty clear open and shut case no matter where in the US you live.

Have a look at www.dol.gov

seamus

Yeah, being in the US makes a big difference. Not only are the employment laws completely different, but the corporate culture too.

Unfortunately I think you'll probably get limited assistance here, though as pointed out above, you probably have a case. But you'll need a lawyer who specialises in employment law, ASAP.

bbam

This sounds like it was a very stressful time for OP..

First thing I would say is get out ASAP..

Secondly, well I kinda have to agree a bit with another poster, it feels like there is something else in the background...
There is no way you were just demoted for no reason, and I've never seen a manager take this action without it being passed by HR and/or senior managment..

what reasoning was given for your demotion ??

the_syco

DisgruntledOne wrote: »

Suddenly a new manager was brought in (about 8 months ago) and my world was flipped upside down.

Where did the old manager goto?