The past fortnight has been a rollercoaster of emotions.
There are times when I feel completely neurotic and angsty about 'The Future' and then other times I'm delightfully distracted by the budding magnolia trees outside the window of newish flat, the movement across the swollen belly of the Blonde Best Friend whose first child is due in May and my endlessly entertaining nieces.
The work situation continues and I'm reminded of how badly my company handles such things based on my experience in late 2007 and early 2008 before I went to Australia. I'm not going to go into the details here but suffice to say I consulted an employer lawyer in the City last week.
Deciding to seek advice was a significant turning point for me and one that I'd previously dismissed perceiving it to be an aggressive route. This changed when a wonderful colleague pointed out that it was merely a means of helping me make a more informed decision and allowing myself to regain some modicum of control over my future rather than being swept along on a current of passivity.
It felt very empowering in a time of insecurity and helplessness. I practically bounced out of the law firm having received affirmation that my treatment was indeed grossly - I wasn't just being oversensitive nor was I going bonkers!
The high of Thursday was soon forgotten as the low of Friday arrived with more news from my employers which threw a spanner in the works, or so I thought.
I realise now that this is going to be a bumpy ride and I need to steel myself for the euphoric highs and the self-doubting, angst-ridden lows.
There are times when I feel completely neurotic and angsty about 'The Future' and then other times I'm delightfully distracted by the budding magnolia trees outside the window of newish flat, the movement across the swollen belly of the Blonde Best Friend whose first child is due in May and my endlessly entertaining nieces.
The work situation continues and I'm reminded of how badly my company handles such things based on my experience in late 2007 and early 2008 before I went to Australia. I'm not going to go into the details here but suffice to say I consulted an employer lawyer in the City last week.
Deciding to seek advice was a significant turning point for me and one that I'd previously dismissed perceiving it to be an aggressive route. This changed when a wonderful colleague pointed out that it was merely a means of helping me make a more informed decision and allowing myself to regain some modicum of control over my future rather than being swept along on a current of passivity.
It felt very empowering in a time of insecurity and helplessness. I practically bounced out of the law firm having received affirmation that my treatment was indeed grossly - I wasn't just being oversensitive nor was I going bonkers!
The high of Thursday was soon forgotten as the low of Friday arrived with more news from my employers which threw a spanner in the works, or so I thought.
I realise now that this is going to be a bumpy ride and I need to steel myself for the euphoric highs and the self-doubting, angst-ridden lows.
Thanks for all your lovely thoughts - it means alot.
7 comments:
And the thoughts continue to be with you. Good luck. What a hateful time.
You situation sounds similar to what mine was in February 2007, when my job as made redundant. At the time, I also seriously considered legal action, for reasons akin to your own. In the end I decided against it, so I just took the severance package money and went away.
What changed my mind? Not lack of tenacity, that's for sure. I was willing for a long fight and a bumpy ride. No, in the end my dad offered some very simple advice. He said: "What are you going to do when you've won?"
"What?" I said.
"Will you be happy still working there? Expect promotions? Get any respect from your managers?"
"Erm, no," I admitted.
I saw his point immediately. The next day they received my resignation. To this day I've been living off the severance package (plus some shares windfall I had earlier in my career there). I'm going to seriously look for work this year; I've been a lazy so-and-so up until now.
My advice to you would be to make sure you get the severance pay you deserve, but then move on. Fighting them any further is likely to be a hiding to nothing. This is what I was advised, and I believe I made the right decision.
Whatever you decide, good luck.
Thanks JJ.
CB - I totally hear you. My two driving forces are wanting to leave asap because my boss is being a bit of a twerp and it's all rather unpleasant and the severance package which comes to, wait for it, a whopping £1800 which would last around 5 mins.
I'm waiting to hear back from the lawyer as to next steps as I only want to go down this route if I feel as near as 100% that I can get a successful outcome otherwise I'm not sure I'm brave enough to open that can of worms.
The irony of my situation is that they want to keep me. My performance and reputation is excellent but I've had my fingers burned 3 times now and am thoroughly disillusioned with them as an employer. We'll see but it's good to hear others' experiences.
My thoughts are with you. It sounds such a horrendous and confusing time.
What a nasty situation but I'm glad you've taken the brave step of getting advice. I know it's a cliche but it's better to be pro-active than to just take whatever they're offering you (and that is measly!).
If they want to offload an excellent employee for no good reason, they deserve not to get off lightly.
Good luck CC, whatever you decide to do. x
So sorry you're going through that - sounds nightmarish. I've been made redundant from 2 jobs in the past and it's a horribly stressful time. Glad you feel in control of your future now though. Hang onto that feeling.
Debs, Lane and Cally - you're all absolutely right. I'm trying to hang in there!
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