My company no longer seems to value high performers, or our people in general.

Anonymous

March 10,2023 at 4:01PM UTC

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My company no longer seems to value high performers, or our people in general. Managing a team where pay is extremely unbalanced, or seeing a tenured rockstar, who is a huge asset to our company, get promoted at a lower salary than someone who was just brought in as a brand-new employee (and is failing at everything), is a major challenge. They are letting good people go instead of considering a (minimal and fair) increase in their pay. I don't advocate for everyone on my team, so when I do, it's with significant backup data/ documentation, and after careful thought. I've seen many people leave now, and it's hurting our teams, our customer accounts, our company as a whole. I've escalated and tried to voice my concerns to the VP, and nothing happens. They have 0 flexibility about anything. It's always a firm NO. I've been with the same company for 10 years, and I'm ready to walk out without even giving notice at this point, the same way they give no notice about taking people off of our teams to backfill another team (because other teams are losing people due to the same rigid mindsets and refusal to work with our employees.)

Any suggestions?

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AnonymousMarch 10,2023 at 5:16PM UTC
I think a reality check is in order.
There is absolutely no room in this particular leadership regime for change. That is a firm NO.
So the options here are accept the current culture and adherence to the status quo and put all extra energy to design a joyful and full personal life.
Or search for a new job where your company values and understanding equal your own.
AnonymousMarch 10,2023 at 5:16PM UTC
I am so sorry this is happening to you and I definitely feel / understand where you are. I can totally relate to your story.
I'd say, start applying elsewhere. I'm not sure what you financial circumstances are but make sure you have all your financial affairs in order in case you do decide to leave without something full-time lined up.
The job market is challenging but there are jobs out there that you can do to keep you afloat. I'd probably start putting out feelers to see if you can do some contract work that can hold you over until you land your next full-time job.
No job is worth your mental health, even in these chaotic times were living in!
Good luck to you and please choose yourself!
AnonymousMarch 10,2023 at 9:23PM UTC
Until these issues are tied to reduced profits, nothing will change.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMarch 12,2023 at 2:07AM UTC
I have a question.
Why are you still at a company this is so badly run and treats its employees so poorly?
My suggestion is you fire up a resume and get yourself to job searching. The longer you stay there, the harder it's going to be to find another job.
As an employee, the only thing you really have to invest is your time. Do yourself a favor and invest your time in a company where it will pay off for you in the long run.
Good luck!
AnonymousMarch 12,2023 at 2:27AM UTC
I suggest that you start looking elsewhere as well. I was in a similar situation a few years back with a tech company. Totally stonewalled, high performers leaving, and no one seeming to care about the talent loss. At that point in time, I thought I was in a bottleneck that if I could break through, there would be light at the end of the tunnel.
I was wrong.
About 3 months after I finally got fed up and left, there was a huge layoff. Then, survivors of the layoff started to leave. They really didn't care if talent left. They were planning to get rid of entire teams anyhow.
So, don't leave without a job. Getting laid off with severance is still better than leaving on your own to no job. But, I would consider if it is that bad start looking as much as you can and not put your heart in your current role.
MislynMarch 12,2023 at 4:29PM UTC
Find another job. Some bosses can suck the life and happiness out of you trust me. My ex employer caused me mental health issue. I took several mental health days and that’s how I requested the days off and he was to ignorant to even realize he was the one causing it. If you want to be happy again get a new job. I put in my notice and never once did he ask what would make me stay. I was over worked and underpaid. He lost his most valuable employee. I did everything for that company and it will never be the same without me. His loss!
AnonymousMarch 13,2023 at 12:52PM UTC
Thank you all for your helpful advice and comments! I guess I've had the mindset of "I can help be the change. Maybe the right person will finally hear us and take action." It's a waste of time, and I'm unable to continue motivating a team when they're unfairly compensated and when I don't have support from those above me.
I was told that the reason this particular employee is at $x salary compared to peers, is because they brought people in at higher pay after he started, based on where the market was,but have since decreased starting salaries. When I sent him the comp statement of the brand-new employee on my team, proving that his reasoning was inaccurate as that person was just hired at a higher salary, he told me to stop comparing pay, that's it's not productive, and his comp is final. Funny, because their excuse for everything they do is always based on comparisons.
Time for a new job, you all are right! It will be their loss!
AnonymousMarch 13,2023 at 1:41PM UTC
until leadership buys into the understanding that salary increases should meet a very minimum to at least cover inflation standards, which happen to be pretty high right now the disgruntled employees will keep exiting.
It’s a simple concept yet there’s a saying a fish stinks from the head down, meaning leader ship doesn’t want to reduce their profits to keep the company running with the valued employees who have proven themselves over and over again. The only recourse is for those employees to look elsewhere and move on!
greed for lack of a better word is what seems to run this country, not hard work and the sweat from your brow.
there may be one or two exceptional employers but add the millions of businesses out there it’s a very small percentage
AnonymousMarch 13,2023 at 6:48PM UTC
Very well said, and you're spot on - thank you!
AnonymousMarch 13,2023 at 5:57PM UTC
Good plan. My thought is you can't fix a problem you didn't create and have no control over.
AnonymousMarch 13,2023 at 12:57PM UTC
This is likely a case where management won't change until they start feeling the pain - when enough tenured people with subject matter expertise leave and they're left with a company of new hires who don't know how anything works, then they'll pay attention. Sometimes you need to let stuff break.
AnonymousMarch 13,2023 at 6:47PM UTC
Best advice, ever. Thank you!
IntentionGirl299847March 14,2023 at 8:46PM UTC
Sounds like they want to go bankrupt and close. Management is that short sighted, find another job (do your research) that you will feel valued at. Have to kiss a lot of toads to find the frog lol! That's what job hunting is now days.