I was just let go out of the blue last Friday.

Anonymous

April 15,2022 at 12:53PM UTC

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I was just let go out of the blue last Friday. I'm trying to see if I have a case or not, I'm in NC an at will state. I began working with a company the end of August 2021 as the Sr. Director. During my time there, I had to learn the company on my own from a remote location. I was recognized by the President on an all hands call, the amount of new opportunities I had in my pipeline and had already closed for a new person at the first of the year.

In this business, it takes a while to ramp up. I came from working as a sales leader with another company and I allowed my new hires 12-18 months to ramp to their full quota. Here they expect it to occur at 6 months, which would be February 2022. They wanted me to create a new line of business , due to my background, I can ramp up faster.

In March/April - I close 3 deals one of which is a $65M deal - they told us they selected us. The agreement they have the clients fill out is quite complex, so I set up a time to walk them through it, Noon April 8th. My VP asked me when I was going to be meeting with them to compete the agreement - next thing I know I have a meeting invite to “catch up” on April 8th at 830am to let me go. He said he was letting me go because due to my experience, I did not meet expectations. I asked what expectations were not met? He said, at some point later on down the road we may be able to discuss that, but he has found now is not the time to discuss it. I found it to be rather timely, right before I was to walk my client through the contract signing… (To be clear, I had not been written up or told I was not meeting any expectations at any point, my quota is $1.5M).

We just finished our 2021 annual reviews in February which my Sr. VP had to do the final approval - it stated I will be a part of Senior leadership here in the future.

I then heard from one of the other new hires that was hired a month after me, 2 hours later. Knowing how hard it was for me to onboard with this company, I offered to mentor him (my management knew this) and help him out where I could. He said this email was sent out to the entire sales team - I was mortified - we work with other companies in the industry - it is a very “everyone knows everyone industry” and I know this email has been sent out - I have been working in it for 13 years. It basically states I had been let go due my lack of competence and performance.

I know NC is an “at will” state. I don’t know if I even have a case here. I am going to be 57 years old the end of this month. Yes, I am definitely one of the oldest on the team - it is a company with mostly younger people, it is extremely dysfunctional. I just feel that I was let go so they didn’t need to pay me - I have no idea where this came from…it was a surprise, no write ups or anything. I got 2 weeks pay.

Do I spend money I really don't have on an attorney? Is this even a viable case?

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AnonymousApril 15,2022 at 1:40PM UTC
You might not have a case for being fired in an at will state.
However you could have a potential slander or libel suit for spreading information about why you were let go. Have a conversation with an attorney or three to see what case you might have.
AnonymousApril 15,2022 at 1:40PM UTC
Would you have made a commission off the $65M deal?
AnonymousApril 15,2022 at 2:12PM UTC
Absolutely!!
Renee HolderApril 15,2022 at 1:43PM UTC
Good grief, what a horrible experience. I am so sorry you had to endure this. Did they not want to pay out the commission or bonus? How much do you have documented? That always helps. Regardless, I would contact an attorney to see IF there is a case, that (usually) does not cost anything. A good attorney can advise if it is worth you moving forward. Good luck.
AnonymousApril 15,2022 at 2:13PM UTC
Thank you.
Yes quite a surprise but onward and upward. I want to start a company. Let's do this!!?
AnonymousApril 15,2022 at 2:19PM UTC
I was let go from a job in NC once. Long story short. They had tried to fill my position using temps and none of them stayed. So they posted it as a FTE and hired me. Looking back there were plenty of signs. For instance, I asked when they wanted me to go to the mandatory drug screen. They told me not to worry about it. I was told I could make up my own title, etc. I was young. It didn't register.
I was put on a big project and worked with another company closely. It was an employee there that told me about the temp thing. The project took me 3 months and as soon as it was complete I was let go that Friday.
I asked why I was being let go so I could work on those items and was told they really didn't have a reason. And they don't need one as long as it is not for any of the protected items.
Maybe this was for the best. Do you really want to work for a company that does that?
JJApril 15,2022 at 3:11PM UTC
I do not know the legal aspects but please promise me that company will get a very frank and detailed one star review on Glassdoor.
AnonymousApril 15,2022 at 3:25PM UTC
You will need to consult with an attorney regarding the details of your termination.
But if you were to make bonus ir commission off your deals in your pipeline, then I would calculate the amount that they would have paid you for the percent of the deal was complete. Now I'm sure your contract or employee agreement states that you are not due a bonus unless you are employed at the time bonuses are issued but I've seen these payments made as part of a setting for similar situations.
AnonymousApril 15,2022 at 4:49PM UTC
You were let go because you accidentally sent an email to the whole company in which you offered to do something nice for someone? Or the person who received the email forwarded it?
"At will" isn't as cut-and-dried as it is portrayed, so it's worth consulting with an attorney. If you can make a case of age or gender discrimination, you may be able to get some severance at least.
I'm so sorry this happened to you. I hope you can move forward and work in a position where your talent and accomplishments are appreciated.
I was let go at 63 with a year's severance, and at 50 with 7 months severance. I've been applying for jobs, but I'm not even getting telephone interviews.
If you didn't get information about COBRA, you need to look into that. Your income is probably too high for you to qualify for ACA health insurance. If an attorney can help you with that, the fee will pay for itself.
AnonymousApril 15,2022 at 6:31PM UTC
No an email was sent out to the entire sales team stating that I was let go because of my competency and lack of performance even though I had just closed a $65 million deal hours before the client was supposed to sign the contract.
Claire McCabeApril 16,2022 at 12:59PM UTC
This sounds like a horrendous experience and a horrendous company. I would just move on, and focus on getting your confidence back. Something like this (I've been through it) can really, really knock you down.
AnonymousApril 16,2022 at 1:46PM UTC
If you were going to make a commission off that deal, then I would consult an attorney bc it could be about not wanting to pay you for it. The fact that you made such a deal would seem to contradict their assertion that you are incompetent, not to mention, as someone said before, the potential libel.
I'm sorry this happened to you!
Mary Mathiowetz-ShafferApril 16,2022 at 1:53PM UTC
At a minimum, I would consult with an attorney. It seems too coincidental that you were let go just prior to your official closing a of large deal.
Kristie WhiteApril 16,2022 at 3:15PM UTC
The "at will" position of NC does not negate illegal behavior and sending a public email regarding someone's dismissal is illegal. So first, I think you have illegal handling of the termination. HR has pounded into the heads of managers for years that badmouthing an employee when terminated can land you in a lawsuit. So you have a case for that. Second, it is also true that you potentially have a case of wrongful termination. It sounds like it depends on timing. It sounds like their probation period was six months and your quota was $1.5 mil. You stated you closed other deals, but perhaps did not meet your full quota with those deals and the $65 mill deal was going to push you over the quota? So here's the strategy - you have essentially already closed the deal and the VP/Pres can take over and close it for you - this will elevate the "perception" that this client is really important and if the six month probation has expired prior to signing of the deal, they are within their rights to terminate. However, your legal argument is you had already done the work to close it - so you have an argument that you were on the verge of meeting your quota - it was just a matter of paperwork. Even if the dates work in their favor, the judge is going to see the underhanded way they screwed you out of the job and the commission and kept the profit. Then add on the illegal broadcasting of your performance, YES - I think you have a strong case. They are banking that you will not fight - that you will be so crushed by their underhandedness that you will think you have no options and they will get away with it. Sue the bastards and make sure they pay for attorneys fees. In fact, you might be able to get an attorney to work on a contingency when they take a third of the proceeds. This is your reputation you are talking about and you shouldn't let them get away with it.
AnonymousApril 16,2022 at 9:14PM UTC
Talk to an attorney, this post should not be considered legal advice.
Without having all the facts, this person is making a lot of assumptions on your behalf, and I don't want you to get false hopes about the legality of what occurred.
AnonymousApril 16,2022 at 3:57PM UTC
We have a similar story.
I was illegally given an administrative leave and separated from my organization because of the expression of my disapproval on an issue between myself and my supervisor. The incident personally hurt my supervisor. She expressed that I offended her. Administrative leave is given in cases of alleged employee misconduct in which an investigation is required. The organization will then put the employee on administrative leave and the employee is relieved of the duties with pay. In this case, there was no investigation put in place on the excuse that I am a contingent 11 staff and the employer can decide to terminate my contract at will. To the best of my knowledge, I have been of good conduct since I assumed duty.
On getting home, I wrote a letter resigning my appointment with immediate effect and the human resources representative replied that the resignation is noted but I would not be paid two weeks' salary in place of notice which I consented to. I have since requested the documentation of the resignation for the record but got no response and I was never paid the two weeks salary. I am not interested in the payment but the acknowledgment of my resignation for the record. I wrote a reminder to the human resources but there was no response. I also wrote the Vice President and the President but there was no response. They did this to me because I am a contractual staff.
The painful part of it is the bad reviews they have been given about me which has deprived me of some other offers. I was to be appointed as a member of the Expert Review Team in my field but lost the opportunity because of a bad review. Similarly, I was not allowed to proceed with the hiring process in other places I have applied to since I left the organization. I am still in a state of shock to learn that I am being separated and put on administrative leave when I have only worked for 37 days in a new role. In an ideal situation, it will take up to 6 months to get ramped up to full speed in a new role. However, in my case, I started my lecture in my second week at work and started interacting with the students in my first week. I have a moment of clarity in about four weeks when suddenly all the pieces start to fit together in a way that makes more intuitive sense, and all of a sudden I am being separated from the organization due to personal vendetta.
I am, however, excited about the feedback I received from my students who appreciate my work and even my supervisor herself admitted to the HR representative that I made a meaningful and impactful connection with my students and I feel fulfilled because that is my mission.
I have requested my lawyer to review the situation. Do you think I have a good case to ask my lawyer to demand the formal letter of resignation acknowledgment and warn the organization to desist from giving me a bad review?
AnonymousApril 18,2022 at 12:44AM UTC
You'll need to get a response from your lawyer. I don't think anyone on a social platform is in a position to assess your situation.
froerden@yahoo.comApril 16,2022 at 4:03PM UTC
In an “everyone knows everyone “ industry like yours I can guarantee that everyone also knows what BS goes on at this company. You should wear your firing as a badge of honor for putting u with this for that long. No direction, no goals, no recites, no disciplinary action, no warnings. All this adds up to NO communication which is the worst part, since you are in sales industry!! Hold your head up and Move on, run away, don’t mentor anyone left behind. They should read the writing on the wall themselves.
AnonymousApril 16,2022 at 6:52PM UTC
any employment attorney will generally give you a free 30 minute consultation to see if you have a case
Lisa MarieApril 16,2022 at 8:21PM UTC
I feel this to my core. I can relate because I have also experienced somewhat similar situation.
Save your money, but speak with an employment attorney who offers the initial consultation for free.
If you choose to simply move on, keep your chin and spirits up - resting on your truth that you did nothing wrong.
I hope you find another job very quickly.
Karen GongawareApril 18,2022 at 5:57PM UTC
yes. spend the money on a labor lawyer and see what he/she says. You were blindsided by a greedy VP who wants to take credit for your work. Typical gaslighting and BS from greedy VP. Sending out a company email about you is a no no too. Did you keep that email along with who was cc ? Hope so. Otherwise it is he said she said. Good luck.