My Job Just turned on me

Question

I just started a new job and have been kicking butt at it! It’s been just two months and they said it’ll take a year to get used to it all. I have been putting in tons of overtime for the work, offered to take on more (and done it!) as well as be super accommodating to others that need help. Today, I got demoted. Not only did I get demoted but the girl that started in the same job and started at the same time got a promotion. I asked and advocated for myself saying that I love client interaction, which will be taken away as well as I am willing to take on so much more. They urged me that this has nothing to do with my performance they just “had to make a choice.” After leaving for the day my boss calls and says someone told them I quit without telling anyone. ??????!!!!!! I feel betrayed and undermined. What would you do in this situation?

Anonymous · Answer

That kind of situation happens at shitty companies.  My husband was once hired for a role and after a few weeks they revealed that he and another guy who started the same week were actually competing for the same role and at the end of 60 days one of them would be fired.  My husband did everything he could to be the winner but was let go on day 59.  It was devastating, it was during the recession and he has been out of work for a while (as had the other guy) so we didn’t hold the other guy responsible, but what kind of human thinks that’s OK?

Move on.  It sounds like you are in an entry level job which seem to be plentiful so I would throw my resume out ASAP and get the hell out.  In the meantime keep showing up, the boss may be trying to get rid of you without paying unemployment (that was the strategy where my husband was).

Annes Itsgirls · Answer

Just move on to another door. I know you can get better place than this one.

Ruzana Glaeser · Answer

Get out of there. Find a place where you are valued, and you are treated well.

Six Figure Salary Coach · Answer

This sounds like a pretty frustrating situation! Beyond this incident, how has the employment relationship being?

Do you like working there?

Outside of this experience, how is your manager and other leadership?

This is a really crappy situation! It is a tough one. But I'm not somebody who just “quits“ when the going gets tough to my advice has slightly different if you have enjoyed your employment so far!

I understand your boss had said they just had to 'make a choice'... But where did that come from? Were you aware that you were in contention for your own job? When they said they had to make a choice, why was one person promoted and another person demoted? Were you in equal spots and one person received a promotion? Why was your job demoted as a result of this decision?

Ask what the factors of the decision-making were? What did the other girl have that you didn't?

Why are you being penalized because of this decision?

It's one thing for someone to be promoted over you. That happens in business. I am really curious why you were demoted as a result of it. It seems very confusing to me that

You can look at this as a really shity experience or as a learning experience to grow and understand your company. Obviously all this advice is lost if the employment relationship was strained from the get-go. Then this is just another sign that it is not the right fit.

I am happy to talk through this if you have any additional questions!

good luck with whatever you decide

MichelleS · Answer

Move on. Chalk it up to experience and move on.

Annetta Moses · Answer

This sounds like a frustrating situation.

What evidence do you have that you were doing outstanding work? Did you have a performance discussion with your manager and you were told you were doing great work? Do you and you manager agree to 30-60-90 days goals and did you achieve all of the goals for 60 days. It is important any time you start a new job and especially when you start at a new company that you and you manager have agreed to what success looks like.

Do you like working at this company? If you, get a clear understanding of you performance from you manager and others.  If you have gaps in your performance, create a plan to address them.  If there are not gaps, get an objective list of what you need to do to 'get promoted'. Remember work overtime  may not be scene as a positive. It could be proceed as you struggling such that what others accomplish in 8 hours requires 10 or 12 hours by you.

If you choose to stay, work on building a network with other company employees.  You want to have supporters at the company.

Good luck.

Anonymous · Answer

Does this company have and HR department? Whether or not you decide to fight for your position, the fact that your manager told everyone you quit with no notice when that wasn’t the case could be detrimental to your reputation and it’s probably not legal either. It sounds like the manager was trying to make themselves look like the victim instead of the “bad guy”. I would make an appointment with the HR manager ASAP.

Julez · Answer

Yes... move out of there!

Eva Jannotta (she/her) · Answer

Ugh, that sucks! I'd tend to agree with the other comments - don't stay in an environment where there's no trust.

Also, on the front of putting in overtime and being accommodating. I struggle with this, because on one hand it feels like a great way to show my enthusiasm and flexibility and dedication. But on the other hand... people respect boundaries. And super successful people tend to have excellent boundaries. I've also read some bummer studies about how women tend to be taken advantage of more than men BECAUSE we're socialized to be accommodating and work extra hard without compensation.

Carrie Topolski · Answer

It sounds like a small company and the employees are controlling the culture behavior instead of the company.  It's beyond me why anyone would tell your boss that you quit unless they are intimidated by your work ethic.

My suggestion is to find another job.   Check out the company before you check in.  See if they have a review on here or sometimes googling reviews on a company you can sometimes read employees thoughts.  Usually they're the negative ones so you'll have to look into them more.

However, the childish games that are being played are not something you need to be dealing with.  I wish you the best of luck!  You will find the right place for you. :)

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