Boss making my position untenable

kitkat9933

kitkat9933

kitkat9933

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I currently work as a Technical Director for a small-ish IT Software/Services company. I've been here since it started just shy of 5 years ago and grown with the company, being made a director and a shareholder over time. I've always loved the job, the people and got on very well with my boss, who has treated me amazingly and helped me to grow.

In the last week or so, one of the larger software vendors we work very close with and do a lot of work for, raised a discussion about me going to work for them. Of course as is human nature to be curious to what they would propose in terms of me coming to work for them, so I had a quick 15 minute call with one of their recruiters.

Since then, someone at the software vendor has leaked the info to my current boss, who hasn't taken the news very well at all and has made it clear she wants rid of me instantly and to find someone else to replace me, effectively making my position long term untenable. It's effectively instantly killed a 5 year professional and even what I could describe as a friendship.

The sad thing is, I was only interested in finding out more and most likely would have never accepted a position with the software vendor and due to my loyalty and respect for my current boss. Even if I did want to accept, I would have talked to my boss first before making a decision.

It kind of leaves me no choice but to potentially actually end up pursuing a job opportunity with the software vendor, which is a a great place to work with amazing people etc.

However, since the vendor hasn't offered me anything formally as I wasn't actively pursuing yet and my boss hasn't taken the news well, I'm worried about what my current boss could do to try get rid of me and where that could leave me.

Could my current boss get rid of me? Or try to force me out by stopping my commission/bonus which forms over 50% of my salary... I just wondering what's the worse that could happen and to try prepare for it.
 
This is something you should probably discuss with a solicitor specialising in employment law in more detail.

Do you not have a non-compete agreement already?

It is pretty slack of the vendor, I'd be very annoyed at the person who promoted this/handled it etc.. - were they a decision maker who could have made a hiring decision and could you have made just talked to them initially instead of the recruiter or were they someone lower down who has perhaps suggested you be hired and mentioned internally that you're interested?

Bonuses are often discretionary and one of the main reasons for them is retention ergo if you're apparently leaving then I wouldn't expect much if at all. Though you phrase it as "bonus/commission" - is there some element of it that is clearly defined/written down etc.. directly in return for hitting some targets? This again is perhaps something for the solicitor.

Lastly they can't really force you out - this is again why the solicitor is useful, find out about constructive dismissal. How exactly has she made clear she wants to get rid of you? Any audit trail of this sudden change in behaviour? E-mails etc..? Look out for aspects of your job/role changing etc..

Lastly - are your shares worth anything? Is there some sort of buyback clause? Probs something else to get advice on when you can give a solicitor the specifics etc..
 
I would have a conversation with this woman and tell her what you’ve told us. As mentioned above you can’t be gotten rid of, she’s just trying to apply pressure to make you walk as she’s scorned and thinking irrationally.
 
I would definitely sit down and have it out with her. Explain your passion for the company, explain that you were curious about the role purely from a personal development point of view to see if they are after any experience that can help your current company.

If she continues to be snotty, raise a formal grievance about the situation as it'll help with any unfair dismissal case if she does try it.

If you've been there 5 years, have shares in the business and you're also a director, you should feel comfortable speaking to her about this and explaining your position.

How did you find out about this getting back to your boss anyway? has she spoken to you directly or is this via a third party?
 
I'd be leaving one hell of a stinky review on Glassdoor at their inability to keep a confidence.

Your boss should really be taking an attempt to poach you in her stride, otherwise she only gets people working for her that nobody else wants. The advice already given is sound, but give her a few days to calm down before having a sit down. If it doesn't go well then you need to protect yourself and be ready to go regardless.
 
Ive tried to put a picture of Warwick Davis to cheer you up but no idea how.

Dont make any spur of the moment decisions, be as professional and polite as you usually are, and make all efforts to leave.

And under no circumstances leave out any key handover information, obfuscate any code, or set a 6 month time bomb in any code.
 
peterwalkley said:
I'd be leaving one hell of a stinky review on Glassdoor at their inability to keep a confidence..
Click to expand...

It's not worth it, it will have a negative effect if they put 2 and 2 together. Either on job offers or even just the vendors relationship to his business.

It's done, all he can do is sit down and have a grown up talk with his childish boss
 
You could have twisted the story and said you where finding out about the role to see what it was all about. Think smart. Doesn't mean you WOULD go work for them you where curious to see what the role entailed ;)

Unless your boss has evidence. E.g phone call conversation. :mad:
 
mrbell1984 said:
They could be making it up, just cos someone says it in a work place doesn’t mean it’s true.
Click to expand...

That makes very little sense, this is a large firm that his company works with and he did go for an interview. Someone has told his boss and she’s clearly got no reason to doubt it. Given they work with the company there are probably various people she trusts there and given the reaction the OP describes she clearly believes them... and as we know already they were telling the truth.

He wouldn’t have likely got away with lying about it especially as he’s got no idea who told her. I mean for all he knows it might have been the hiring manager being a numpty and seeking approval to talk to him.
 
Sorry not a full on in person interview but initial phone screen with a recruiter.

And yes you are right it doesn’t mean he is necessarily going to leave - but this woman does know he’s responded to the approach and had a chat and she’s got a bit emotional about it it seems.

I’m just saying she doesn’t necessarily need any evidence for that as someone has clearly told her, presumable she trusts the person’s info and she and the OP both know it is true, I don’t think him lying about it would help as he doesn’t know who told her/how much she knows or how etc...

If it’s a small company and she’s the main shareholder and this can’t easily be resolved/she’s out to get him then he might want to plan to leave and first take some advice from an employment solicitor - in particular he might need their help to both get a pay off and get some guarantee on what sort of reference he will be given etc...
 
Anytime I make contact with vendors or enquiries it not very long before I've a contact from a recruitment agency. They seem to trawl all social media for contacts in IT.

Seems like you have to have a conversation with your boss about why this is a big deal. Kind of in the dark otherwise. It's obvious seen as very disloyal in her eyes which is very naive mindset.
 
You need to speak to her in a professional context. Tell her you had no plans and have no plans to leave the company but were just curious as to what this company had to offer. It should be a compliment that she's leading a great team that other companies are interested in recruiting and say you'd like to leave it at that and continue in your role. However, there's also a very real chance that she will have you 'marked' and any promotions or good feedback will be forgotten, glossed over or even removed completely. Some managers can't get over personal and professional and to her you're now tainted.

I'd be looking another job as well TBH.
 
There’s no way I’d be moving to that software vendor after they quickly threw you under the bus with your current employer. I bet you the backstabbing is rife there despite how nice the people may seem.
 
Small update:

The person that snitched is someone that is close with the boss and trying to get in her pants. The software vendor isn’t happy and will be following up on the that due course.

had a phone chat with the boss (as she’s on holiday currently) and things have settled down, which is good.

I will be following up with the formal process with the vendor and then see what they have to offer so we all know where we stand, then all 3 parties can plan a handover if required in a professional manner.
 
this could turn out that you have no job at all. Your current postion gone and then the decision made at the other company that they don't need that job filled. Very odd situation to be in and I have seen this happen before.

The said person lost their job and the job at the other company was no longer required. This left the person without a job at all.
 
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