I could see this coming a mile away, and I admit that I did little to help my own cause. The passive aggressive part of me just wouldn't let me.
Long story short, I've been locking horns with my boss since I joined his group about 6 months ago. The guy had a chance to be a team player about three months ago when my division reorganized and several other managers inquired about my services. My boss dug in his heels and said I wasn't available, despite the fact that workflow hasn't exactly been strong lately and he was in the process of hiring a new woman that he and others really thought would add a lot of punch to the team.
Anyhow, I think my resentment over his refusal to let me go to another team where my skills would be better utilized has been burning inside of me for a while. I've been working on another deal that was a huge milestone for the group and company and it closed last week, all to high praise from other managers and senior executives - except my boss.
Anyhow, a last minute glitch came up and he got red-in-the-face mad about it, and I pushed his buttons. He wasn't providing any constructive solutions on how to solve the problem, but rather kept griping that we couldn't close the deal without this document that even he acknowledged (previously) probably wasn't all that important. So, I said that he ought to stop Monday morning quarterbacking and give us some direction on whether we should stop the presses or keep moving towards the closing that was scheduled for 8 hours later on the other side of the world. The team worked everything out (in spite of my boss) and the deal closed, but both he and I were still seething over the episdoe.
So, I took last Thu. & Fri. off, mostly because I skipped my summer vacation to get this deal done and hadn't had a day off since June and also to try to cool off and figure out where I wanted to go from that point.
I came in on Monday and he said we needed to talk. I said "sure". He chewed me out for my comment about his lack of constructive solutions and leadership and I said my stance wouldn't change. We went to HR and I said I wasn't working for the guy and he said he didn't want me. Part of me figured that they'd reassign me to another group, given various openings in the company and my strong performance to date, but they chose to take his side (no surprise) and cited me for insubordination. I was escorted out the door by security this morning.
Before any of you get all worked up and say that I deserved what I got - I AGREE . My ex-boss was ticking me off so much that I was looking for a fight with him nearly every day over the last two weeks, and I never really thought much of him anyway after he showed his inability to be a team player a few months ago. I don't feel entitled to anything, and in many ways I feel relieved. I have the financial health to sustain being out of work for a long time, mostly because I have another gig that I do on the side that covers the bills. Plus my wife works 3 days a week, and now I'll be able to take care of our 1 year old at home and we can stop paying the babysitter.
What's my point, then? Nothing, other than this forum gives me a place to rant and say MY EX-BOSS IS A SPINELESS WEASEL! But hey, no hard feelings. I'm actually quite happy, and I expect my golf handicap to decrease quite a bit over what's left of the season.
I think you did the right thing. You sound like a smart person with enough skills to not have to put up with that crap.
I am in the lucky position that I've never had a boss in my life.
There is nothing worse than someone that goes into work every morning and spends all day kissing ... and agreeing with everything the boss says. Kudos to you for not putting up with it.
Well, good luck in looking for something new. You know, everything happens for a reason, and who knows how long you would have been stuck in that spot which you didn't like if it hadn't been for this job loss. That's the silver lining - find the job you really love!
__________________
The views expressed herein are mine, entirely mine, and only mine. Go get your own.
I was in a similar position as you about 5 years ago after a merger, but left instead of the way you did it. The weasel then lost his job about 8 months later.
Took a year off and it was the best thing I ever did for myself.
I am sure that insubordination was cited so they don't have to pay any severance. Unfortunately, having this in your file probably precludes you ever being rehired by this company in another group.
I am no expert about this, but do you have any desire to file a grievance or even go to court over this? I would be curious what the FT community has to say about this type of thing. I hate seeing a single weasel manager getting rid of a good employee for personal reasons, and being in the tech industry in Silicon Valley, I see it all the time.
Best of luck. I am sure you will get lot's of good advice here. And it is likely that they did you a favor.
fduvall
Quote:
Originally Posted by dchristiva
I could see this coming a mile away, and I admit that I did little to help my own cause. The passive aggressive part of me just wouldn't let me.
Long story short,
What's my point, then? Nothing, other than this forum gives me a place to rant and say MY EX-BOSS IS A SPINELESS WEASEL! But hey, no hard feelings. I'm actually quite happy, and I expect my golf handicap to decrease quite a bit over what's left of the season.
What kind of business is this? Is the industry small enough that you may run into this guy again?
My firm operates in a very small industry with only 3-4 real players. A couple of other firms operate on the fringe. My firm is, but many measures, the industry leader. I have no doubt that, if I stay in the business, I will run into my ex-boss again, but it would be with pleasure because I'd love to beat him on every deal on which we'd compete. And I know I could do it.
Most folks who work in this industry are fungible, and I'm quite confident that, if I want to stay in the field, I could land at a competitor quickly.
However, my skills apply to a much broader industry than just the subset in which my previous employer operates, so it's not necessarily the case that I'll run into the spineless weasel again. The kicker would come if I land at a firm where my ex-employer would have to provide ME with service. Then the tables would really be turned. And it's definitely not a scenario that's out of the question.
But, I'm not really thinking ahead that far. I don't plan to look for anything for the rest of 2005, and a lot of things could happen between now and when I kick off my job search. I'm seriously considering going in a completely different direction at this point in my life. My family is more important than ever, and I'm not sure that my current field will ever provide me with the flexibility that I'd really want. My side gig may just prove to be more than satisfactory, both from a financial and personal fulfillment standpoint.
Life is too short to spend it being angry 
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