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CarrieS


Marc Jacobs

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What the...?? (Longish vent) *UPDATE: Interesting twist...*
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Background: My bro works for the same company I do. The company has made some changes recently and decided to eliminate the IT position at this office (My bro's job). They did offer him an IT position at one of the other offices, but he turned it down. He hasn't been happy with upper management of the company for awhile, and this position wouldn't give him any growth or more responsibilities, which he wants.

Based on that, his last day at the current office was on Feb. 3. He decided (or was asked; I don't know) to have yesterday be his last day, but still get paid through the 3rd.

Now there had been an email sent out to the company saying that he was leaving, turned down an offer, and that the company wished him luck in future endeavors.

Today, one of the upper people in the company sends out an email telling us of his decision to leave yesterday (we already knew that, because one of the head IT people sent out an email yesterday), except it includes this sentence:

"It has been apparent over the past few weeks that this has been causing Jason additional stress, which has resulted in a negative attitude and morale - which is counterproductive for everyone involved."

I'm all for letting us know the truth and not hiding things, but that statement totally sounds like a stab at my brother, like calling him out on something to the ENTIRE company. If he was negative to anyone, it was only to this person who sent the email (don't know this for sure, just speculating), and it was because my bro was VERY unhappy with his position at this specific company. He wasn't negative at the office at all...

I just feel kind of defensive for my brother, because I feel that statement was not needed in a company-wide email.

I don't have the same issues with this company the way my brother does, but the email just made me stop and think.  I also haven't asked my brother about any details, since I figure that it is his business and if he wants to share, he will.  I don't want to be too nosy/pushy with him.


Other detail that I just found out:  My brother was TOLD to leave earlier than that Feb. 3 date, not asked, but told.  My dad used the example of TV ads that show someone being fired and then escorted out of the building.


Wow.  Not cool at all.


(Also, yes, my dad does work here too.  He's the office manager.  This office used to be a separate company, my dad being president.  We got bought last May by what's now my corporate office/company)





-- Edited by CarrieS at 16:26, 2006-01-19

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shopgirl82


Chanel

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RE: What the...?? (Longish vent)
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CarrieS wrote:




, but that statement totally sounds like a stab at my brother, like calling him out on something to the ENTIRE company. 


 He wasn't negative at the office at all...I just feel kind of defensive for my brother, because I feel that statement was not needed in a company-wide email.




i would be defensive too if i were you.  that's very unprofessional.  this is not something that should be addressed to the whole company, if upper management has an issue, they should talk to him independently. 


i wonder if they were trying to prove a point to the rest of the company, like negativety won't be put up with on the job or something like that.  it sounds like your brother got to them by not accepting their job offer, and so whomever sent the e-mail is trying to get the last laugh.    


oh well, just tell you brother that this fuels his fire even more for not accepting their offer.  clearly it's not a good place for HIM.  



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Elle


Hermes

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Whoooaaaaaa - regardless of the situation, that was completely uncalled for.  There are a couple of ladies in HR around here, so maybe one of them could tell you how legal that was or wasn't.


Whatever the case, if I was your brother I'd file for unemployment citing a hostile work environment as the reason and presenting that email as proof.  In some states (maybe all, I don't know), you can file for unemployment even if you willingly quit your job, if you 'quit under duress'.


What a sucky situation .



-- Edited by Elle at 12:58, 2006-01-19

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CarrieS


Marc Jacobs

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Whoops, I should've clarified something:  My brother will still get paid until Feb. 3, and then apparently 3 weeks after that, plus a bonus. 


I mentioned to my dad that I thought it was inappropriate for that statement to be included in the email and he agreed.  He said Jeff (one of the uppers who sent the email) is obviously angry, but that that should not have been included in the email.


 



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CarrieS


Marc Jacobs

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Just in case anyone was interested, here's the entire email that was sent out:




Everyone,





We all know Jason is an outstanding individual with a lot of talent that has contributed much to the success of both ProMap and Schneider.  With Jason's long family and emotional ties to ProMap, we felt that it was unfair to Jason to ask him to continue coming into the office.  It has been apparent over the past few weeks that this has been causing Jason additional stress, which has resulted in a negative attitude and morale - which is counterproductive for everyone involved.





Nothing else with Jason's exit has changed, and we will continue to support him and wish him well in his future endeavors.  We expect Jason will be available through phone via Mike Runkel through the original date of February 3.





Please begin using TrackIT immediately for all IT requests.


Please be very supportive of Jason as he transitions his career, and be understanding of the emotion involved.  If you have any questions, please let me know!





Thanks,

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Elle


Hermes

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CarrieS wrote:

Whoops, I should've clarified something:  My brother will still get paid until Feb. 3, and then apparently 3 weeks after that, plus a bonus.   
If he doesn't already have another job lined up (and still doesn't by the time his paychecks run out), he can still file.  If it were me, I'd do it just for the principle of it, and because I could .

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relrel


Marc Jacobs

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Elle wrote:

CarrieS wrote: Whoops, I should've clarified something:  My brother will still get paid until Feb. 3, and then apparently 3 weeks after that, plus a bonus.    If he doesn't already have another job lined up (and still doesn't by the time his paychecks run out), he can still file.  If it were me, I'd do it just for the principle of it, and because I could .
honestly, even though i get pissed off by unemployment scammers and such i would agree with elle. in some cases, i feel it's justified. carrie, your brother (it sounds like) basically got run out of the company. it is a hostile work enviroment, just like what elle said earlier. and well, it's the same thing i did when i left my rotten retail job. when i left in august i filed for unemployment (even though i left to go back to school for my real career) i felt that basically this company used me for six years and i deserved some money for it. im not going into the details cause well, they are six years worth of details, but it sucked and i wanted some recompense for it. my manager was my friend (after years of being with a devil of a manager, a new guy was hired finally) and decided to look the other way when he got the paper from the unemployment office. so...yeah, carrie, see if your brother can file for unemployment, if he doesn't already have another job lined up. i know in theory it's wrong or whatever to file for unemployment without being fired (or whatever) but still, sometimes i feel that its called for, especially if you get run out of your job.

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Elle


Hermes

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I totally agree that this is a 'special' situation, Relrel.  As long as there is no mirepresentation of information that would cause someone who shouldn't be eligible to receive approval, I don't have a problem with anyone applying for unemployment.  In my book, 'any unexpected unemployment' should be the standard for applying for benefits.  Considering that it sounds like the whole shakedown went along pretty quickly, IMO this would qualify.


That said, he might not get approved for benefits, but it's worth trying.  If he doesn't, no harm done.


I've had a sucky job too that resulted in me collecting unemployment.  In my case though, I couldn't afford to quit, so I waited them out .  The benefits were a pittance, but I did it anyway.  FWIW, that company paid tens of thousands of dollars in unemployment claims that year alone due to some really whacked hiring/firing/turnover shit.  Because of how things worked out, one of my friends there (an accountant) actually ended up making more on umemployment then she had while she was working !  Take it when you need it and while you can get it, I say .



-- Edited by Elle at 13:51, 2006-01-19

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CarrieS


Marc Jacobs

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Interesting.  I just got asked by my boss if I wanted to come out and visit for a few days (in Indy).  Technically, I need to, to check out apartments, visit my future home office, etc..  However, I also found out that that Jeff, the guy who sent out the email this morning, was the one who suggested I come out to Indy for a bit.


This relates to my potential Indy trip for this reason: The guy that mentioned to my boss about me coming out for a few days, is the same guy that sent out the email this morning about my brother.

My dad thinks he asked about me coming out so he could do "damage control", as in to maybe butter me or my dad up so that we don't end up being negative with the company for the situation with my brother.

The plot thickens....

Oh, and I haven't been out to the corporate office yet, and need to visit the city to do some apartment looking, etc, so that's the other minor reason I probably got asked to come out. But what my dad thinks is veeeery interesting...



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Deuce


Dooney & Bourke

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RE: What the...?? (Longish vent) *UPDATE: Interesting twist...*
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CarrieS, that is so strange. I dont really know how comfortable you would be with this, but I would send a very polite email to the guy who sent out that email and explain to him that you really like your job etc and dont feel the same way as your brother..., but you dont really feel that the last lines of that email were appropriate and would like to tell him so. That would make me feel a little better. Letting your boss know your feelings about your position in the company and at the same time defending your brotheres honor (to an extent). JMO Sorry for the wierdness.

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tri_sarah_tops


Marc Jacobs

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That email was very inappropriate and uncalled for. I can't believe the guy actually wrote that in a message addressed to everyone. WTF??

However, my husband is in IT and the same thing happened to him when he left his job in FL to move after we got married (minus the rude email). He put in his notice, and they said that they would pay him for the two weeks but they wanted him to leave that day. I just asked him about it, and he said that this practice was fairly common in IT, especially when the employee has extensive control and sysadmin rights. I guess it's because people with extensive administrative rights (especially in a small department/company) could do stuff that would ruin the entire network without anyone knowing about it. Of course this doesn't excuse that guy's rude email and unprofessionalism, but maybe it at least helps to know that it isn't uncommon for certain IT employees to be asked to leave right away.

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CarrieS


Marc Jacobs

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That's funny, because I also heard the same thing about IT positions.  Very weird....

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laken1


Hermes

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Yes, i agree it's common. I worked for banks & we always told people to leave. I was escorted out because i was an officer & got laid off- no notice or anything. But it was the same when people quit - they were also escorted out on the spot.

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Dizzy


Marc Jacobs

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Wow, this is such crap. So sorry you went through all the drama! That manager sounds like a grade-A-crazy. Oh, and if you want to defend your brother, it might be a good idea to say the "I feel comfortable here, but the email was inappropriate" in person, not in an email. (because he could be likely to forward to 100 people). Also, maybe there's a case to be made for letting things cool a bit before you say something? He sounds too impulsive/devious/unprofessional to subject yourself to while he's already mad and given to screwing with people.


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