Will I get fired?

[Lurve]

So I wrote an e-mail of complaint about my boss's favoritism and overly close relationship with my co-worker and peer to my boss's boss. I have asked him to possibly move me to another team. For transparency, I CC-ed my boss too.

 

Now I am really afraid what will happen. My boss's boss met with me separately and with my boss separately. He is meeting with us together in a few days.

 

He told me in our meeting that the e-mail was too emotional and contains lots of speculation. He also defended my boss. However, he acknowledged that I sound and look genuinely distressed and that he would like to help improve the situation for me. He wanted to meet with my boss separately first to decide how to go forward with ways that I will be happy with. He explicitly told me "There will be no consequences for you speaking up".

 

My boss was angry and told me "I wish you didn't go over my head".

 

I have now been frantically applying for other jobs. I am scared. Do you think I will be fired?

[Happy Lemming]

In my youth, I was in a similar situation. The department supervisor showed favoritism towards one of the other workers (They were friends outside of work). I opened my mouth and was laid off. I wasn't fired but they said there wasn't enough work in the department and they were eliminating one position. Of course it was mine, even though I had been there longer than some of the other workers and did similar work.

 

Lesson learned... I never opened my mouth again and just changed jobs when things became unfair.

[Lurve]

In my youth, I was in a similar situation. The department supervisor showed favoritism towards one of the other workers (They were friends outside of work). I opened my mouth and was laid off. I wasn't fired but they said there wasn't enough work in the department and they were eliminating one position. Of course it was mine, even though I had been there longer than some of the other workers and did similar work.

 

Lesson learned... I never opened my mouth again and just changed jobs when things became unfair.

 

 

How much time passed between when you complained and when you were laid off? I hope I have couple of months to find something else.

[Happy Lemming]

How much time passed between when you complained and when you were laid off?

 

It was fairly quickly, a month or so.

 

But since, I was officially "laid off"; I was able to collect unemployment insurance benefits. So I had some money coming in to pay rent, etc. I found something better a few months later.

[Lurve]

From what I am reading, it's against the law to be fired because of making a complaint. However, they can start building a case for poor performance or being laid off. Hopefully that will buy me some time.

 

 

I should have kept my mouth shut but I naively believed that world is fair and others will do the right thing

[basil67]

Sorry you're in this situation. However employment law depends on where you live. And your boss was right that you should have gone to him first. Never go over the bosses head without having spoken to them first.

 

Next time you feel like shooting off an angry email, bounce it off us first.

[schlumpy]

The likelihood of you being fired can be measured against how much the company will miss you if they let you go. Can you be easily replaced?

 

Don't beat yourself too badly over this. We all have lessons to learn in life.

[Art_Critic]

Sounds to me that you are going to take the blame and the big guy will move you.. it also wouldn't surprise me if down the road you get laid off or fired for cause once they build a case.

[elaine567]

The likelihood of you being fired can be measured against how much the company will miss you if they let you go. Can you be easily replaced?

 

Yes it will all be based on what is best for the company.

If they are looking for a way to lay off your boss then your input may be welcomed, but perhaps not at the expense of general morale. If your boss is a popular guy then getting rid of the "troublemaker" ie you may be better for the team and with a complaint against him, your boss may then feel he has to toe the line. So win win for the company.

 

Unless they can come up with a good reason to fire you asap, then you will probably have time to find something else.

 

Of course you are assuming the worst, the problem at your work may now be fixed and you can end up better off than had you not complained.

[d0nnivain]

Alas I do think you looking for a new job is in your best interest. You had every right to complain however there was a professional way to do so & what you did. E-mail was a bad choice. Being emotional was a bad choice. Speculating rather than having factual evidence was a bad choice.

 

Your employer now things you are whiney & unprofessional. That makes the employer wonder how reliable you are as a worker & whether you can get the job done. You now have a significant trust deficit to overcome.

 

As for not being allowed to fire somebody for complaining you are misinformed. Whistle blower laws protect people who point out illegal or unsafe activity by a company. They do not address personality conflicts or the types of complaints you raised. Thus your employer would be free to terminate you.

[Happy Lemming]

I naively believed that world is fair

 

The world, definitely is not "fair"... As far as employment its a "dog eat dog" world out there.

 

We all go through life learning lessons, its OK. You just learned a very valuable lesson about employment/bosses/companies and favoritism. Don't rock the boat. Even when you are leaving, do a pleasant exit interview, don't mention any issues with other workers/supervisors or complaints, as you will want a positive reference from that company or at least a letter of recommendation.

[Mr. Lucky]

For transparency, I CC-ed my boss too.

 

Why didn't you just send this email to your boss?

 

Mr. Lucky

[Lurve]

I have actually spoken to my boss about this many times. The boss was always snappy, either telling me that I am imaging things or that that's the way it is and I need to accept it. The only thing I haven't done is tell the boss "I'm now going to speak to your boss".

 

The reason I chose an email was so that I can have a record of complaint. I have a record of excellent performance and my position is not easy to replace but not impossible (everyone is replaceable). I have also not complained about anything else before. What I have on my side is that one person on our team already resigned few months back and mentioned this issue in his exit interview (among other reasons). Third person on our team is applying for other jobs primarily because of this issue. I didn't mention it because I don't want to throw this person under the bus.

 

I didn't mention it in the email but I told big boss that I have been trying to deal with this situation for a year but it has escalated to the point where it's impacting my health and my productivity. That I enjoy everything else about working at the company and this was my last effort to make things work out and stay at the company. Big boss said that he is glad that I came to him (but he still defended my boss )

 

I know big boss can ignore all this but I'm sure high turnover is not in company's best interest. Hopefully I'm at least helping to create better future for others even if I'm let go.

[preraph]

I've been in that position. They can't fire you for that, but they will just find another reason, any reason, to fire you. This didn't work, unfortunately, and they've decided you're the problem, so yes, just keep looking for another job.

 

I actually went to the owner of the company over something similar and he supported me and knew what I said was true, but it didn't stop the culprits I complained on from manufacturing a reason to fire me a few months later because they were still in their positions.

[Happy Lemming]

In another job, I had this general manager that didn't like my accounting assistant. She was OK, just a little slow and persnickety at times. She was an older worker, so the General Manger was very careful to document everything. HR had warned him about an age discrimination suit and wanted lots of documentation. Within a few months, he had built a book against her, warnings, write ups, etc. He did everything "by the book", so he could fire her.

 

If companies want you gone, they will find a way.

[stillafool]

More than likely your boss has already started building a case to fire you. He probably feels you're overly emotional and dangerous to his career at this point.

 

Will I Get Fired? the time to have asked this question was before you sent that email to your boss's boss.

[LuckyM]

I agree with most of the others...they can find any reason to fire or lay someone off...but this depends on the job and occupation, how long you have been there? Easy to be hired, easy to be fired. Do you have a union? If so, call them right away for backup.

 

Meanwhile, work extra hard without one mistake and be very nice to everyone--but not so nice it looks ingratiating or obsequious.

[basil67]

I have actually spoken to my boss about this many times. The boss was always snappy, either telling me that I am imaging things or that that's the way it is and I need to accept it. The only thing I haven't done is tell the boss "I'm now going to speak to your boss".

 

There comes a time at work when we need to either suck up the way our boss runs things or leave. That time is when you've expressed your concerns ONCE and nothing has changed. Making multiple complaints about the same issue not only gets you nowhere, but makes you look whiny.

[Mr. Lucky]

(but he still defended my boss

 

Honestly, you didn’t do a great job in your other thread describing how the “strange situation” damages you or your career prospects. So I’d guess management at all levels is confused about your concerns.

 

Lurve, this isn’t a dance team, doesn’t matter if you all like each other. More focus on your own performance and less obsession with the actions of others is a recipe for job success...

 

Mr. Lucky

[amaysngrace]

How did your boss show favoritism? Did it cost you money by them doing so?

[Lurve]

Thank you all for the replies. From what I gather, they may need a few months to build a case and that's enough for me to find another job. I was worried that I will get fired on Monday. We do have workers Union and I will contact them on Monday (thanks Mr Lucky).

 

I forgot to say that my boss's boss understood my concerns. He said "I'm going to filter out all the emotion out of this email and all the speculation. I can sum up your concerns in 3 sentences." He said that I think that my peer is stepping out of her position and assuming "second in charge" role in our team and the boss is enabling it. That I'm frustrated at constantly being told what to do by someone that is not my boss and is actually not "second in charge" by any metrics. He didn't seem to imply that I'm the problem or my boss is the problem. It's the peer that's the problem and that needs to be dealt with. Of course that's what he said, what he actually thinks is another story.

 

My boss is a very new manager with no priveious experience - and it shows. He thinks that managing is forming friendship cliques and doesn't seem to see the importance of treating team members fairly and impartially (despite personal preferences).

[Happy Lemming]

@Lurve

 

Can you "temp" in your field??

 

I do remember "temp-ing" from time to time, it brought the money in and paid the bills. It was a relief not to worry too much about the health of the company or the attitudes of my co-workers, as I already knew the job was temporary. I knew I'd be leaving for another temp assignment when that certain task was complete.

[Lurve]

Temping is difficult in my field. I have sent large number of job applications over the weekend so hopefully something comes through. I'm ready to resign for a much lower paid job if I can get it.

 

Someone asked me how did favoritism impact my career?

 

- I wasn't sent to ANY high visibility events, while my peer was sent to all of them

- I was always travelling economy class while my peer business

- I was left out of most big picture planning meetings by my boss (my peer was sent to ALL).

 

There wasn't even 80/20 split it was 100/0. These are the events where you land important projects for the company that lead to career progression. I was told that my peer was always asking to be included in those events (but so was I at a later stage). My boss somehow always "forgot". Even if my peer was pushy, it's up to the boss to put her in place and be fair.

 

We are of the same rank, I have always received excellent performance reviews and at my previous job won public speaking awards. I can't see a single reason for my boss's behaviour other than favoritism. It was really wearing me out to the point of reaching my limit of contacting my boss's boss.

[Lurve]

Alas I do think you looking for a new job is in your best interest. You had every right to complain however there was a professional way to do so & what you did. E-mail was a bad choice. Being emotional was a bad choice. Speculating rather than having factual evidence was a bad choice.

 

Your employer now things you are whiney & unprofessional. That makes the employer wonder how reliable you are as a worker & whether you can get the job done. You now have a significant trust deficit to overcome.

 

As for not being allowed to fire somebody for complaining you are misinformed. Whistle blower laws protect people who point out illegal or unsafe activity by a company. They do not address personality conflicts or the types of complaints you raised. Thus your employer would be free to terminate you.

 

 

I thought that the fact that I have been getting the job done consistently for 18 months, never missed a deadline and produced high quality work is enough proof that I can

[amaysngrace]

Maybe they’d rather have her represent them at these high visibility events even though you pushed for them at a later date? You say you’re equals but maybe they don’t see it that way.

 

I’m wondering how it has affected your salary by them flying you on coach as opposed to business class?

 

Also, if she’s more experienced at attending these events because she’s pushed to be there that just makes it more obvious that she’d be the one to send first.

 

I’m not really seeing favoritism as much as I’m seeing sound business decisions being made. Maybe you’re just taking it personally when it’s really just business?