Isn't it funny......

[Darcy03231]

I've worked for a small law firm for the last 13½ years. My boss is in his early 60's and started a new venture a couple of years ago (completely unrelated to the firm) that has really taken off and now takes up most of his time. My work load has gradually decreased as he takes more time off for his new venture and isn't recruiting new clients. Couple that with the economy and things here are really slow for everyone. On 1/22/2010 he announced at the end of the day that effective immediately everyone in the office was being cut to 4 days a week "nothing personal, its just business".

I decided the handwriting was on the wall, so to speak, and thought it time to look for other employment options as I'm still about 15-20 years from retirement age. On Monday 1/25 I sent in a resume for a job that was listed one town away. They called me on 1/26 and interviewed me on 1/27. On 1/28 I had a meeting with my boss and he knew I was looking for new employment. He refused to make any promises about going back to full time at any point in the future. I told him that with three kids in college I really needed full time work. On Friday, 1/29 I was offered the new position (talk about timing!) with the same salary I make now for a shorter work week (36 hours) and much better benefits (its a large firm). I accepted and gave my notice on Friday.

Now, the first day into my "notice" period, I'm being treated very coldly. I wonder what happened to "nothing personal, its just business".

 

[momof1princess]

I've worked for a small law firm for the last 13½ years. My boss is in his early 60's and started a new venture a couple of years ago (completely unrelated to the firm) that has really taken off and now takes up most of his time. My work load has gradually decreased as he takes more time off for his new venture and isn't recruiting new clients. Couple that with the economy and things here are really slow for everyone. On 1/22/2010 he announced at the end of the day that effective immediately everyone in the office was being cut to 4 days a week "nothing personal, its just business".

I decided the handwriting was on the wall, so to speak, and thought it time to look for other employment options as I'm still about 15-20 years from retirement age. On Monday 1/25 I sent in a resume for a job that was listed one town away. They called me on 1/26 and interviewed me on 1/27. On 1/28 I had a meeting with my boss and he knew I was looking for new employment. He refused to make any promises about going back to full time at any point in the future. I told him that with three kids in college I really needed full time work. On Friday, 1/29 I was offered the new position (talk about timing!) with the same salary I make now for a shorter work week (36 hours) and much better benefits (its a large firm). I accepted and gave my notice on Friday.

Now, the first day into my "notice" period, I'm being treated very coldly. I wonder what happened to "nothing personal, its just business".

same thing happened to me. i couldn't work a 2 week notice, due to a family emergency, i had to quit with only 1 day notice. my former boss barely spoke to me the entire day, even though he knew how critical the situation was and that it wasn't my choice. IMHO, you did the right thing. good luck on your new job!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

No matter. You've done what you needed to do, and it's really great that it worked out so well for you.

Just think, if you'd not had your hours cut you may not have taken the time to scout around and find a position that is better!

So, if you are being treated poorly, is there vacation time left? Can you go without pay for the time period between now and the first day of your new job?

No reason to be treated badly.

Take care now and congratulations on the new job!

 

[Darcy03231]

No matter. You've done what you needed to do, and it's really great that it worked out so well for you.

Just think, if you'd not had your hours cut you may not have taken the time to scout around and find a position that is better!

So, if you are being treated poorly, is there vacation time left? Can you go without pay for the time period between now and the first day of your new job?

No reason to be treated badly.

Take care now and congratulations on the new job!

I definitely wouldn't have looked if the hours hadn't been cut, so I'm glad they were in a way. I believe that everything happens for a reason and the fact that I found a great job in such a short time frame tells me it was time.

I have some accumulated vacation time, but I'd rather take it in pay than take the time off or leave without pay. Since I'm the only one in the firm that knows how to do my job the others would suffer if I didn't stick around and provide some training (my job is being split between the remaining staff). Its not their fault "its just business" when the boss makes a decision but its personal when I do. I've just decided to be the bigger person, serve out my two week notice and get on with my life.

 

[Disney Doll]

I was going to say it's "business" when he makes a decision but becomes
"personal" when you do. Yeah...

I had the boss from hell many years ago. She hated me. I didn't hate her to start but ended up not being able to stomach her because of the way she treated me. Anyhow I had to stay with the company for a period of time after she started and decided she hated me, in order to be vested in my retirement. I think it was a period of about 6 more months. Well, even though she tried to make those 6 months the most miserable, she was, somehow, SHOCKED whe I finally handed her my resignation. Couldn't understand what the problem was, I was a "core" member of the "team", what would the "team" do..blah...blah...blah....She felt "badly" because she had no idea I was unhappy. Finally, on my second to last day when she tried for the zillionth time to make me reconsider, said to her "Look, you don't like me & I don't like you. You have done everything in your power these last 6 months to make me miserable. You haven't succeeded in making me miserable, but now that I have what I needed from the company, I have no desire to work in this kind of environment. Perhaps you are starting to realize that it's going to look very bad for you to be the one who drove me away, but that's really going to be your problem to deal with, not mine. I have no need or desire to save you".

About a week later she was demoted from a Manager to "special projects" and a few weeks later, she had no job. Karma baby, karma!

Congratulations on the new job!

 

[Keli]

It is silly of your boss to take it personal when you are just moving on because they cannot offer you the hours you need to support your family.
You are handling it correctly though, putting in your two weeks and leaving on as good terms as they will allow you. That speaks well of your character.