Back Surgery, Recovery, Unemployed first day back...

[911SauCy]

Just landed back at the home stead, in a strangely positive mood considering the circumstances.

July 12th I had back surgery, L5 laminectomy and disc decompression. I've been working toward recovery since and today was my first day back at work. I was excited to go back...not to be presented with termination paperwork upon walking through the door.

There's a lot of moving parts to the whole of this story and I don't want to focus on what a truly bad person the guy I worked for is, so no need for drawn out detail.

To date, I've always made risk-averse employment decisions, avoiding being in this situation. Strangely, I'd never had as much life responsibility as I do now but I'm feeling okay with this? I also never believed I would be feeling so positive in such a circumstance. It's a free feeling, a weight lifted with only opportunity ahead.

Is this normal?

I plan to do some serious soul searching to ensure my next role is absolutely what I want, without compromise.

I'm sure there is a wealth of like experiences in the room, feel free to share your stories and outcomes. I'm interested as I start my journey.

S

[Oh Haha]

that bites. but maybe not as bad as it seems right now.

The company I was at for 18 years decided to sell to a competitor in 2009. I was hired by them but had to start at the bottom. I absolutely hated every single day and everything and everyone around me. Promises were made to me that I would be in mgt. but "we have to appease the hourly workers for now". 3 months later and I was still not promoted. The Friday before Memorial day they laid me off. I was scared as crap but happy as an f-in jaybird! Like you, I felt a great weight was lifted off of my shoulders. I'm sure my situation isn't the same as yours but I hope you see it as an opportunity to rise. You WILL come out the other side, it just might be a long road there. Take care and I'll see you in the "Stijn" thread.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

Just landed back at the home stead, in a strangely positive mood ....

I'm sure there is a wealth of like experiences in the room, feel free to share your stories and outcomes. I'm interested as I start my journey.

S

First thing you do is build a fence, and forget about strapping on big azz blowers and idiots giving free advice on the net . Man, you're young and bright and can write your own stories...be well and enjoy the journey!!!

[sammyg2]

If they fired you because you were out sick, there are laws agin' that.

https://www.ada.gov/

[flipper35]

Oddly, when I was laid off with a daughter and pregnant wife I was the least stressed I had been in years. It all worked out in the end. A few months later I had gone from web development to a director position. Things just seem to work out. Though the job I was laid off from I had a great boss but the pay sucked.

You now have a wealth of opportunities ahead of you.

[gsxrken]

Best of luck in the job search. Hopefully after 18 years you get a package of sorts to bridge you to the next opportunity.

More importantly, was the surgery a success? Are you glad you went ahead with it?

[Baz]

Things always seem to work out.

I bet everyone here has been there/done that...well maybe less the surgery part.

My only offering is to go forward and draw on your talents, expertise, and strengths to best position yourself in the next chapter.

Keep us posted, please....and all the best!

[jyl]

My company closed its doors in mid 2015. I first went in one direction on the job search, then after six months realized that wasn't the right direction, rethought it, and the redirected search bore fruit quickly. My time off was good. I spent a lot of time with my kids and my wife, was a big part of their lives in a way that I hadn't been for some time, got very relaxed . . . Of course looking for work wasn't all fun (only about 50% fun) and there were downs as well as ups, but in the end I look back at that period very fondly.

But it can go the other way. I have a good friend whose layoff hasn't had a good outcome, so far. He is too quick to tip over from realism to pessimism, lacks drive and self confidence, can't sell himself, but at the same time doesn't seem to be ready to take lesser work or re-invent himself . . . He's well over a year unemployed now, hasn't even gotten close on anything, and I don't think things are getting better.

Set yourself tasks and timetables, approach job hunting like a job, but appreciate that it isn't actually possible to spend more than half the "work day" looking for work - unless jobs are as plentiful as leaves on the trees in your field, there's just not that many leads to chase down - so use the rest of your time productively. Having fun is productive.

[cstreit]

What was the reason for the termination? My performance issues before? Timing is suspicious.

[DanielDudley]

If you feel ''strangely'' optimistic about your circumstances, I think you should listen to your gut.

Onward and upward. Meanwhile, keep up with your recovery, and get a job where you don't have to be polite when talking about your boss. That isn't right.

[911SauCy]

JYL: As a successful sales rep., I'm looking at the process simply as me selling a product, the one I know best! Appreciate your experiences

Surgery was a success and I'm sure to be at the gym everyday. Mental and physical health are coming first!

I got nothing short of a light final commission check, no package.

I was let go because the business owner decided to terminate the outside sales role. Long and short, he got someone twice my age who was 2 yrs unemployed with no sales experience to take an inside sales position. Yes, it's illegal that he posted for that job and hired her when I was on short term...but, there's little water in a rock.

It's a $1.9M company, I added 550k inside 3yrs, was making close to 100k (would have done more this year if I hadn't had surgery) and I think he started freaking out about what I was making and the demands my contributions were making on the others. With only 4 people total, 3 directly contributing on a daily basis and growing appx 24% YoY, demanding isn't the word.

[dtw]

Really sorry that you got shafted like this.

If I understood your description of the company correctly, they are too small to come under FMLA. Nonetheless, it might be worth a call to an employment attorney to get a better understanding of your situation.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by dtw

Really sorry that you got shafted like this.

If I understood your description of the company correctly, they are too small to come under FMLA. Nonetheless, it might be worth a call to an employment attorney to get a better understanding of your situation.

Correct. Already spoke to one, I could file against him but there is so little to gain, and I don't want to be dealing with this a$$clown any longer.

Positivity and personal growth moving forward.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by cstreit

What was the reason for the termination? My performance issues before? Timing is suspicious.

You'd think but I was literally the only one at the company coming close to hitting my goals. The lowest quarter I ever had was 86% to overall goal attainment, that was Q2 this year, after my quarterly sales goal was doubled...doubled!

Boss regularly hovered around 40% (golf/skiing/vacations and useless conferences filedl the calendar), office manager around 65% (held back by absent boss), vp of tech 10-20%(couldn't begin to work on goals because of work overload from simply servicing clients/helping me install stuff)

Was, still is and will only be a crazier circus...but the boss, his wife (majority owner) and FiL (orig founder) are taking nice fat pay checks so they don't care.

T.M.I?