Career Decisions Again

[legion]

Kind of a continuation of this thread: Career Decisions

Anyway, I did the new gig for a year, and over that time, the workload steadily declined. About halfway through the year, I started working 50% with other teams, including my old team of 12 years, and several others to fill my time. Eventually, the workload declined to the point that it didn't make sense for me to do it anymore and about three months ago I was told to find something else to do. I put out feelers with the manager (not the manager when I was there) of my old team and another team, and both declined to take me, as they felt the workload was below my salary level. I ended up moving to another team that needed help.

It became quickly apparent that this team is both low-functioning and kind of the red-headed step child of the department. It supports an application that is poorly written and needs constant attention as a result. I've been told that funding to actually fix it (or improve it) won't happen. The team members are bitter, unmotivated, don't communicate with each other, don't keep up with assignments, and don't follow directions. I ask people to do work and get ignored, or told "yes" and it's partially done at best. It's not toxic, there's just no motivation. I've tried several approaches, but the only thing that gets them to do their jobs is to literally sit at their desks and watch them--something I absolutely hate to do. Somewhat ironically, my manager continually praises me for making the team more effective.

My old team of 12 years contacted me yesterday to tell me that two positions have opened up, both at my salary range. Like I said in the other thread, I enjoyed working on that team on only left to get a promotion. I'd consider that team to be high-functioning. I always felt like we worked well together, backed each other up, and genuinely tried to do good work.

I'm conflicted. I hate to leave a team after so short a tenure. It's against my nature to quit like this. There's also a few things I'd like to accomplish. Unfortunately, I think there's a good chance I won't get funding to do any of them. Still, I'd like to get back to a team that functions well and is given the opportunity to do good work.

[janessa642]

then dont be late. just do it.. team work is the best

[HardDrive]

I would leave and go back to A team in a heartbeat. Zero F-uh-cuss given.

[quicksix]

You made a well reasoned argument, enjoy team A.
Not your problem about funding, unmotivated people..

[Noah930]

I'm a pretty ridiculously loyal guy...and I'd bolt your current "team" in a heartbeat.

[porsche4life]

Why is there even a discussion?

I'm learning that loyalty in the workplace is dead. If my employer wouldn't hesitate to throw me under the bus for his own good, then I won't hesitate to reciprocate. At the end of the day, we are all just numbers to most companies.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Why is there even a discussion?

I'm learning that loyalty in the workplace is dead. If my employer wouldn't hesitate to throw me under the bus for his own good, then I won't hesitate to reciprocate. At the end of the day, we are all just numbers to most companies.

Yes, it's all part of the modern age. You HAVE to look after yourself.

[wildthing]

No funding to rewrite = death sentence.

[Laneco]

Don't be just a good guy when you leave your current team, be a GREAT guy.

But leave.

angela

[flipper35]

We used an app like you are describing (maybe that one, are you in healthcare?) We dropped it as soon as we could. There were decisions made on the code years ago that were poorly planned and the money wasn't there to properly rewrite it. The reason I bring this up is when we saw they were continuing on the current path we dropped them. I imagine the people using the app from your current team will respond the same way and there will be zero income and the team will get broken up anyway. Be proactive now, even if the company isn't.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by Noah930

I'm a pretty ridiculously loyal guy...and I'd bolt your current "team" in a heartbeat.

Starting in the 90's in response to corporate shifts we started adopting the phrase " Be committed, but not loyal"

[Porsche-O-Phile]

See-yaaaaaaaaaa

Poof.

[KFC911]

YOU control your career Chris...don't ever forget that and best of luck. A couple of my philosophies after seeing thousands of folks terminated during my corp IT career:

I just work here, and some day I won't...just like everybody else

I can replace this job a hell of a lot easier than you can replace me

I was at the top of my niche and walked the walk too...do what you need to do and don't look back...

[Baz]

Sounds like you should go back to your old team. I love team chemistry. Life is too short to work in a non-cohesive environment.

What kind of work do you do?

[KNS]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I'm learning that loyalty in the workplace is dead. If my employer wouldn't hesitate to throw me under the bus for his own good, then I won't hesitate to reciprocate.

Isn't that the truth?

My old employer wouldn't just throw throw you under that bus - they'd also yank out the bus driver and grab hold of the steering wheel.

[pavulon]

30. Loyalty
“Would I ever leave this company? Look, I’m all about loyalty. In fact, I feel like part of what I’m being paid for here is my loyalty. But if there were somewhere else that valued loyalty more highly… I’m going wherever they value loyalty the most.”
-Dwight Schrute

[NoRush993/951]

I believe in loyalty over talent. The top priced hired gun will always disappoint in the end. If we are all gun fighters, then pick your men wisely as getting shot in the back by your own troops is the worst way to go.

[quicksix]

Loyalty is a one way street.
People are interchangeable, and a corporation is only driven by one thing,,profits.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by quicksix

Loyalty is a one way street.
People are interchangeable, and a corporation is only driven by one thing,,profits.

^^^^ This

I was the proverbial IT hired gun after rising to the top, but became VERY jaded after a dozen years at two megabanks and observing more bs than I could tolerate. Shoot someone in the back...NEVER! But neither did I suffer fools and would aim right between their eyes instead . Best career move I ever made was abruptly leaving Wachovia before it became the Titanic. I was an AVP at the time and had another top position within a week (huge salary boost)....retired at 48 when my whole damn dept was outsourced, and life is good. It's a dawg eat dawg corporate world out there...be a Pit Bull and look out for yourself first...YMMV.

[aigel]

Sure, go back to point A, but in the mid to long term get the hell out of that company. Sounds like a horrible job. I can't imagine putting up with something like that. You know that you spend a majority of your time at work. Practically half your life. It can't just be a drag every day. There is no "work life balance" work IS life, you have to make it count. It can't be that miserable.

Look for a new company!

G