Fights with Your Employer
Your new manager is aggressively making his mark. Staff leave, pushed by his new broom, and are replaced by his own team of friends/relatives who take up newly labelled positions on inflated salaries.
You find yourself having to ask him before you can do anything, nothing is good enough and he is terse with you and even raises his voice – it is a bit like being married, although your spouse is commendably less keen to get rid of you on some days. You hear his brother-in-law is in-between jobs and you fear the worst.
Ask yourself two questions:
1. Can you convince a more senior manager to save you? Normally, unless you are sleeping with one of them, the answer is “No,” but it is worth a try.
2. Are you too honourable to employ underhand tactics? For instance, does he have any obvious weaknesses, e.g. women or sex? Could an accident be arranged?
If the answer to 1 and 2 is “No,” do not expect a last-minute reprieve; prepare to leave.
As an ageing, but prickly employee, you decide to resign on principle. Here are three reasons not to make their day:
1. There is more money if you are asked to leave.
2. It is a lot easier to find another job when you are employed, so play for time.
3. If you have signed a restraint clause, that could interfere with you getting another job.
Defend yourself using the 4 D’s:
1. Document every slight.
2. Don’t let him quietly bully you. Complain about him. Reply to his increasingly demanding and nasty emails by copying others in on your reply.
3. Do not tell anyone that you want to leave. As Sun Tzu advised keep your plans as dark and as inscrutable as night.
4. Do rely on friends outside rather than inside the company for support.
This strategy is stressful but at least consider all the options before doing something rash and falling on your sword.
Extract from "The Art of War, Peace & Palaver: The Contentious Guide to Legal Disputes"© Paul Brennan 2008-2018 All rights Reserved.
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