The Work Thread

[mvp]

Interesting situation right now.

Quit my job to go to a direct competitor for better pay, vacations and fully remote.

My old boss is majorly butthurt. They owe me a commission payment of around $5k and he is withholding it until I connect with him so he can better understand the reasons why I decided to leave.

I’m annoyed as he already asked various favors since I left and he keeps dangling the commission in front of me so that I help him. He was meant to pay me yesterday.

Feels like a creepy ex that won’t leave you alone.

Anyone got any tips? I want the money and he knows once I get it that I’ll be free from having to deal with him ever again. Want to avoid this dragging out.

 

[bubs]

Interesting situation right now.

Quit my job to go to a direct competitor for better pay, vacations and fully remote.

My old boss is majorly butthurt. They owe me a commission payment of around $5k and he is withholding it until I connect with him so he can better understand the reasons why I decided to leave.

I’m annoyed as he already asked various favors since I left and he keeps dangling the commission in front of me so that I help him. He was meant to pay me yesterday.

Feels like a creepy ex that won’t leave you alone.

Anyone got any tips? I want the money and he knows once I get it that I’ll be free from having to deal with him ever again. Want to avoid this dragging out.

He sounds like a typical bad news dark triad boss. You need to probably just wait it out without communicating to him. If you get the $5k eventually then consider it a bonus not assume you won’t get it. Is there an HR person at your old company you could contact?

 

[rainy]

Interesting situation right now.

Quit my job to go to a direct competitor for better pay, vacations and fully remote.

My old boss is majorly butthurt. They owe me a commission payment of around $5k and he is withholding it until I connect with him so he can better understand the reasons why I decided to leave.

I’m annoyed as he already asked various favors since I left and he keeps dangling the commission in front of me so that I help him. He was meant to pay me yesterday.

Feels like a creepy ex that won’t leave you alone.

Anyone got any tips? I want the money and he knows once I get it that I’ll be free from having to deal with him ever again. Want to avoid this dragging out.

Meet him halfway by writing an official resignation letter. Tell him he can use it for future reference and it will hopefully assist his understanding.

That avoids a back and forth convo.

Submit the letter via email and CC another higherup in the company. This opens the loop.

Finish the email by stating this letter allows you to hopefully leave on good terms with goodwill, then ask for confirmation on when you will receive the commission owed to you as the CC’d person will also see that.

 

[homersheineken]

Interesting situation right now.

Quit my job to go to a direct competitor for better pay, vacations and fully remote.

My old boss is majorly butthurt. They owe me a commission payment of around $5k and he is withholding it until I connect with him so he can better understand the reasons why I decided to leave.

I’m annoyed as he already asked various favors since I left and he keeps dangling the commission in front of me so that I help him. He was meant to pay me yesterday.

Feels like a creepy ex that won’t leave you alone.

Anyone got any tips? I want the money and he knows once I get it that I’ll be free from having to deal with him ever again. Want to avoid this dragging out.

Simple, email him demanding your owed compensation, CC your attorney and note that in the email.

Same thing happened to me. After weeks of delays and numerous unanswered emails, I got a response in 10 minutes.

 

[Gazeebo]

I have a scenario that I am trying to work through myself.

I've worked for a company now for 2 years. I enjoy the people I work with except for the head of the company. I don't have to deal with him unless I want a raise. Go back a month and I asked for a 3 dollar raise due to travel time and my worked performed. I was told "ill have to take $2 from the rest of my team to give me the $3 raise." This rubbed me the wrong way to no end. There are 9 of us and if my math is good that's $13hr he does not have to pay to anyone else but himself.

I've gone to two interviews since that has happened both have offered me closer to home but one is offering the same pay the other is only 5minutes closer but are giving me the $3 raise. I have yet to accept either offer.

The truth is I'm close to being promoted here but I don't know if the transition here from Hr rate to flat rate(comission) will be a positive due to the area.

I am torn between comfort and the unknown. I think either choice, in time, I'll be promoted. I have been looking for reinforcing in my choice to stay or go.

God bless you all and thank you for any insight you wish to give.

 

[DanielH]

Simple, email him demanding your owed compensation, CC your attorney and note that in the email.

Same thing happened to me. After weeks of delays and numerous unanswered emails, I got a response in 10 minutes.

I'm leaning towards this one as well. If you're absolutely sure you're in the right, @mvp , threatening a lawyer could be the way to go if you don't mind burning bridges. Sounds like a pretty open and shut case for an employment lawyer as long as you have the receipts.

 

[cosine]

"Alright, so why'd you leave?"
"I'd actually like to start the conversation around my commission."

Or...

"I've thought about that, and I've decided I don't actually want to talk about it."

You don't owe former employers anything.

 

[mvp]

Appreciate everyone that took the time to give me their advice, I have the call tomorrow and will post the result.

 

[Fidem_Spes_Amare]

.

 

[JCSteel]

I'm pretty unhappy with my job, although I'm grateful to be employed. I basically shuttle tubs of screws all day long in a loud congested factory. When I'm not on the forklift I use a computer to receive materials and check inventory levels. I work on 2nd shift, 3pm to 11:30 pm.

I have my bachelor's degree but I've never used it. I've worked in warehouse and factories for the last 15 years although I took a detour as a store manager at a storage facility(incredibly boring but you meet many different types of people), and I worked at the United States Post Office as a city carrier, a rural carrier, and a postal support employee. I also delivered medical supplies(during the height of Covid).

I've been at my current job for a year, my 401k is now vested, and I want to take what skills and experience I have and work in a quieter, less congested atmosphere, preferably on a day shift. The other day my employer held their annual communications meeting. The company is going to try help employees facilitate a path for growth, so they can learn new skills, get promoted, or make some kind of lateral move. They gave us a folder which describes most of the positions in the company, and I thought it would a good opportunity to try a new position within the company rather than start from scratch at a new company, like I have been doing for far too long.

Has anyone here been in a similar situation? I'd enjoy hearing about successful lateral moves or career changes.

 

[cosine]

I'm pretty unhappy with my job, although I'm grateful to be employed. I basically shuttle tubs of screws all day long in a loud congested factory. When I'm not on the forklift I use a computer to receive materials and check inventory levels. I work on 2nd shift, 3pm to 11:30 pm.

I have my bachelor's degree but I've never used it. I've worked in warehouse and factories for the last 15 years although I took a detour as a store manager at a storage facility(incredibly boring but you meet many different types of people), and I worked at the United States Post Office as a city carrier, a rural carrier, and a postal support employee. I also delivered medical supplies(during the height of Covid).

I've been at my current job for a year, my 401k is now vested, and I want to take what skills and experience I have and work in a quieter, less congested atmosphere, preferably on a day shift. The other day my employer held their annual communications meeting. The company is going to try help employees facilitate a path for growth, so they can learn new skills, get promoted, or make some kind of lateral move. They gave us a folder which describes most of the positions in the company, and I thought it would a good opportunity to try a new position within the company rather than start from scratch at a new company, like I have been doing for far too long.

Has anyone here been in a similar situation? I'd enjoy hearing about successful lateral moves or career changes.

My line of work is very different, but it seems to me you are well set up to venture into some sort of industrial trade that pays better. The higher paying ones typically have licensing requirements which take many years to work through, e.g. apprentice/journeyman/master for electrician, plumbing, HVAC. But there's SO many specialties within construction. Insulation foam, welding, drilling wells, excavation...etc, or some sort of manufacturing like you already work in.

There's lots of money to be made in the trades by reliable people who speak clearly and professionally. And women don't want those jobs, so they end up in healthcare, accounting, tech, etc, and dilute the pay in those fields, although the high-end/high-performer jobs in those fields still make an absolute killing.

Seems like the post office used to be a solidly middle class, stable idea. Now there's no telling with gov't pensions and I personally never want to have to rely on a pension or social security.

Overall thought:
Consider what you are good at, what upskilling yourself might look like, and don't think "oh, _____ line of work is too complicated for me". It's probably not.

 

[JCSteel]

My line of work is very different, but it seems to me you are well set up to venture into some sort of industrial trade that pays better. The higher paying ones typically have licensing requirements which take many years to work through, e.g. apprentice/journeyman/master for electrician, plumbing, HVAC. But there's SO many specialties within construction. Insulation foam, welding, drilling wells, excavation...etc, or some sort of manufacturing like you already work in.

There's lots of money to be made in the trades by reliable people who speak clearly and professionally. And women don't want those jobs, so they end up in healthcare, accounting, tech, etc, and dilute the pay in those fields, although the high-end/high-performer jobs in those fields still make an absolute killing.

Seems like the post office used to be a solidly middle class, stable idea. Now there's no telling with gov't pensions and I personally never want to have to rely on a pension or social security.

Overall thought:
Consider what you are good at, what upskilling yourself might look like, and don't think "oh, _____ line of work is too complicated for me". It's probably not.

I appreciate the feedback, it's encouraging.

 

[Maddox]

Here's a funny little business story with some wise advice...

The CEO of a Fortune 500 firm was canned by the board. They brought in a successor who, in getting settled, discovered three envelopes from the previous CEO in his desk drawer. A note instructed him to open the envelopes in order at the end of the next three quarters. He found this amusing and promptly forgot it.

His first quarter was a disaster. Profits down, people problems, etc. He had to appear before the board. He remembered the envelopes and opened the first one. It said: “Blame me.”

He did. He told the board this was all the previous guy’s fault and it would soon be straightened out and the company put in good order. The board agreed and he went back to work.

The next quarter was worse. Profits were gone, strikes were threatened, and the competition was eating their lunch. He opened the second envelope. It said: “Blame the economy.”

He did. He went to the board and told them about supply chain problems, the inability to get parts, and Covid-19 issues. The board reluctantly bought it and he went back to work.

The third quarter was a total catastrophe. They showed a heavy loss, wildcat strikes broke out, and the employees vandalized the plants. He was ordered to meet with the board. His hands trembled as he opened the third envelope. It began…

“Prepare three envelopes…”

 

[Maddox]

These ghost jobs explain why at one point years ago, I sent out my resume to hundreds of companies and got no response at all.

What do others think about this tactic? While it's an incredible waste of time for people looking for a job, I can see the benefit from the company's POV. However, even recruiters would be subjected to this wild goose chase and wind up losing money if most of their pay came from commissions.

 

[Reem]

My line of work is very different, but it seems to me you are well set up to venture into some sort of industrial trade that pays better. The higher paying ones typically have licensing requirements which take many years to work through, e.g. apprentice/journeyman/master for electrician, plumbing, HVAC. But there's SO many specialties within construction. Insulation foam, welding, drilling wells, excavation...etc, or some sort of manufacturing like you already work in.

There's lots of money to be made in the trades by reliable people who speak clearly and professionally. And women don't want those jobs, so they end up in healthcare, accounting, tech, etc,

I'm pretty unhappy with my job, although I'm grateful to be employed. I basically shuttle tubs of screws all day long in a loud congested factory. When I'm not on the forklift I use a computer to receive materials and check inventory levels. I work on 2nd shift, 3pm to 11:30 pm.

I have my bachelor's degree but I've never used it. I've worked in warehouse and factories for the last 15 years although I took a detour as a store manager at a storage facility(incredibly boring but you meet many different types of people), and I worked at the United States Post Office as a city carrier, a rural carrier, and a postal support employee. I also delivered medical supplies(during the height of Covid).

I've been at my current job for a year, my 401k is now vested, and I want to take what skills and experience I have and work in a quieter, less congested atmosphere, preferably on a day shift. The other day my employer held their annual communications meeting. The company is going to try help employees facilitate a path for growth, so they can learn new skills, get promoted, or make some kind of lateral move. They gave us a folder which describes most of the positions in the company, and I thought it would a good opportunity to try a new position within the company rather than start from scratch at a new company, like I have been doing for far too long.

Has anyone here been in a similar situation? I'd enjoy hearing about successful lateral moves or career changes.

Overall thought:
Consider what you are good at, what upskilling yourself might look like, and don't think "oh, _____ line of work is too complicated for me". It's probably not.

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