My company outsourced our IT department and eliminated our whole division. The severance package was 2 weeks for every year at the company. I would have gotten 36 weeks salary. I could have collected unemployment until I found another job. There was no restriction on getting the severance and working. I would have basically doubled my salary for 9 months.
Several weeks into the "transition period" of training the outsourcing company, my company realized that they really would be in a world of hurt without me. I am the only person who does what I do (manage and adminstrate IBM iSeries, and support the developers and users). The outsourcing company has no experience in this field. The decision to outsource was made by a company exec who had no idea what our IT department really was.
From the beginning I was told my name was being thrown around as a candidate to either stay on as an employee in my job, or be hired by the outsourcing company. My company offered me to keep my job and benefits, with a 3.4% pay increase. I had to sign an agreement to this effect, and that I would forego the severance. I did this truly believing in helping my company (almost 20 years service), thinking I was doing the right thing. I also went into it knowing that the person I would be reporting to is an unparalleled and colossal ***** and pain in the ***. I was asked outright if I would have a problem with working for her. I said no because I believed I could overlook things. I am the epitome of naivete. Though I have to say I may have an ace in the hole with two of the company execs.
In my view things are beginning to slide downhill, though I was also told by a coworker our report-to (I can't bring myself to call her my boss) knows she cannot do without me and won't piss me off. If I leave it will put them in a real bind, especially with the busy sales and distribution season coming. Basically, if the system itself or any component fails, distribution and shipping will literally come to a standstill. I do have the "you need me, I don't need you" card, but it can't be played too often or it becomes just a bluff.
The problem I'm seeing is that as time is going by I'm taking on more responsibilities and accountabilities my job never had before. This report-to is giving me assignments to develop some of the most pissant procedures, which we've never needed before, nor do we need. This goes back to her not trusting anyone to know or do their jobs, and her micro-managing.
I'm not only responsible for system administration (which is my job), but now I've gotten supervision of the data center, which is manned by the outsourcing company. There are little things creeping in that I never agreed to or was even told would happen. And all for a 3.4% pay increase. It's not enough at this point to make a stink, but it's enough to make me see this was a really big mistake in staying on. I'm stupid, and I'm stuck. Looking for another job is really not an option for 2 reasons: I'm 59 years old, and may have a hard time, and it would be a lateral move. As they say, better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
This is certainly not helping pull me out of my depression. I have a nice wardrobe I can wear (but don't have to), but I opt for jeans and t shirts. I figure, why should I get dressed if I feel like crap? I don't know if I can persuade my orthopedic surgeon to play ball and recommend me for long-term disability from my lumbar fusion last year. The commute (30 miles, 50 minutes one way) and sitting at a desk is taking a toll. I'm not seeing a pdoc or tdoc currently (I was, but now my mdoc handles my meds). So, I'm not sure what to do.
Oct 04, 2016, 10:54 AM
This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.
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