Feeling Betrayed and Jobless: Should I Fight Back or Move On? Seeking Your Advice!

I want to write the whole story before I conclude my problem and thank everyone who reads this mail. I would expect some replies for sure.

I have been working for a reputed travel firm in Hyderabad. Now the story begins with me attending an interview at this well-reputed travel corporate. My first round of interviews was completed in 5 minutes, and the interviewer confirmed that I had been selected and would have to go through the normal procedure of a second round with the head of Sales and a third round with HR. Don't ask me how he decided to take me into the system in 5 minutes. I can elaborate on that story if someone is interested. Now, I call it a story because if this script were made into a film, I'm sure one would call it the same, but then I would say it happened to me, and it's reality.

I got an offer and joined with all the hope, good spirits, enthusiasm, force, and willingness to work, getting myself embedded into the system well. My first impression of this corporate was more like a government "dafter" than a real corporate. My approach to everyone was limited because of their pessimism, which did not help me understand the processes and procedures; however, I had to literally prove myself to be practical in accepting me. One thing I have to mention is the person (my boss) who recruited me sits in Bangalore, and I am the only sales guy here reporting to him with a bunch of idiotic operational staff who are full of egos and double standards.

I somehow managed to get close with the Sr. Manager Operations. This guy had immense experience in the field and made me understand my responsibilities in the company very clearly. With his support, I started cracking accounts, and then my first six months of the honeymoon period were coming to an end, but by then I had almost established myself in the company. With my well-behaved and friendly nature, I made an impression in people's minds inside and outside the organization, and things were moving fine.

Due to some reason, the Sr. Ops guy had to be transferred to another location, but before he left, because of the kind of rapport we shared, he promised me that he would help me get one big account that I was targeting. I thanked him for all the support, and he moved on. Meanwhile, I was still in the market cracking more accounts, understanding competitions, building relations, and gaining more public respect. I almost became an entrepreneur myself, driving business as if it were my own. Things were not moving that great, but yes, there was a medium pace. The factors that also influenced the movement were support from the seniors, market volatility, bribes, and gifting. So basically, the market and support were pathetic to move at a fast pace, and we, being a reputed firm, cannot involve ourselves in any unethical things that competition is doing to conquer the market.

Now comes the twist. One fine evening, I got a call from this senior Ops guy, who had now become GM Ops for the region there. He called me and reminded me of his promise, which I used to keep reminding him of whenever I used to call him or follow up with him. He stated that he was keeping his promise by actually getting me this corporate, which I had been targeting for 15 months. It's a big one, a big company that requested our travel management services proposal. Finally, the dream was coming closer. I could see that with the kind of rapport our Ops guy shared with the Travel Manager in that firm, I had a bright chance to close this account. Meanwhile, I also want you guys to know that my introduction to this TM guy had been done through phone, and I usually went and met him, gave him updates, and kept track of what's happening in his firm. This TM guy turned out to be a 'chedi friend' of our Ops guy, and now the confidence of me getting this account had doubled. The reason why? I am the only sales guy in Hyderabad, and the account (firm) I and our Ops guy were pitching is also in Hyderabad. My Ops guy does not get into sales; all he was doing was a favor and keeping his promise. His job would be done after introducing me to the TM guy. But he invested more of his time to actually get this company into my kitty. I would have been ever thankful to this guy if things had worked out accordingly.

But they did not...interval...take a break...

Welcome back, guys! Now that I have to keep my boss in the loop about this firm we are pitching, I gave him a call and explained it to him, forwarded the relevant email of the request for proposal (RFP) which had been sent to the Ops guys, who in turn sent it to me to take action.

My boss's tone had gone weird and different; he was not happy. I could feel it over the phone; he was restless and wanted to hang up. He wasn't listening to me. All he said was, "Send me the mail, and I will look into it and call you back," in a very firm voice I had never heard before. For a second, I did not understand him at all. I was not concerned about it anyway; my concentration was more on the presentation and the proposal, which we as a team had to submit in a scheduled meeting with the corporate.

Now I suddenly started seeing a different side of my boss. He started to ask me all the ins and outs of the corporate, asked me to put it in an email, all the stupidest questions a boss can ask which would never be answered. He was so adamant that he didn't even give me a chance to make the presentation. He was taking ownership of the presentation. I thought maybe he wanted to take this responsibility as a head for the south. But even my input to the presentation was not counted. I would have asked him why, but not now, as the date was coming nearer. I started working on the proposal and sent it to him for approval. My proposal got rejected. In fact, all the proposals are almost the same; all we have to do is change the commercials. I did not ask him why it got rejected. But the proposal he made was the same as what I had sent; the only thing he did was delete my name and put it as "Hyderabad Sales Team."

I did not understand that, what he wanted to prove by this. During these days, he asked all the south team for a conference call. Usually, conference calls happen once a fortnight; this was something no one expected. The call began with general updates and individual performances. Now it came to me. He was not talking about this corporate at all. He was, in fact, asking me what I was getting in this month. I said I had some in the pipeline, but I wanted to know why he was not talking about the one I had been following up on for 15 months. He started to argue with me on numbers, shouted in front of everyone on the call, and warned me. All of a sudden, this behavior was unacceptable. I kept my calm and finally asked him why he was not talking about this account we were working on. He said that there was no effort from my side in bringing this account. It was shocking. I was zapped and could not even digest it. The call ended. I felt bad, humiliated, and angry, and I cried alone, started figuring out where I went wrong. I cannot see even a single day he behaved like this with me before. He had always appreciated my work whenever he could. Sometimes he used to put pressure on me, and being in sales, I know how to take pressure. I wanted to call him and fight with him about why he had done this to me.

Then my mind started to work super fast towards the future. What implications would this bring to me in the future, and what had made him behave like this to me? Then questions popped into my mind.

Firstly, the Ops guy sitting in some location in a different state, irrespective of him being in that position, could have informed the news to my boss or anyone in the south, or in that case, he could have informed it to his boss. But he gave the information stating that he was fulfilling his promise to me. This hurt my boss hard. The reason is my boss and the Ops guy hail from the same state, and the Ops guy is also close to my boss. EGO OF MY BOSS HURT.

He then overreacted to the situation and acted weird. He knew that if this sale came in my name, I would be highlighted throughout pan India, and the account was so big that his eyes were on it even before the time I informed him that this was going to come. Maybe this is my side of the story. I could not understand why he was doing all this. Every day he was shouting for one reason or another. Instead of supporting and encouraging me, he started degrading and demotivating me in front of everyone through calls.

I have decided that his ego has been deeply wounded, and he cannot understand that even if I get that sale, he can grow because I grow. But he wants that sale in his name because he, as an individual, has a target, and that is where I cannot take it. Now I decided that even if I get that sale, he will not appreciate me. Instead, he will keep blaming me that it's not my effort. I can see my future not that great. I cannot work in this environment anymore. I cannot work here where my efforts are not recognized. I decided to move on, and I put down my papers. But before that, I wanted to try my last hope by going to the head of sales and requesting him to interfere in this, but then he was the one who brought my boss into the system, and he would obviously have a kind heart for him, and he will not prove himself wrong.

Ok, Friends, Climax Time.

My resignation was accepted. My boss is the one who has to approve with one month of proper notice, but my boss said that he had convinced HR that they would pay all the dues till the notice period and informed me that due to the new sales policy, no sales guy is supposed to stay for more than a week from the date of resignation and asked me to choose a date to leave. I said I could leave the next day as there was some handover work pending. He approved that, and now I am writing this email. I got relieved from my job yesterday, and all the F&F formalities would be completed in 45 days from yesterday.

I am sad, feel cheated, humiliated, degraded, demotivated, and whatnot. My life is at a standstill, and I don't know what to do. I cannot figure out where I went wrong.

Please help me, guys. My humble request: do I want to fight back or move on with a positive note?

Regards.

I am sorry to hear about all the nonsense that happened. Every bad experience is like a stepping stone to a shiny future. Take it on a positive note, move forward, and target a better job. Sometimes ego shows shadows of the same face from different angles, and in such cases, everything comes to an end.

Don't let yourself get depressed or demotivated. Instead, gain confidence. There is much to do. Use the past as a tool, think about your future, and plan accordingly.

Good luck to you.

Regards,
Babu

Thank you, friends. Now I am facing a new problem. I am supposed to hand over my laptop back to the company. Before that, I want some things to be clarified. I have not signed any document stating that a salesperson has to be relieved in one week's time after resignation.

My boss has given me only two days, either last Friday or Monday, as options for me to be relieved. Since I don't have much to hand over and he promised me that my pay will be considered until the last date of my notice period, which is March 10, 2011. In fact, he added that pay will be considered from Feb 18 until March 18 and all the dues for 48 days will be settled in F&F Settlement. He said he has convinced the HR guys to do so.

Can this happen? What option am I left with? Can I still serve my notice period?

Because he is pressuring me that I did not surrender my laptop on the relieving day. As I have downloaded my bank statements, my loan documents, some pictures, he threatens me that he will put a case against me for breach of trust.

What should I do?

You have a proven track record with numbers and clients; stay focused on looking for a new role. Firms are always eager to hire high-achieving talent in sales and marketing. You score a brownie there. It's always better to move away from a firm where transparency is nil and leadership is corrupted.

Have your dues been released?

Count yourself lucky that you have only spent 15 months in your career and have the rest of your employment to save. Wish you all the best!

Regards.

It would be advisable to speak to a good recruitment consultant. Also, speak to your HR head and ask him for an exit interview form.

Regards.

I can only suggest you move on with a positive note. Appreciate your boss for all the good things he has done for you and carry those along with you. The professional world is small; people will come across you in the future. The things that will help you grow are positive thinking and a good relationship with others.

Thanks,
Manish

Fighting with the company is like fighting with a wall. My initial suggestion is to think that out of frustration, you have kicked off the company. Take a break for at least a week. I advise returning all the assets and whatever belongs to the company. Thereon, look out for a fresh job. Please write a very sentimental and truthful letter to your boss, who has caused this mess, and request a positive response for your background from the next employer.

I know you will be in between jobs, but now the truth is, you need money and peace. First, focus on that.

Best Regards,
Rupesh

You have skills; go for another job. Don't involve yourself in any fight with your boss, as you might meet him after some time. The professional world is really small, so be honest, work with the same dedication, and never overwork. Sometimes, seniors take it as a threat to their positions (it's a personal experience).

By following these guidelines, you can navigate the professional world more effectively and maintain positive relationships with your colleagues and superiors.

Regards,

Dear Friend, my advice is to look forward in your career if you got your full settlement. Fighting is not wise; legal remedies require evidence, which may not be possible except for statements as you have written. All the best. Regards, RL Pandey

Things like this happen in all offices. It is your conviction about yourself that matters most. You know that you are capable, hardworking, target-oriented, and can be successful. If the management cannot realize your efforts, they lose.

There are umpteen numbers of companies that need your kind of people and potential. So, don't get depressed. I am sure you will land in a much better job and a higher position than you are now.

As GEETHA says, whatever happened is for good, whatever is happening is for good, and whatever is going to happen is also for good. So, cheer up and move on. Learn from your failures rather than falling down.

Regards

Going through the happenings, it is disturbing, but you have the talent, enthusiasm, and courage to face the situations. It is a big learning experience, and you should move forward with a positive note. Keeping company assets is not a wise decision. Complete the handover formalities and obtain a relieving letter or service certificate.

The world is big, and there are many opportunities in the market. Plan for a pleasant trip or take a break, and try to join another company. Some of our friends are mentioning approaching the competitor, which is not advisable. They may appreciate and respect you until they get good business, but afterward, you may become cheap in their eyes, and they may doubt your ethics.

Be positive - wishing you all the best - Kamesh

Sorry to hear all the nonsense from your boss. I agree with Rupesh; just forget it all and search for another job. I am going through the same situation, and now, with a fresh mind, I am searching for a new job. Meanwhile, I read a good book, "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari," and it really encouraged me a lot. Maybe you can try the same. Sometimes, people who have no skill, or very little skill, fear those who are really excelling with their skills. To keep their positions safe, they start low-level politics and convey wrong or manipulated messages to the boss. Just review your whole experience and find out where you made mistakes. Mistakes in the sense that sometimes we put faith in the wrong person or are too open. Sometimes it's good to keep quiet and just observe or read people around you. Whatever mistakes you feel you made, don't repeat them in the next organization. Learn from your experience. Keep faith in Almighty God and go ahead with confidence.

Wish you all the best for your new opportunities.

Regards,
Sharad Pant

Understanding Workplace Dynamics: Navigating Challenges with Your Boss

What is the point of working on an account that your boss doesn't want you to be involved with? Are you working for a company, or are you the boss? If you are an employee, remember that your boss is always right. Cracking any corporate account can never be done by a single account manager. There are always many decision-makers who need to be involved during a buying process. What I can see is a lack of experience and understanding from your side.

Regards.

Don't worry. Okay, this is quite common nowadays. Be positive. We in Gulf countries do face such things often. Never believe anyone who gives a lot of assurances, Ronny.

Move on with a positive spirit. There's no point in fighting with your old organization and diverting energy that can be better used for starting afresh.

Thank you.

This happens all the time. I am facing a similar problem. I think all we can do is move on. If you question your boss when it's time for recruitment by a future company and they ask for feedback, your current company may give a negative report.

All that I can say is you were the right person at the wrong place and at the wrong time. Move on with positive insights in you. I am sure that with the knowledge and passion that you carry towards your professional life, you will achieve better results and find a very nice company to work for.

Regards,
Krishna

I would suggest you go out with a positive mindset and ensure that you receive your F&F settlement accurately. Just speak with the HR of the company to get all the necessary information clarified. After you have received all your dues, have a discussion with the boss and explain your reasons for leaving the job. This may not resolve the issue, but at least he will be informed.

When you have performed exceptionally well in this company, you will undoubtedly progress beyond your boss.

Regards,

I have come across a similar situation at the office with one of my colleagues. I made my boss feel sorry even after leaving the organization. He apologized in front of everyone. Now, we are all on good terms and share good memories.

This happens when individual egos come between job profiles. Efficient subordinates are sometimes not tolerated by jealous bosses.

Regards,

Keep your cool. Frustration is not going to help anyone. All I would say is, you should have kept your boss informed about the discussion between you and the Ops GM. Always ensure that all the updates should reach your boss only through you. It should not reach him through anybody else. Even though you have put in all the efforts, you should have kept your boss in the loop.

Different Scenario

The senior management staff will be meeting each other on a regular basis, which you may not be aware of. They might meet for so many reasons. During such meetings, they discuss many things. Imagine if you were in your boss's position and some other department head was talking about the new sales account in the Senior Management Meeting. You would be totally embarrassed.

Even otherwise, if some other department head opens up about the new deal to you. Imagine if you were in your boss's position and you would be embarrassed because it would seem as if you have not received updates from your subordinates.

Being an experienced person, your boss could have handled it in a good way. But, as you said, he would have been worried about his own target.

The problem is that despite all your efforts, the Ops guy had gained the benefits because he would have projected it to the top management as his achievement. If you had kept your boss in the loop, I feel that he would have ensured benefits for himself and you as well.

I understand that you would not have concealed the information from your boss intentionally. But please ensure that this doesn't happen in the future. In today's professional arena, we need to be smart thinkers. We should also ensure that we don't embarrass or undermine anyone, particularly our boss.

Best wishes for a bright future. There is always sunshine at the end of a shadow. Please don't lose hope.

Regards,
Raman

"Move on with a positive note onward on your path" and find a better job. Also, look out for a fresh job and never overwork in a company that rightly values your contributions. New things are waiting for you.

My advice is to look forward to your career. Fighting is not wise; legal remedies may be required, which may not be possible except for a statement as you have written. I think you have proved you have skills; go for another job. Don't feel anything, and don't fight with your boss. You might meet him after some years, and then, obviously, he will realize his mistakes. I think the professional world is really small, so be honest with yourself and the company. Sometimes, seniors take it as a threat to their positions (it's a personal experience). Count yourself lucky that you have only spent 15 months of your career and have the rest of the employment to save.

Wish you all the best!

Warm regards,
Tahsin Raza

I agree with Imok. The corporate world is very small. Do not burn your bridges. You might require the experience letter from your ex-employer. Keep visiting HR consultancies for better opportunities. Stick to the same industry as you have gained good exposure. As soon as you get a new job, target the same client and bag it. Then meet your ex-boss and also inform the sales head of your previous company about the closure.

Feeling pity for you because you made all the effort to grow the plant into a tree, but the fruits are now being enjoyed by somebody else. What you can do is note this incident in your career notebook as a chapter of a real lesson. Be cautious and aware of such moronic people because the corporate world is full of such butt-heads and greedy, evil-minded souls who simply do not want the buds to grow.

Don't lose hope; start your battle to conquer the field and see the flag with your name waving high in your department of work.

Best of luck for a new start.

As per my understanding, your boss was worried about your progress and achievements. There was a serious threat to his job, and the only easy option was to move you out of the organization to be safe and also to close the new proposal.

We find such people all over the industry. The easy way is to either get ahead of them before they notice or move away from them for a better future. Remember the quote by Winston Churchill, "You will never reach your destination if you stop at every dog that barks."

Wishing you all the best for new assignments.

Regards.

Please move on with a positive note. I can perfectly understand your emotions, but such things are becoming regular, and the moment you keep the result away from your efforts, nothing can demotivate you. Be focused, put in the effort, march in the right direction, but keep away from the results. It's tough to practice, but you will see a spectacular difference in yourself as a person and in your life. Keep smiling.

Regards,
Hema

It is too late to comment on this topic, but it was really very bad what the boss did to you. However, I can say, be positive and move forward. Such situations can be found everywhere in your life, including office politics. You need to be cautious and not trust the commitments of any office person in your future endeavors. Do your best and maintain your enthusiasm.

Regards

Please file a report against the company's Managing Director. Cheating in any form is unacceptable. Don't worry, if they have provided you with an appointment letter stating a one-month notice period, you can take legal action against him.

Thank you.

Don't follow this method because revenge is a double-edged sword, and you risk jeopardizing your chances of being hired by the new company. When you make such suggestions, a responsible HR department would question what actions the candidate might take upon leaving our company. The moment HR starts to contemplate potential cancellations or terminations of your employment, your appointment could be at risk.

All the advice given by others is correct. Follow the same. Do not follow unethical practices while you are serving the notice period in that company. Check if you can take any legal action with respect to the notice period. The world is full of highly educated, highly qualified, highly respected, and reputed individuals. In sales, you are not supposed to believe even your own shadow; it is our foolishness to believe others, no matter even if they are our boss.

Important People in Life

In life, there are three people we should never forget:
1. **OURSELVES:** Do not lose hope; think positively.
2. **PERSON/PERSONS WHO SUPPORTED YOU:** People who are with you at any point in life.
3. **PERSON/PERSONS WHO BLAME YOU FOR EVERYTHING:** No one is born perfect. People who criticize us provide a great opportunity for learning in life.

This lesson that you have learned will help you throughout your lifetime. Always think positively and move forward. All the best.

My sincere advice to you is to please move on with peace in your mind. As I see it, you are hardworking, intelligent, and positive, and have done well for the company. However, the present case was never yours. As you yourself admit, the lead was given by your boss, the Travel Manager was his close friend, and they had a good rapport—you only did the legwork and prepared the case for your boss. It was more of a supporting role, which you did admirably. It also seems that you relied more on your boss's connections and references than anything else for this account.

Regarding his sidelining you, well, that is not surprising, as he wanted to take the glory for a big account for himself. In my view, you should not have resigned since it does not affect the company but may affect you individually. This situation may arise even in your new job. Remain in the system and fight until you have a better option outside or an opportunity to give one back to your colleague. Never quit like this.

Regards,
Ravi Thakur
VP Corporate - CS

I do not appreciate your decision, and let me be slightly blunt to say so. However, it would be easy for me to advise without having experienced the pain and heat of the real situation that you might have undergone.

Firm Belief and Practice

One firm belief and practice I always enforce with my team members and anybody, for that matter, is "DO NOT QUIT IF YOU ARE NOT WRONG." I know it reads slightly ideological, but it indeed works mostly.

If I were you, I would have created the maximum possible noise, the highest level of escalation, and fought back within the set decorum and organizational guidelines. I would have also gathered all possible evidence to substantiate your side of the story (such as the emails you shared with your boss and other relevant inputs of the same sort).

Now, look at this point: if this approach of yours had failed, at worst, you would have lost the job, which is the status now as well. But you would have felt less frustration and pain, and your ex-boss would have lost a significant amount of credibility. Also, he would have come under the scanner of his boss and other management layers, which is detrimental to his career. Even if you had given a hint of this kind of action or any escalation with the Ombuds, a wise boss would have settled the issue offline, giving you some other consideration, which you would have had a choice to choose. You know why? He can't afford to lose a battle with 10-12 years of his experience to your 1.5 odd years.

I don't mind empathizing with you, but that would not fix the issue. The industry is very big and fairly dynamic. Get into another job, and importantly, without any preconceived mindset. Good luck.

Regards,
UAP

In my opinion, you should grow a pair! Everyone has had a difficult boss. Look at it this way: The boss was an idiot. He stole your ideas and took credit for your work. (Sounds like some of the most famous businessmen out there! Steve Jobs, for example. It happens at every level, my friend.) The longer you lasted under a boss like that, the worse it would have been for you. In the initial stages of your career, don't worry about getting credit and getting paid as much as you should be worried about learning. Without even knowing it, you've gotten a hardcore lesson in office politics at this firm, and believe me, you won't realize it now, but it will certainly help a great deal in the long run. What you learned from this job is a lot more valuable than what you earned from it.