Facing a Demotion After Brand Change: How Should I Handle This Career Setback?

My name is Naved. I am working with a retail Pvt. Ltd. company for their Microsoft Priority showroom as a Retail Store Manager for mobile sales. The mobile company is winding up its business, and my company is going to start with another brand but is not accepting me in the new mobile brand. They are transferring me to their sports product brand and offering me a Supervisor position, which is lower than a Store Manager. I am totally fed up because the nature of my work would change, and I will lose the designation that I earned in these 5 years.

What should I do? Please suggest.

"Degradation through Transfer" is called "Demotion." It is unfortunate that your company had to close its business operations. These things do happen because of the quirks of fate.

Nevertheless, there is a silver lining. Your company has offered you alternate employment. They could have removed you from the job, but they have not. Now, you have two options. One is to accept whatever is offered to you. Another is to quit the employment. Therefore, you may do the Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and choose the right option.

Quitting the job would mean protecting the designation, but it will also bring a career setback, posing a problem for you. Secondly, what is the guarantee that you will easily get the manager's job?

Continuing the employment with a demotion would mean continuity in employment; however, while looking for the next job, it could create a problem as you will find it difficult to explain the causes of your demotion. What is the guarantee that the future employer will take at face value whatever you say?

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

I agree with Dinesh. Also, you will learn about sports business as well. You cannot be made a store manager of the sports division without any experience. Therefore, gain at least 3 years of good supervisory experience, and then you will have two future options: Mobile and sports.

Very rightly advised by Shri Dinesh Divekar. Otherwise, you don't have any rightful claim to a job in the new company if the existing company sacks you on winding up.

However, the present offer may be to avoid payment of compensation for retrenchment or severance allowance upon winding up their business.

Concerns About Job Transition and Retrenchment

My designation is a result of my five years of tenure with hard work on a lower salary. The other part of my problem is that they are starting a mobile business with another brand but are not ready to accept me there, nor are they willing to tell me the reason. As per the situation, they are showing that they are trying to save my job, which is not true. It is a voluntary act by the company as a forced resignation. Why are they not offering me the retrenchment option so I can get some compensation and find another suitable job?

Can I ask for retrenchment by myself?

Dear Naved Ali,

If an alternative appointment option is given, you can't force the company for your retrenchment. The event of retrenchment always rests with the employer's choice, not the employee's choice, as that is subject to the offer of no alternative appointment. In fact, the employer has chosen a safe way of getting rid of employees.