"I hope it's all so straightforward that I can easily make a decision"
That's what I wrote last night. I can't believe I am sitting here tonight with the realization that nothing is straightforward, yet I have to make a decision.
The "good" news is that the offer is indeed similar to what they offered last time around. A little less, but still quite good. When they presented the amounts, I was pretty pleased. They also presented alternatives, but the alternatives were either applying for an open position (which I had already ruled out) or insisting on keeping your employment in another way, which would result in them checking if you are entitled to a position someone else holds and kicking them out instead of you. Also not an option as there is nobody else in the company with a comparable job profile to mine.
So I thought I'd just have to wait for my individual specifics to be sent to me, and then I'd go my way.
Only they mentioned this possibility of keeping part of the business running after all if they'd get a core team to take care of the job. The core team existing of 5 people only. There was no information on how much longer the business would be running, only that it would eventually be ended, too, so that sounded like a pretty shitty alternative to taking the money and run. Especially if everyone else would be gone by the turn of the month. It has to be expected that not all ramp-down business will be sufficiently taken care of by then, and who will have to deal with that? The ones that stayed. And what for ...
While I was still waiting for the detailed e-mail that was promised to us, our new CEO sent me a chat message and asked for a call an hour later. We were already speaking before my e-mail arrived. Yes, you guessed correctly: he asked if I wanted to be part of the core team. Sigh. (Though I do feel a little flattered?)
He told me of two colleagues who had already decided to join, and he also named the other two who would be asked. He mentioned that it would not be disadvantageous for anyone compared to those who decide to leave now, but I couldn't quite believe that. He must have been right, though, because the PDFs we were later sent actually stated that those who join the core team have the right to the same severance package if they should be laid off, and even if they decide to quit on their own. I have to say that's pretty amazing.
Needless to say, though, I didn't agree to anything yet. This is all so chaotic. And I suck at making decisions. It doesn't really help that he said I have until tomorrow to decide.
I had done a pro/con list about 4(?) weeks ago whether I should try to stay with the company or not and came to the conclusion that I shouldn't opt for a position which isn't a good fit for me, but that this is a good time to re-evaluate my career path and correct it to a more "me" job while I'm still not too old.
I didn't take into consideration that there could be an option to keep my old position, though. That didn't seem like an option. Now it is, more or less. So I will need to think again. I'll do it here.
See, my con list was veeeery long. My pro list was shorter, and the main 2 arguments were keeping my level of income and not having to go job hunting. Everything else was not a big argument, but still valid now. There are two major additional pros now: still having the right to a pretty great severance package that was already negotiated for me, and doing exactly what I already did before.
OK, I'm not entirely sure about the "exactly." I do wonder how they want to keep going. But I'll get to that in a minute.
My most heavy cons on the old list were switching into a job profile that doesn't fit my personality, and not using the opportunity to get back on track for the next 3 decades of my remaining job career. I'd say those got slightly less heavy, but they are far from being resolved. If it weren't for the fact that I'm already handling the current partnerships, it would be exactly the same "wrong" job for me.
Next on my con list were two arguments that I also considered quite important. One was that I would probably not get the severance pay if I stayed there. That would indeed be the case if I applied for one of the open positions, but luckily I would still get it (at some point) if I did the core team job. One to cross off the list! The next was that I wouldn't get my much desired break if I stayed ...
I had been counting on that break. I wanted several month between me and a new job. I wanted to use it to get things done in the household. And to travel a bit with my ticket while I still can. (Admittedly, the fall season I mentioned in my last post doesn't make that so tempting right now, but I was almost sure that I'd get to have at least a week in Hamburg for a spontaneous trip next month or so.) When would I get that if I stayed now?
And that's actually a very valid point. I have no clue what the expectations are. In a way it sounds like they want us to keep going like the last couple of months: just make sure everything is running somehow, no need to advance anything. Um, I haven't really done much in that respect for weeks, so it would mean I'd get paid for really not doing a lot. Which could in theory give me the opportunity to indeed get a few things done at home on the side, but overall it sounds like a pretty unsatisfactory job.
But there will be moments when things need to be done, and need to be decided. I'd be all by myself. I'd no longer have a team to brainstorm with. I'd no longer have a teamlead to greenlight decisions for me. Or rather, a CEO might become my new teamlead, and I'm not sure I should bother them with these micromanagement topics. Or if they'd even be available that often.
Yes, I'd be all alone. I have been in contact with the other 4 people before, but never to the extent I have with many others. Nowadays my highlight is the chit-chat with the girls. I guess in the future I would not have any regular meetings with anyone for a long time. It might become super lonely. Additionally, I wouldn't have a replacement for when I'm on vacation. (The same applies to the other four.) Which can only mean it's OK and intentional that things turn chaotic repeatedly once we start with the core team, right? It seems odd that, in case I continue running the customer care, I could be gone for 3 weeks, and nobody takes care of the requests. Well, I could still install an OOO, I guess ...
I cannot tell if they'd have high expectations of me in that position or not. Maybe they really don't, but if they do, it could be a disaster. It could be pure stress.
As I said earlier, it is quite possible that we would not get everything handled this month, and then I'd be the one having to deal with it. But maybe I could? With all that time I have at my hands?
Most of the smaller points I had as arguments to leave don't apply to this new situation, so I could cross them off. The new CEO team and their attempts to save money remain. Well, they have saved a lot of money by only keeping 10% of the staff, so maybe the matter won't affect us further. But we'd definitely have to work closer with the CEOs. I'm not sure I like that.
The big question remains for HOW LONG this will even be. A few more months? A year? During the phone call, the CEO said he really can't tell, but that he could imagine that it would be more permanent, depending on how the market develops. Speaking of which: I have never been one to keep an eye on the market. Would I have to do that now?
There are also some topics we started and then neglected because it seemed to no longer make sense, but we would probably have to pick them up again. Boring legal stuff, meh.
I'm not sure this entry is any helpful. LOL In a way it would have been easier if I hadn't been approached, because then I would have just continued with what I thought would come. This makes everything harder.
The girls and I had established that it would be stupid to join that team. Now I am considering it?
In a way it's even a burden. If I'm not doing it, I know the other girls won't be doing it, so the core team wouldn't happen. The business would be shut down in two weeks. That also means that the people who have already made the decision to stay would be let down by me. Hold on. That is, IF they even agreed (sounds a bit quick for me.) Also, I am fully aware that this doesn't matter at all because my career decisions can under no circumstances be made just for the sake of other coworkers. Basically strangers. I will make a decision because of myself, not because of others.
So, what do I want? What harm could it cause to go a bit longer? In the worst case, the expectations would become too high, I would start looking for alternative jobs and maybe start a new one in some time anyway (probably without a break, or without full unemployment pay). In the medium case, the numbers will drop soon, partners might drop out, and they will decide once more that it's over, so everything will be the same as now, just be a bit delayed, and maybe with a bit more organizing on my plate (but without the winter-jobless blues). In the best case, it's going surprisingly well and I'll have secured my good job a bit longer, which is what would have happened under normal circumstances (since I had no intention of looking for a new job at my free will).
Would I appear as a traitor, though, if I stayed while others had to leave? Hmm.
It would be super convenient to just stay. For several reasons. I can only hope that the expectations would be low and that we'll continue like lately, while communicating openly with our partners for expectation management reasons. Then, why not? I could always leave if things don't look too good, but it's possible it will be ended by them not too much in the future anyway.
I'll have a meeting with HR tomorrow at noon where they plan to go through the options with me. I am not entirely sure if they know I was approached for the core team, but they should hopefully have some answers for that as well. I think I have a tendency to stay ... Is that stupid? My mom (to whom I explained the mess on the phone earlier) likened the situation to my previous job where so many people left and I ended up doing the tasks of several, which was pretty demanding at times, and she reminded me that I should consider if I wanted to go through the same again. I would have to make sure to keep my balance here. Plus, I get paid this time around - there's no real comparison.
OK. Enough of the babbling. Wish me luck for the right decision tomorrow ... Geez, I can't believe they give us such little time to make the decision ...
The "good" news is that the offer is indeed similar to what they offered last time around. A little less, but still quite good. When they presented the amounts, I was pretty pleased. They also presented alternatives, but the alternatives were either applying for an open position (which I had already ruled out) or insisting on keeping your employment in another way, which would result in them checking if you are entitled to a position someone else holds and kicking them out instead of you. Also not an option as there is nobody else in the company with a comparable job profile to mine.
So I thought I'd just have to wait for my individual specifics to be sent to me, and then I'd go my way.
Only they mentioned this possibility of keeping part of the business running after all if they'd get a core team to take care of the job. The core team existing of 5 people only. There was no information on how much longer the business would be running, only that it would eventually be ended, too, so that sounded like a pretty shitty alternative to taking the money and run. Especially if everyone else would be gone by the turn of the month. It has to be expected that not all ramp-down business will be sufficiently taken care of by then, and who will have to deal with that? The ones that stayed. And what for ...
While I was still waiting for the detailed e-mail that was promised to us, our new CEO sent me a chat message and asked for a call an hour later. We were already speaking before my e-mail arrived. Yes, you guessed correctly: he asked if I wanted to be part of the core team. Sigh. (Though I do feel a little flattered?)
He told me of two colleagues who had already decided to join, and he also named the other two who would be asked. He mentioned that it would not be disadvantageous for anyone compared to those who decide to leave now, but I couldn't quite believe that. He must have been right, though, because the PDFs we were later sent actually stated that those who join the core team have the right to the same severance package if they should be laid off, and even if they decide to quit on their own. I have to say that's pretty amazing.
Needless to say, though, I didn't agree to anything yet. This is all so chaotic. And I suck at making decisions. It doesn't really help that he said I have until tomorrow to decide.
I had done a pro/con list about 4(?) weeks ago whether I should try to stay with the company or not and came to the conclusion that I shouldn't opt for a position which isn't a good fit for me, but that this is a good time to re-evaluate my career path and correct it to a more "me" job while I'm still not too old.
I didn't take into consideration that there could be an option to keep my old position, though. That didn't seem like an option. Now it is, more or less. So I will need to think again. I'll do it here.
See, my con list was veeeery long. My pro list was shorter, and the main 2 arguments were keeping my level of income and not having to go job hunting. Everything else was not a big argument, but still valid now. There are two major additional pros now: still having the right to a pretty great severance package that was already negotiated for me, and doing exactly what I already did before.
OK, I'm not entirely sure about the "exactly." I do wonder how they want to keep going. But I'll get to that in a minute.
My most heavy cons on the old list were switching into a job profile that doesn't fit my personality, and not using the opportunity to get back on track for the next 3 decades of my remaining job career. I'd say those got slightly less heavy, but they are far from being resolved. If it weren't for the fact that I'm already handling the current partnerships, it would be exactly the same "wrong" job for me.
Next on my con list were two arguments that I also considered quite important. One was that I would probably not get the severance pay if I stayed there. That would indeed be the case if I applied for one of the open positions, but luckily I would still get it (at some point) if I did the core team job. One to cross off the list! The next was that I wouldn't get my much desired break if I stayed ...
I had been counting on that break. I wanted several month between me and a new job. I wanted to use it to get things done in the household. And to travel a bit with my ticket while I still can. (Admittedly, the fall season I mentioned in my last post doesn't make that so tempting right now, but I was almost sure that I'd get to have at least a week in Hamburg for a spontaneous trip next month or so.) When would I get that if I stayed now?
And that's actually a very valid point. I have no clue what the expectations are. In a way it sounds like they want us to keep going like the last couple of months: just make sure everything is running somehow, no need to advance anything. Um, I haven't really done much in that respect for weeks, so it would mean I'd get paid for really not doing a lot. Which could in theory give me the opportunity to indeed get a few things done at home on the side, but overall it sounds like a pretty unsatisfactory job.
But there will be moments when things need to be done, and need to be decided. I'd be all by myself. I'd no longer have a team to brainstorm with. I'd no longer have a teamlead to greenlight decisions for me. Or rather, a CEO might become my new teamlead, and I'm not sure I should bother them with these micromanagement topics. Or if they'd even be available that often.
Yes, I'd be all alone. I have been in contact with the other 4 people before, but never to the extent I have with many others. Nowadays my highlight is the chit-chat with the girls. I guess in the future I would not have any regular meetings with anyone for a long time. It might become super lonely. Additionally, I wouldn't have a replacement for when I'm on vacation. (The same applies to the other four.) Which can only mean it's OK and intentional that things turn chaotic repeatedly once we start with the core team, right? It seems odd that, in case I continue running the customer care, I could be gone for 3 weeks, and nobody takes care of the requests. Well, I could still install an OOO, I guess ...
I cannot tell if they'd have high expectations of me in that position or not. Maybe they really don't, but if they do, it could be a disaster. It could be pure stress.
As I said earlier, it is quite possible that we would not get everything handled this month, and then I'd be the one having to deal with it. But maybe I could? With all that time I have at my hands?
Most of the smaller points I had as arguments to leave don't apply to this new situation, so I could cross them off. The new CEO team and their attempts to save money remain. Well, they have saved a lot of money by only keeping 10% of the staff, so maybe the matter won't affect us further. But we'd definitely have to work closer with the CEOs. I'm not sure I like that.
The big question remains for HOW LONG this will even be. A few more months? A year? During the phone call, the CEO said he really can't tell, but that he could imagine that it would be more permanent, depending on how the market develops. Speaking of which: I have never been one to keep an eye on the market. Would I have to do that now?
There are also some topics we started and then neglected because it seemed to no longer make sense, but we would probably have to pick them up again. Boring legal stuff, meh.
I'm not sure this entry is any helpful. LOL In a way it would have been easier if I hadn't been approached, because then I would have just continued with what I thought would come. This makes everything harder.
The girls and I had established that it would be stupid to join that team. Now I am considering it?
In a way it's even a burden. If I'm not doing it, I know the other girls won't be doing it, so the core team wouldn't happen. The business would be shut down in two weeks. That also means that the people who have already made the decision to stay would be let down by me. Hold on. That is, IF they even agreed (sounds a bit quick for me.) Also, I am fully aware that this doesn't matter at all because my career decisions can under no circumstances be made just for the sake of other coworkers. Basically strangers. I will make a decision because of myself, not because of others.
So, what do I want? What harm could it cause to go a bit longer? In the worst case, the expectations would become too high, I would start looking for alternative jobs and maybe start a new one in some time anyway (probably without a break, or without full unemployment pay). In the medium case, the numbers will drop soon, partners might drop out, and they will decide once more that it's over, so everything will be the same as now, just be a bit delayed, and maybe with a bit more organizing on my plate (but without the winter-jobless blues). In the best case, it's going surprisingly well and I'll have secured my good job a bit longer, which is what would have happened under normal circumstances (since I had no intention of looking for a new job at my free will).
Would I appear as a traitor, though, if I stayed while others had to leave? Hmm.
It would be super convenient to just stay. For several reasons. I can only hope that the expectations would be low and that we'll continue like lately, while communicating openly with our partners for expectation management reasons. Then, why not? I could always leave if things don't look too good, but it's possible it will be ended by them not too much in the future anyway.
I'll have a meeting with HR tomorrow at noon where they plan to go through the options with me. I am not entirely sure if they know I was approached for the core team, but they should hopefully have some answers for that as well. I think I have a tendency to stay ... Is that stupid? My mom (to whom I explained the mess on the phone earlier) likened the situation to my previous job where so many people left and I ended up doing the tasks of several, which was pretty demanding at times, and she reminded me that I should consider if I wanted to go through the same again. I would have to make sure to keep my balance here. Plus, I get paid this time around - there's no real comparison.
OK. Enough of the babbling. Wish me luck for the right decision tomorrow ... Geez, I can't believe they give us such little time to make the decision ...