Management, trust what they say or is it all lies?

[SarahC07 0]

Let's talk in hypotheticals...

I have the following:

Client A - GREAT experience for me. I'm learning a lot (not because I'm being taught but because I'm not an idiot, I can figure things out and I work harder than the average employee). Greatest single source of income for my company. One of the highers ups with Client A has given me one bonus and will be giving me another at year end. No one else at my company knows how to manage Client A's account and they are very demanding. It's a FIVE STAR account. The same higher up who's bonusing said to me "the only reason still has his account is because I manage it"

Client B - A 'so so' experience for me. They're probably a TWO STAR. Semi time consuming but for no good reason. Client is not making money, they're losing and that is completely beyond my control.

Now, my boss sits me down to talk about making some changes. He wants to take me off Client B and give it to someone else, let me take on Project XYZ (very different from Clients A or B) and let me train someone how to manage Client A. I automatically get defensive and assume my boss is trying to ween me off Client A's account. He claims it's strictly a business decision - It's just not smart business to have only ONE person capable of managing Client A's account, especially since it brings in the most money for the company. What if I quit? What if something happens to me and I can't work?

My question to you guys - do I believe them (the boss types)? Or do I go to the higher up with Client A and tell him I'm moving, I'd like to bring his account with me? The higher up with Client A has discussed possibly relocating me to another company he'd prefer to do business with.

I'm having a hard time not over thinking this? It's one of my worst faults. suggestions?

[bfilarsky 0]

I dunno. Sounds like your boss is full of shit though. You're probably the one who can best figure out the right answer, what with you being the one to work with him and all. Good luck!

[quade 4]

It is a RARE boss that ever tells the complete truth when it comes to job reassignments. Remember it's their job to look out for themselves and not you. While he is telling you the truth that; " It's just not smart business to have only ONE person capable of managing Client A's account . . . ," He's also screwing YOU over by forcing you to train your replacement.

Use caution. It might just be a move to replace you altogether with a less expensive body. Not that there's probably anything you can do about it.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[SarahC07 0]

What my bosses don't know is what kind of influence I have on the account. It is possible that if I picked up the phone and called my contact with Client A and explained to him situation, he just might say let's move. I have a better relationship with Client A than my boss does. My employer might just be fucked.

[quade 4]

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What my bosses don't know is what kind of influence I have on the account. It is possible that if I picked up the phone and called my contact with Client A and explained to him situation, he just might say let's move. I have a better relationship with Client A than my boss does. My employer might just be fucked.

That's a hell of a gamble and if it didn't work out you'd be screwed for certain. In rough times like these you can't be 100% sure you can steal a client. Never mind the fact it's considered unethical by most professions too. Depending on the exact business, it might even be grounds for a lawsuit.

I can't really give you any solid advice here, but you really do need to be cautious when dealing you're perceived to be as was once told to me "holding the department hostage" because you're "too important" for some aspect. Depending on the boss, he can become threatened and move to minimalize your importance, which then makes you vulnerable to all sorts of nasty things later.

The best thing I think would be for the client to periodically reinforce how important relationships are with you to your boss and your boss' boss, but that's awfully difficult to pull off.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[SarahC07 0]

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What my bosses don't know is what kind of influence I have on the account. It is possible that if I picked up the phone and called my contact with Client A and explained to him situation, he just might say let's move. I have a better relationship with Client A than my boss does. My employer might just be fucked.

That's a hell of a gamble and if it didn't work out you'd be screwed for certain. In rough times like these you can't be 100% sure you can steal a client. Never mind the fact it's considered unethical by most professions too. Depending on the exact business, it might even be grounds for a lawsuit.

I can't really give you any solid advice here, but you really do need to be cautious when dealing you're perceived to be as was once told to me "holding the department hostage" because you're "too important" for some aspect. Depending on the boss, he can become threatened and move to minimalize your importance, which then makes you vulnerable to all sorts of nasty things later.

The best thing I think would be for the client to periodically reinforce how important relationships are with you to your boss and your boss' boss, but that's awfully difficult to pull off.

I shouldn't get so defensive, so quickly. I should mention that this client previously confronted me about moving to a different company with his account and not for performance reasons, for business relationship reasons. HE asked ME to move first. For timing reasons, it didn't pan out but he's put me on "hold" and told me that I should be "prepared to move at any time".

[SimpleJack 0]

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What my bosses don't know is what kind of influence I have on the account. It is possible that if I picked up the phone and called my contact with Client A and explained to him situation, he just might say let's move. I have a better relationship with Client A than my boss does. My employer might just be fucked.

You are being screwed. Trust me. I’ve been in similar situations.

The problem is, you can’t really do that much about it except quit. It is his company and his client that you have been assigned to work with. He has a right to find someone cheaper or someone he perceives as being better for the job.

Don’t like it? Get angry. Angry enough to start your own company, accept all debts, liabilities and be able to get your own clients and pretty soon, you too can be as selfish and 2-faced as your employer.

Don’t take it personally. It’s all part of our wonderful free-market society.

[bradcurn 0]

From the company's perspective it is completely reasonable to want to make sure that they have a backup plan if you are no longer able (or willing) to service this client, in the best interests of the company.

It is not necessarily an indication that you are about to get screwed. It may be, but that would depend on the culture of the company and the integrity of the individual manager. Do you have any experience or knowledge about those issues that would lead you to believe it's likely that you are being set up for a screwing?

Final thought - when you took the job, you agreed to a contract in terms of which you would use your skills, knowledge and energy during working hours for the benefit of your employer. In return you would be paid some form of remuneration for your efforts.

Ethically, I think it would be problematic to intentionally embark on a course of action which would significantly harm the interests of the company, based on a position of power that the company made available to you when you accepted the job.

Ultimately it's your decision, and you need to do what's best for you. But if it were me, I think I'd be uncomfortable with the idea of screwing the company, unless I was absolutely convinced that they were planning to screw me first.

[popsjumper 2]

OK...I'm going to muddy the waters even more...

Hypothetically speaking, of course:
Integrity was mentioned above. Do you think that integrity might be important to Client A?

How would it reflect on you to show him that you are willing to "screw them before they screw you" by moving out with the account.

Client A telling YOU to be prepared to move?????
No. You move. THEN Client A has the option to stay where he is or to relocate with you. It's gotta be his decision to move to you in such a manner as to not give weight to your old boss' future claim that you "stole" their clients.


Side note:
Having spent 25 years in the corporate world, I can empathize. While "for the good of the company" may be valid reasoning (and keep in mind that your boss may be legitimately doing that), it's rarely nothing more than a boss covering his ass when he wants to do something stupid for selfish reasons. Depends on the boss. It's just that in the big scheme of things, office politics weighs mre than "the good of the company".

Integrity is nice. You'll rarely find it in the corporate world...very similar to the political world with much more backbiting going on.

Good luck with whatever you do.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[popsjumper 2]

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Don’t take it personally. It’s all part of our wonderful free-market society. office politics

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[Andy9o8 2]

Most of what I'd say has already been posted by the others.
Consider a way to screw your boss over in a major way. Perhaps blackmail (through an agent, of course) or even assassination. It's him or you.

[tumbler 0]

So lets see…

You and your company’s client are in collusion to have you move to a third company and take the first companies business there?

Did we skip ethics day at the university?

First, you are an employee and representative of your company. When your company’s client “asked” you to relocate to another firm, taking them with you, why didn’t you tell your company about this? It is a woeful situation on both parties. They should not try to get you to move and you should have the integrity to tell your current employer.

Now, you are pissed off because your boss is adding someone else from his company to that account? Perhaps he or she is just smart enough to see something is amiss in your relationship with his/her client and is taking steps to ensure they don’t leave. Seems pretty darn astute to me.

Also, why is the other company in your charge languishing so? Are you just taking the easy road with the big dollar, easy money company and spending no time to understand the other clients needs? Your boss asking just a little to much from ya?

Of course, we are just talking hypothetically.

[airdvr 210]

Just a couple questions.

Client A has given me one bonus and will be giving me another at year end

The client gave you a bonus? Does the company know about this? Seems very strange that a client would give a bonus to another company's employee.

Greatest single source of income for my company

Would the company survive without this client?

It is smart business to not have only one person who can do a particular job. Particularly if that person starts thinking they are indispensable.

The same higher up who's bonusing said to me "the only reason still has his account is because I manage it"

Isn't that what your company pays you to do?

In the corporate world you are what's known as an "empire builder". You are an asset and liability at the same time and your boss knows this. ANd you can be sure the company will not just roll over and let you take off with their biggest client without a fight. I see injunctions and restraining orders in your future.

My advice is to do your job, do it well, or leave and start your own business to try and lure the client away. This would be ethical. But remember, if the client will roll your company over they just might do it to your new company too.

BTW, I don't envy your situation.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[SarahC07 0]

Unfortunately, I now look like an ass. Wether or not that's true is not up to an internet forum. I really was just looking for insight, this is situation I have never encountered.

A few more bits of relevant info:

1. My employer is small, very new company. All employees have been treated like employees, taxed as SE's and have NO benefits. He's been in business for almost 2 years. The IRS would have a blast auditing him.

2. I've been with the company for about a year. I have been taught close to ZERO from my bosses. Needless to say, they have been bad managers YTD.

3. My employer was about 14 days from being fired off of Client A's account. I came on board, showed some intiative and turned it around. Client recognized it and rewarded.

4. My boss was previously asked to leave another company because sexual harasment law suit was filed against him. They said leave or we're firing you. He left. Had I known this a year ago, I wouldn't be working with him.

5. I hardly signed a contract when I started working. Like I said, small start up business with people who don't know what they're doing running the show.

6. Yes, my employer knows about the bonuses. He supported them.

7. The company would suffer A LOT if they lost Client A. We have no other clients bringing us anywhere near the same amount of money.

8. My boss is not a good manager (to say it lightly) and has no idea how to do what I do. I work with a specific breed of monster and since I essentially rescued the account, I kind of feel like it's my baby.

[nanook 1]

The thing that glares out the most at me is the fact that only you know how to handle this client. My "business" is military so there may not be enough of a parallel here. But what I see is only one person who can do something. . .which is bad for business and what they beat into us as leaders to never let happen. I also learned this in university. Back then, it was called "information silo"; usually caused by people trying to create job security. I believe if you try to resist what your bosses are trying to do, it would be in their best interest to get rid of you. Short term loss-long term gain. I believe this is how they see this.

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"The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never know if they are genuine" - Abraham Lincoln

[davelepka 4]

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let me train someone how to manage Client A.

As long as the trainee doesn't get any part of your bonuses, what do you care? If the bonuses will be split, or you'll loose them all together, then you need to be compensated for the 'training' to offset that loss. Beyond the training, you'll need an increase in your base pay to cover the further losses.

At this point your boss has acknowledged your value to the company in several ways. Your capacity as an employee is certainly much different now than it was at the time you were hired, and your employment 'contract' needs to be altered accordingly.

I'm not sure I would reslut to straight up blackmale, but I would certainly 'remind' him of your value to the company when you sit down to discuss your compensation.

One thing to keep in mind, if you signed a contract of any kind, read it over and see if there's any sort of non-compete agreement built into it. If there is it may limit what you can 'get away with' in terms of seeking new employment, and taking client A with you, or possibly even just getting client A to dump that company if you leave.

Non-competes are complicated, and each state has different ideas of what is, or is not acceptable within a non-compete agreement. It a tough thing to tell someone they cannot seek employment in their chosen field after they quit/get fired. Look into what your state will and will not allow within a non-compete (if there is one). Of course, like any contract, a non-compete is only a factor if your employer would actually enforce it, aka sue you for breach of contract. If your boss is playing fast and loose with the books, he might not be the type who wants to show up in court and sit under the magnifying glass.