I found out why I really got layed off!!!!

[gekko man]

I was layed off from a major organization that was a metal bender to OEM's in December. I was told it was due to lack of server business in Texas an d that they no longer wanted to participate in the industry.

When I started in the territory 11 years ago, we were doing a whopping $1.5 M per Chinese invasion, I did $25 M. The owner refused to sell anything for less than 40% GP. I did have other accounts that did add to about $8.0 M in business when I left.

Today I was talking to a rep that I used to work with he told me that his ex boss told him that I was let go because I was looking for a job and they just did me a favor in letting me go. The exact words were, Bill found out you were looking for a job and he did you a favor". I knew that there was something else going on and that the company line was BS. I got 7 weeks of severance and a seperation package.

I was called by our distributor about 6 months ago to discuss a position and never thought about it again. It was an interview but ended more of a conversation on how to grow their business with the OEM's that were telling us to shove off due to our cost structure and business tactics.

I am ****** that I was lied to and that they are spreading this rumor in the industry. I do not want to work for these guys ever again but I can not stand to sit back and let this spineless peice of slim get away with what he has done.

It seems that when it comes to employment, it is a one way street.

What means of retribution do I have at this point after signing their seperation agreement?

Tine flies when your not working!!!!

[jyoung]

Texas is an "at will" employment state. Not sure there is anything you can do but chalk it up as a lesson.

[Eric4x4]

Sorry to hear about that.

[justletmein]

Sorry about that, but 7 weeks free money and separation package can be quite handy assuming you can find employment somewhere else pretty quick. Perhaps he really did think he was doing you a favor and handing you some free money.

[Rickzilla4645]

You did 8 m in business for them? A year?. Seems to me that I could live very well on about 10% of that a year...Did you really need your boss to tell you what to do or when...Does he sit in a tree stand with you and tell you when to shoot...whisper...shoot Bob...shoot...now Bob!!! No!!!! Hey guess what Bob... you don't need him....take this time to figure out how to do what they do only cheaper...make deals... outsource... contract...take all of his customers...they gave you how much severence pay???? You mean they are actually stupid enough to pay you while you do this, what a moron!!! You can do it...the only one holding you back is you!!!! Everyone of his customers is looking for a better deal!!!! Everyone of his suppliers is looking to sell more inventory....and there are plenty of shops out there with capabilities to do whatever it is that he does, and they will do it cheaper, faster, higher quality, and more dependable...if they don't , move on...I keep asking myself why do I get up every morning at 6:00 a.m. to make that unappreciative you know what... richer...when I go out every night and work the exact same job for myself and 3x the money...how is it that ,that jerk, literally, able to get away with what he does...want to know...because I allow it... why , because he has the business....not much longer...want to know another really fun fact, my boss avoids me like the plague...why...he has absolutely no concept of what I do or how I do it...all he knows is that he needs me or someone like me (he is afraid of me!!!) and he is afraid of the alternative.....knowledge is power, just like women know that what they have up top....gives them power... and they know it...you got it to , it's just higher up, between you ears...shoot Bob...now! Shoot Bob!!! That will be your revenge..when all of his customers are yours...when all of his employees are yours...just don't forget where you came from

[Chew]

Dang Rick.....you make me want to quit the Sheriff's Dept. and start my own county with me in charge!

Good advice there.

[ranchdog]

You did 8 m in business for them? A year?. Seems to me that I could live very well on about 10% of that a year...Did you really need your boss to tell you what to do or when...Does he sit in a tree stand with you and tell you when to shoot...whisper...shoot Bob...shoot...now Bob!!! No!!!! Hey guess what Bob... you don't need him....take this time to figure out how to do what they do only cheaper...make deals... outsource... contract...take all of his customers...they gave you how much severence pay???? You mean they are actually stupid enough to pay you while you do this, what a moron!!! You can do it...the only one holding you back is you!!!! Everyone of his customers is looking for a better deal!!!! Everyone of his suppliers is looking to sell more inventory....and there are plenty of shops out there with capabilities to do whatever it is that he does, and they will do it cheaper, faster, higher quality, and more dependable...if they don't , move on...I keep asking myself why do I get up every morning at 6:00 a.m. to make that unappreciative you know what... richer...when I go out every night and work the exact same job for myself and 3x the money...how is it that ,that jerk, literally, able to get away with what he does...want to know...because I allow it... why , because he has the business....not much longer...want to know another really fun fact, my boss avoids me like the plague...why...he has absolutely no concept of what I do or how I do it...all he knows is that he needs me or someone like me (he is afraid of me!!!) and he is afraid of the alternative.....knowledge is power, just like women know that what they have up top....gives them power... and they know it...you got it to , it's just higher up, between you ears...shoot Bob...now! Shoot Bob!!! That will be your revenge..when all of his customers are yours...when all of his employees are yours...just don't forget where you came from

Well, not much more needs to said here. He nailed it dude, Get up in the morning and start kicking that guys arse buy doing just what Rick says.

[Rickzilla4645]

Thanks Chew, thanks Ranchdog, just common sense don't you think, and yes let's start our own county, country, just south of the Rio Grande with the southern border just north of Panama, seems to me that most of the people will be on our side...Free of.... read our constitution...with liberty and justice for all...by popular election of course...seems those people have been oppressed long enough, or they would not be trying to get here so bad. I just spent a day lost in the wilds of So. Tx. Cavanagh Ranch, that is one big swamp just no water...thank god for Mr. Hicks, we would have never gotten in or out...I can only imagine how they do it....

[chongo]

What means of retribution do I have at this point after signing their seperation agreement?

You really dont have any options you signed a release stating that your employment is no longer active with the company and will accept a 7 weeks severance and sep. package. Any option you might of had was signed away with your signature. Sorry to hear about it - good luck with the job hunt

[buck_wild]

he might have agreed to a "no competition clause" as part of the separation ????

[Bluesman]

Based on what I've seen actually happen in the past:
No compete agreements are useless. If you know only the business that you were in you can work for a competitor any time you want. No one can deny you the ability to work unless it is illegal. They might stop your Severance pay but they don't have to know either.

Seperatation agreements usually ask you to agree not to sue the Company for various things. Usually they are specific but in reality they tend to point to areas where they have weaknesses or have had trouble in the past. Some are copied off the internet. Bottom line is that you got a severance package for signing the thing. The fact that the Company may have violated a State or Federal employment law isn't going away simply because you signed anything. If you get my drift, you cannot right a wrong. You had no influence in a Company breaking a law.
If you're under 40 years you're not going to have much to say.

I've worked in 4 States and all were Right To Work States or as some call it Employment at will. In 3 Law suits where I had to give testimony none even mentioned the State Employment laws. All were Federal Discrimination Employment law infractions.

Unless you have a ton of proof, a lot of time, and are willing to be beat to death in court don't even attempt anything.
I'm no lawyer but I've been at managing manufacturing for 39 years, In general if you get fired or "laid-off". It is often an employer that may not be capable of managing your activites. Pardon the rant but, this is The United States of America and you can make a living any way you choose as long as it is legal. Use the experience you just went through and go get it.

[Bones]

This is Texas. Depending on how you look at it, we are either an at will employment state or a right to work state. non-competes be ****ed get to it.

We just sold out for 9M, if a non compete held water we would have been worthless. To bad that I was not a sole proprietor.