ModernMuscleCars.net - Modern Muscle Cars Archive - All Good things must come to an End...

Pages: 1

All Good things must come to an End...
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: KenA

Well guys, after a management change at the shop at the beginning of this year, it looks like I will be resigning at the end of the upcoming week. For those who don't know, I have worked for HDI (HANS Device) for the past 3.5 years. I am really sad to see this chapter of my life coming to an end. I thought it would be a real long-term deal. Our new CEO is trying to make all of the employees sign a very broad Non-Compete clause

. Basically, this contract says that for two years after my termination/resignation, that I cannot work in the Auto racing industry. They can sue me if I do. Since I love the racing industry, and I have a definate intrest to stay there, I really can't sign this contract. I do not have enough of a vested intrest (I am not paid well, and have no profit sharing etc. in the company) so my lawyers and family have advised against it.

I will be relocating back to Chicago at the beginning of the month. I have a few carpentry side jobs lined up that actually pay almost twice as much as I make now!

I might be away from the computer for a while after next week comes to an end. I have such mixed emotions right now that I really don't know what to do. I am sad to be leaving, mad about this legal bullshit, and excited about moving back home. I am so stressed!

Anyway, thanks for listening to my rant. I know things will work themselves out and that I will be stable or even better off than I am now before too long. Any tips or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks guys

Posted by: Slow Nova

Well, at least you didn't get fired or laid off...and you have another job lined up making more money.

I know WAY too many people that just simply can't find work.

Posted by: LS1JAY

Hope everything works out for you!

Posted by: MadScientistMatt

Sorry to hear that, Ken. But I'm glad to hear you've stuck to your guns and decided that there are more important things than this current job. Want to meet up sometime before you leave?

Posted by: No Rice Allowed

Dang, Jay gives up the Pewter Ghost and now this? Hope everything gets better for ya......

Posted by: 28

Hope everything works out for ya Ken...Good luck man.

Posted by: skeezix

Sounds like those guys were being a buncha dicks for having you sign that 'clause' thingy. Glad to hear you got some things lined up, Ken. Best of luck to you man.

Posted by: MikeT

Well Ken, I'm the last person you'd want employment advice from. So, I won't give you any. I will say that I think you'll do just fine. And like SlowNova said, youv'e already got some worked lined up. So, you're off to a good start.

Posted by: Mr. P

Your boss just showed his hand as being an asshole, period.

Chances are, I've spent more money in a year, and over the last 7 years, than he did, and I would never even think of asking my employees to sign anything like that. The guy needs to look ahead and plan on being innovative and respected in the industry. Instead, he's looking at his own underpaid and loyal employees as a potential threat. Sheesh, what a dickhead.

The people who worked for me, always would come to me when they were offered another job, to discuss it, because they wanted to stay with me. I always matched their offer. No need to be training people to work for your competition. Well there were a few that got Donald Trumps favorite two words, heh heh, but the ones who were loyal and worked, always got the benefit of the doubt.

Ken, you may as well split. Your company has a management problem at the top that will be manifest in other ways in the future. May as well go work for the competition now, heh heh.

Keep your head up. There's a world of opportunity out there for anyone who is willing to work, and anyone who has good people skills.

Years ago I had a similar decision to make. I didn't think the people I was associated with had the high standards I could look up to and endorse, so bub bye. I never looked back, just looked ahead and lived my life. Those assholes had to live with their miserable greedy selves, and I am sooo glad I didn't waste another minute with them.

When you leave, be sure you write a professional letter noting that you simply lose confidence in an administration who does not trust loyal people, you see this as a weakness in management, and a weakness in the ability of the company to remain innovative, if they are paranoid about the people who work for them. It is also a signal that they don't think they are going to treat their people well enough to voluntarily stay with them.

Mr. P

Posted by: GMR

Good luck Ken, I hope everythings works outs for ya.

LS

Posted by: cswrench

Just Stab him in the back! Come work For Bill Simpson here in Indy just a few hrs from the windy city!

Posted by: Tang

Sorry to hear it Ken, hope thing work out for ya. Maybe you and Mikey up in Chicago can go clubin' to clear your head.

On a nother note, wipe your ass with the stupid fockers contract.

Posted by: KenA

It's just so unfortunate that things had to end this way. Just a sad deal all around..Nothing like trying to retain your employees with threats of possible future litigation

. Thanks for your well wishes, I appreciate them all...

Posted by: Mr. P

let us know when we can send letters, and who to send them to, heh heh

I understand that your company has recently initiated a policy of intimidation
........and unlawful labor practice.....................

Mr. P

Posted by: GMR

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. P


	let us know when we can send letters, and who to send them to, heh heh I understand that your company has recently initiated a policy of intimidation ........and unlawful labor practice..................... Mr. P

Very true, itll catch up to him sooner or later. Just be glad you didnt stick around for the shit to hit the fan.

LS

Posted by: JustaV6

sorry to hear it Ken...

at least you are comin home to Chicago though...good place to get going again

Posted by: KenA

Well, Today is my last day. Nobody has a clue that I will be resigning at 6PM...This is tougher on me than I thought because I have so much of my heart wrapped up in this company. I am preparing a letter for My real boss, and a considerably shorter letter for the new CEO...It's especially tough because they expect me to be working the Mitty Historic race up at Road Atlanta this weekend. Oh well. Wish me luck guys...Man, this sucks...

Posted by: ragtop

Well Ken, you gotta do what you gotta do. Hope it works out for you.

Posted by: Mr. P

Ken...........go in and tell they philosophically you can't go along with it. Have your resignation ready if it comes to that. They may make an exception for you, you never know. You get what you can negotiate in life. Tell them that "no compete clauses" are seldom used in professional work environments because professionals don't like to be treated like that, because it sends a message that the company does not trust the individual, and TRUST is what good management and fine companies are all about.

Try the "lets talk" routine first.

Tell them how much you've put into this company, and how much you enjoy doing what you're doing, etc. Tell them you had no intentions of working for the competiton because you are a loyal employee.

Then tell them about your personal dignity, integrity, work ethic, and philosophy. Tell them how you feel about being forced to sign a contract that can potentially affect you after you leave the company, and don't let them know you have the resignation letter.

If you have not seen the no compete clause, then you better take a look, it may not be as bad as you think. If you leave on your own, it may take effect. If you are fired, it may not, you never know. In order to get out of it, you may have the option to be fired, never know, but it's worth discussing before you just shove the letter across the table and screw them and yourself.

If it get's to it, then tell them "I am prepared to resign over this issue" and let them see the letter still in the envelope.

If they don't perk up then, the person you're talking to is an unskilled lowlife who may not have the authority to make the call. If so, you should be talking to someone else. Therefore I suggest you start with the top, or the highest official you think you have a chance to influence.

If there is a time frame for signing the contract, you may want to stay on with the company long enough to use that time to make contacts with other associated companies that you may want to work for. It would appear that this weekend may be a good exposure to that market.

Good luck guy, all the best.

Mr. P

Posted by: Mr. P

Why don't you call both of your bosses, your immediate supervisor and the new CEO in at an agreed upon time. Talk to them both at the same time. Schedule it now. Tell them you need a few minutes of their time to discuss an issue with them, and ask them "when" would be a good time to do it.

Approach this with sincerity and a positive tone, as character and class will come out, and if they have "any" themselves, the will recognize what they're about to lose. If they tell you "good luck" then shake hands and never look back, because it may well be a blessing in disguise.

Mr. P

Posted by: ragtop

BTW, Ken, if the contract wasn't signed when you got hired and if they didn't give you anything in exchange for signing the contract, its unenforceable. We went throught the same thing here last month with our non-compete contracts.

Posted by: 3SuperSports

Good luck.

Posted by: Mr. P

If Ken does leave, we must formulate a plan to all call the company, and act like choirboys who grew up to be conservative businessmen, and ask for Ken.

When they say he doesn't work here any more, would you like to speak to someone else, then we'll all say "no", and then tell them how much we enjoyed working with Ken and what a good image Ken presented for the company, and what a good embassador he was, and then hang up. Any monkey business will ruin it, so these calls will have to be legit.

Mr. P

Posted by: 3SuperSports

Great idea.
A friend of mine (unsolicited) called the place I used to work and asked for me, not knowing I'd left the day before. When they told him I no longer worked there, "can someone else help you" He said; "No, he's the only one I deal with there". and hung up.

Posted by: The OLE MAN

Hey KENNY,

onward and upward

The OLE MAN

Posted by: KenA

Well, It went better than I ever expected it to go. I sat down with Jim, and he expressed his sadness with me leaving, and acknowledged that the company is where it is in large part to me. He will give me a written or phone recommendation to whomever I choose to work for. He also gave me an extra weeks pay to help with my moving costs and as a thank you. The CEO was a bit more short, but still professional about the whole thing. The hardest part was saying good-bye to everyone. However, since things ended on such a positive note, It gives me a lot of hope for what the future holds. I am pretty excited about what might come down the pike. I will be heading back up to Chicago next weekend with the Stang in tow. I'll look for any speeding Volvo's or Porsche's as I go through Nashville..

Posted by: Mr. P

Hey Ken, let me know when you plan to be through Nashville. I'm doing a lot of traveling but if I'm in town, you'll get a ride in the 928. I have a place right off the interstate that can take your rig long enough for us to go to lunch, or just say hey. If you have the time, and if I'm in town, I'll run you down to the Blue Moon Waterfront Cafe, or perhaps somewhere a bit quicker in deference to your travel schedule. Let me know of your schedule, and then I'll let you know where we can meet and when, etc. (send me a PM regarding travel schedule)

I'm glad you departed in good form, it's a class act they're watching walk away, and the bastards were so self centered they couldn't bring themselves to back off. To them I say, KISS MY ASS (and to everyone like them). You leave with your head held high, and they stand there and watch. Shame on them, as they must have the feeling that they can add staff anytime they want, and dont recognize the value of integrity and loyalty. Fuck em, but at least you left in a classy way, which you'll always be able to be proud of. Don't look back. They're not worth spending time with

Mr. P

Posted by: Starquest aka AndyR

No!!!!!! crap I missed it... wish I had lurked like I am right now about two weeks ago.

Those "contracts" are 100% un-enforceable... I cannot believe that companies are still trying that crap with employees... they are way behind the times. If you are working in a career, there is no way that your company can enfore a contract that states if you leave the company, you hav to leave your career... what a load. no court in the US would even hear on that, it would be immediately dismissed...

Sorry you left man... ya know whats funny? I was in chicago all last week instead of being here in ATL to talk you out of it... I am a failure... Now you are in chitown, and I am stuck in hellanta... *sigh*

Back to the Forums