I'm sure they're trying to get rid of him

[Poshbird77]

Can any of you help with something that's beginning to really affect us as a family?

OH has been at the same company for eight years now. For the last two years, the bosses son has taken over as MD and it's been awful. It's been one thing after another with him and oh dreads going in and is always 'waiting to see what's next' with him.

He was asked to do a different role around a year ago which basically involves getting a contract to supply a large national company. If he gets this contract he should get around a £20k bonus. He's been in contact with the company for around three years waiting for the opportunity to tender.

Well, the opportunity is coming up and I'm sure they're waiting for him to get the contract then get rid of him somehow so they don't have to pay the bonus. All of a sudden the new md wants to sit in on their meetings, is asking for his contacts etc. And to top it all, we had last week off as leave and he went back yesterday to be handed a letter stating that he's having a disciplinary today for not following orders. This is the second time they have done this for exactly the same thing. Both times it has been pretty petty and open to interpretation, but unfortunately oh is just so beaten down he can't/won't argue his corner well.

It's like a witch hunt - and it's getting to us all. If he loses his job we lose our house as I only work part time.......it's all so stressful.

Can they do this?

[Stillunexpected]

I think your husband needs to find a new job. In a family-run firm where the heir apparent is in charge he is never going to come out on top in any disagreement.

Even without all this nastiness it doesn't sound as if his job is particularly secure anyway. If his current job depends on getting this one contract, what happens if he doesn't get it? Will he be made redundant? Also three years of waiting around for the chance to get a £20k bonus sounds a poor basis for staying in a role he hates. He could have moved on and made that money in a better-paid role by now.

I honestly don't think there is anything to be gained by trying to fight this one out and looking for a new job while he still has some positivity and a job is better than sitting waiting for the axe to fall.