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Original poster

Boss been made redundant and now not talking to me

29 replies

NoImRenlea · 04/04/2024 19:31

We have recently had a restructure at work and told some roles are at risk. I was told I was up for promotion and I’d be getting a bigger role by the divisional head. Lovely.

however it’s now transpired that the way this has happened is that my boss has been made redundant and is leaving at the end of this week (having been told at the start of the week). she is now not talking to me.

im really upset. I have worked with my boss for about 5 years, we have got on so well and a lot of what I’ll now be doing is things she has done / started and need to be handed over. I have sent her a message saying how sorry I am, how much I’ll miss her and to see if she has time for a catch up. No response. The only emails she has responded to had a really off tone saying she wasn’t handing something over and it was up to me if I wanted to create it from scratch (this is almost a whole projects worth of work and is due next week, no chance of me doing it all)

I think the mature thing is to give her space and realise it’s about her and how sad / shocked / upset she would be, but I’m also feeling sad for the relationship I’ve lost. I’d never stab her in the back or have done anything to suggest I wanted her job

Any advice here?

OP posts:
GyminyCricket · 04/04/2024 19:37

She's shocked, upset and worried. She feels you're essentially stealing her job (however untrue or not that may be), it's humiliating and scary. I'm not sure there's much you can do.

CantFindTheBeat · 04/04/2024 19:40

It does sound as though the restructure has been handled badly, OP.

Would the boss have expected to get the role you've been offered?

Gladespade · 04/04/2024 19:41

Ouch, so you are getting a promotion and taking over some of her duties. I get that it's not your fault, but I can see why she feels hard done by and if she has only just found out and is leaving on Friday, it doesn't sound like she has had any time to process it. You have sent a nice message and now all you can do is leave her in peace. If when the dust has settled she wants to get in touch I'm sure she will.

IAmRunningOutOfUsernames · 04/04/2024 19:47

Why have they let her go just before big projects that she has been working on are due in? Surely they would have been better waiting a few weeks? I’m not surprised she feels shafted.

Whattodo112222 · 04/04/2024 19:51

I wouldn't force it OP. Leave her be. She sounds quite rightly bruised. You may have lost a relationship but she may have lost her future mortgage or rent payments, her pension, her finance independence.. all of these things could be true. I wouldn't focus on what you've lost.

SevenSeasOfRhye · 04/04/2024 19:53

She needs time to lick her wounds - put yourself in her shoes; having to talk to someone she manages who has not only been promoted but is keeping a role when she is losing hers. In her position, however irrational I might know it to be, I'd feel something near hate for someone in your position. Time will ease this, but don't keep poking her wounds by contacting her about handovers and the like.

LaurieFairyCake · 04/04/2024 19:54

She doesn't have to hand it over - it's her boss that needed to have arranged for this as part of her leaving

Stop chasing her, sounds like a shitty organisation and I will be interested to hear how they handle (with YOU) the project due next week.

I very much hope you don't get blamed Flowers

mynameiscalypso · 04/04/2024 19:56

I think if I'd just been made redundant at very short notice from a job I'd had for at least five years, I wouldn't want to engage with anyone still there at all. Why should I?!

Original poster
NoImRenlea · 04/04/2024 19:57

CantFindTheBeat · 04/04/2024 19:40

It does sound as though the restructure has been handled badly, OP.

Would the boss have expected to get the role you've been offered?

No, its junior to her

OP posts:
Original poster
NoImRenlea · 04/04/2024 19:58

IAmRunningOutOfUsernames · 04/04/2024 19:47

Why have they let her go just before big projects that she has been working on are due in? Surely they would have been better waiting a few weeks? I’m not surprised she feels shafted.

They expected her to deliver them this week I think, I don’t think she’s been absolutely honest on timelines for delivering things (and she’s very very senior so doesn’t have lots of people to answer to)

OP posts:
Original poster
NoImRenlea · 04/04/2024 19:59

SevenSeasOfRhye · 04/04/2024 19:53

She needs time to lick her wounds - put yourself in her shoes; having to talk to someone she manages who has not only been promoted but is keeping a role when she is losing hers. In her position, however irrational I might know it to be, I'd feel something near hate for someone in your position. Time will ease this, but don't keep poking her wounds by contacting her about handovers and the like.

Great advice, thank you

OP posts:
AyrshireTryer · 04/04/2024 20:14

If you are taking her role, she is not being made redundant legally.
It is rather more constructive dismissal - she should be talking to a union.
And you should consider how the company may treat you in the future.

Original poster
NoImRenlea · 04/04/2024 20:16

AyrshireTryer · 04/04/2024 20:14

If you are taking her role, she is not being made redundant legally.
It is rather more constructive dismissal - she should be talking to a union.
And you should consider how the company may treat you in the future.

I’m not taking her role. I’m taking an aspect of her role. We have been merged with another part of the business and the major part of her role isn’t required anymore as someone else does that.

she is based in the US where employment law is very different

OP posts:
fiorentina · 04/04/2024 20:24

I’m sure you can pick up where things are with the project, but I’d ensure that she doesn’t delete files or emails and you have access to all that’s required.
If she’s in the US her employment rights are inferior to ours so she’s probably more stressed. Not your fault but I’d leave her to deal with things her own way.

SirChenjins · 04/04/2024 20:29

If I were her I’d be sticking two fingers up at the company and the person taking over part of my role could discuss the matter with their new boss and come up with a plan of action. I can imagine the projects are the least of her concerns at the moment.

Do you really want to work for a company that treats their employees so badly?

Anewuser · 04/04/2024 20:30

I was on the other side 25 years and know she’ll feel upset and betrayed. Obviously not by you but since you’re staying at the place it feels like you’re ‘one of them’.

She may thaw over time - I never did.

Rainbowshit · 04/04/2024 20:30

If I was her I think I'd be feeling pretty angry and quite honestly would not give a shit about any handover happening.

Your bosses must have known this would be happening for a while and should have put in measures.

opentoadvice88 · 04/04/2024 20:32

Rainbowshit · 04/04/2024 20:30

If I was her I think I'd be feeling pretty angry and quite honestly would not give a shit about any handover happening.

Your bosses must have known this would be happening for a while and should have put in measures.

Agreed. She’ll feel embarrassed too.
Give her space & accept that this may be the end of your friendship.

Original poster
NoImRenlea · 04/04/2024 21:04

SirChenjins · 04/04/2024 20:29

If I were her I’d be sticking two fingers up at the company and the person taking over part of my role could discuss the matter with their new boss and come up with a plan of action. I can imagine the projects are the least of her concerns at the moment.

Do you really want to work for a company that treats their employees so badly?

I think it’s pretty naive to think most companies wouldn’t act like this tbh

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 04/04/2024 21:25

NoImRenlea · 04/04/2024 21:04

I think it’s pretty naive to think most companies wouldn’t act like this tbh

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Not naive at all - I’ve been in the workplace for 35 years and whilst some companies may behave that way, the good ones don’t.

Mpuchu · 04/04/2024 21:37

Honestly I’d let the dust settle and just leave her be for now. I I would also be looking for a new job, it doesn’t sound like a great place to work and the divisional head sounds like a piece of work.

AyrshireTryer · 05/04/2024 07:42

She should book sick and walk away.

Scottishskifun · 05/04/2024 07:48

NoImRenlea · 04/04/2024 21:04

I think it’s pretty naive to think most companies wouldn’t act like this tbh

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The good companies don't behave this way as they know they get more productivity from workers who feel their loyalty and hard work is recognised.

Leave your boss alone she doesn't owe you anything. If she doesn't deliver the project that's on her.

I left a company because of the way they handled and treated some colleagues around redundancy. Best thing I ever did.

NotStayingIn · 05/04/2024 07:52

I’m with your colleague too I’m afraid. Hell will freeze over before I would do a single thing to help that company now. If they wanted the project I’ve been working on to be delivered, wait till it’s actually delivered before you fire me.

But you need to now cover your back and make it clear to the seniors that this project will now not deliver on time and needs to get replanned.

Deathbyfluffy · 05/04/2024 08:02

NoImRenlea · 04/04/2024 21:04

I think it’s pretty naive to think most companies wouldn’t act like this tbh

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Most companies wouldn’t do this - I’m in middle management (and have worked for several big companies) yet have never seen this.

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