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Original poster

Demoted after restructure and feel humiliated

51 replies

Primmyhill · 04/08/2024 18:27

To cut a long story short, after a restructure I have been demoted. A new director has come in and after 6 months turned everything upside down. I have been in my job for 7 years in middle management, I have a good record, good at my job and am well thought of. This restructure was sold as creating opportunities, recognising and rewarding etc. So my post was deleted and I had the chance to apply for a slightly more senior role, but basically the same with a couple of differences. I did a good interview and the feedback was just insulting, like they were trying hard to find reasons not to give me it. As a result, I’ve ended up in a job a grade lower and the job I went for has been advertised. Part of me wanted to take the redundancy money but it’s all been a bit of a whirlwind and I didn’t want to make any rash decisions. I thought better to look for work while I’m in work than have to spin it to future employers as to why I’ve taken redundancy.

I am feeling pissed off but know I have to remain professional, challenging them won’t do any good. My face obviously doesn’t fit with the new boss, for some unknown reason, and they want new blood, as 2 other people are in the same boat.

So how do I get over feeling humiliated, embarrassed and putting on a brave face when I’d really love to tell them to shove their job where the sun don’t shine? I’m definitely going to look for something else but my job is quite specialised so it’s not like they’re 10 a penny, so I’ve still got to work there in the meantime. My confidence has been really knocked and I know it will be the subject of gossip as word gets round. Any tips/insight greatly appreciated.

OP posts:

Bluebells81 · 04/08/2024 18:39

I had a similar experience after 9 years in a job. I was old blood. New managers wanted to pick their own team. I was insulted, bullied and general pushed out.

Take your experience and leave. Head held high - you could well get a much better job in another organisation. Good luck!

owladventure · 04/08/2024 20:53

Give yourself time to let yourself feel how you feel (outside work), because that will allow some of these raw emotions to begin draining away.

Then focus on finding the right exit opportunity and in the meantime I would hold this in mind:

2 other people are in the same boat.

It's not about you, it's about the decision-makers. Don't let this derail you professionally. You're not worth any less because of workplace politics and silly power games.

Try not to give the gossip mill too much headspace. It might not attract as much gossip as you imagine and even if it does you'll leave them behind you once you move on to something better.

TeenLifeMum · 04/08/2024 21:10

Similar where I am. I managed to stay at same pay but all the responsibilities have been stripped. Previous feedback and appraisals were all exceptional but, new director brought in his own people in a merger and I had to fit into the gap. I am currently holding my head high, working 9-5 with breaks and I deleted emails and teams apps from my phone while on holiday.

I think it's called quiet quitting. I'm still doing a good job during my work hours but not all the extra I used to do. I witnessed many excellent colleagues get screwed over including dropping pay grades yet not able to request redundancy (which I'm not sure is legal but HR are useless).

I want to leave but only for progression so will hold out for the right opportunity. It sucks and we essentially have an organisation of pissed off people which I can't see is ideal for success, but what do I know?

SquatWeightaMinute · 04/08/2024 21:22

Don’t worry about the gossip OP, I know if this happened where I work we would all be on your side and thinking you had been treated appalling.

PinkTonic · 04/08/2024 21:32

thought better to look for work while I’m in work than have to spin it to future employers as to why I’ve taken redundancy

Sorry about what’s happened to you, it sucks. There’s nothing to spin if you get made redundant though, in fact it would be easier to explain to a new prospective employer than the drop in level on your CV. Totally get if you don’t feel you can’t take the risk though. Were they only offering statutory redundancy pay?

PinkKnighy · 04/08/2024 21:44

This happened to me last year in a roundabout sort of way. I earn quite well and after a few months I decided to just quite quit. I still do my job of course, but without the extras. It’s actually worked out well for me as I am not less stressed, work is never playing on my mind and I don’t really care.

Original poster

Primmyhill · 05/08/2024 07:27

PinkTonic · 04/08/2024 21:32

thought better to look for work while I’m in work than have to spin it to future employers as to why I’ve taken redundancy

The redundancy package was basic and would have put too much pressure on me to find a new job and maybe having to settle for something I didn’t really want. Just extra stress I could do without, it’s been a tough couple of months.

OP posts:

Original poster

Primmyhill · 05/08/2024 07:31

Good advice. It makes me laugh how they piss people offf but still expect you to knuckle down and do your job like nothing’s happened.

OP posts:

Original poster

Primmyhill · 05/08/2024 07:35

Shit isn’t it. Well done for rising above it. I’m going to try hard to have the same attitude too, not go over and above, take care of me, but give them no reason to question my performance. I just hope the new people they recruit are rubbish and I can gloat! It’s quite a specialist job, so the pool of people available in my location will be very small.

OP posts:

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 05/08/2024 07:35

So do the bare minimum. There is a lot to be said for Quiet quitting. Don't do a single task above your pay grade.

Redjammies · 05/08/2024 07:43

If they have an anonymous colleague survey make sure you slate them in it.

Don’t take it personally, a lot of the time it’s not new blood they want it’s cheaper blood.

Do what’s best for you. People won’t be judging you, they will be judging the director. Walk away if it’s too stressful but if the pay is still okay for you just stick with it and do the minimum.

VJBR · 05/08/2024 07:50

I hope they are paying you the same. If so just enjoy having less stress and don’t do anything outside of your new role.

tanstaafl · 05/08/2024 08:03

You said your role was quite specialised, are you no longer doing that role with the demotion?

I’d be worried that the longer I stayed the harder it would be to get a (rare) job in the speciality in the future.

MrsMoastyToasty · 05/08/2024 08:06

If you take redundancy you are entitled to a reasonable amount of time off to look for new work. You don't have to wait until you are actually unemployed.

NeedToChangeName · 05/08/2024 08:09

In your shoes, I'd take comfort from knowing that it wasn't just me

Probably wise to move on. If your face no longer fits, it's hard to reverse that

Kebarbra · 05/08/2024 08:10

I've been through similar, ultimately I found another job which was much better pay, better conditions, better experience and it was the push I needed. Granted I was very fortunate, but don't let it dent your confidence in applying for other things; you know you can work at the level you were at.

Having seen a few 'restructures' in my time I think there's often a plan ahead of time and then companies just go through the motions of interviewing. I suspect politics, cost and whatever else plays a bigger part than your competence.

Coronado2 · 05/08/2024 08:16

SquatWeightaMinute · 04/08/2024 21:22

Don’t worry about the gossip OP, I know if this happened where I work we would all be on your side and thinking you had been treated appalling.

I agree with this. At my work it would be the new boss people thought badly of and be annoyed in your behalf.

Original poster

Primmyhill · 05/08/2024 08:34

Thanks everyone, all really good advice as ever and I can think a bit clearer now.
il certainly going to use the staff survey to go to town on it and I think other colleagues will too.
i am still doing my job but in a more junior role with not so much responsibility and a significant project taken off me.
Yep, says all I need to know about the new boss, thought they were a smiling assassin from day 1.

OP posts:

Boxina · 05/08/2024 09:00

I'm sorry op, this is so awful. I've been in a similar situation and know how it feels so humiliating. I agree with the quiet quitting, and that your colleagues will be sympathising with you definitely. It's hard re redundancy because it's often just not actually very much money, especially if it's only statutory. My DH was in a similar situation and was only offered 5k redundancy, it just wasn't enough to be worth taking.
I hope you find a new role soon.

Original poster

Primmyhill · 05/08/2024 11:25

Yep, and things happens so quickly it feels like you haven’t got much time to consider your options. I will bounce back and I’ll just see work as a means to an end now. Lots of unhappy people in the team and the restructure has been a huge cock up which is giving me some comfort! That’s far more to me than just work but at 55 I do feel like I’m on the scrap heap and also my age has probably been a factor.

OP posts:

BournemouthCalling · 05/08/2024 15:28

Something similar at my place although not to me. Everyone thinks "you" have been extremely badly treated.

Irony is that new shiny Director appears to have gone off sick and I suppose may well be pushed out as the restructure hasn't delivered the results and has been costly.

I've seen it all before. It's infuriating but seems to be commonplace.

Strawberriesandpimms · 05/08/2024 16:53

I've been in your position and our whole team was made redundant and the work moved overseas. That lasted less than 18months 🤣The new boss who made all the radical changes has already moved on!

I'd be wary of slating them in any anonymous survey as it's usually not that difficult for them to work out who wrote what. Save your honesty for your exit interview! Use your words carefully and your time in position to update your CV and linkedin profile and get job huntIng. If it's a specialist role are there recruiters in that sector on LinkedIn?

Onceuponatime46 · 05/08/2024 17:24

Are you on salary protection for a period of time?
if so, do the lesser job, log out on time, don’t take any shit and use the time to look for another role. I have been in the same boat and it was shit. But you have to rise above it, not take it personally, don’t give bad feedback and eventually leave with integrity and professionalism. In the long run I felt much better for leaving on my own terms with my head held high. I didn’t even have an exit interview. It just wasn’t worth it.

Original poster

Primmyhill · 05/08/2024 17:49

Yes, salary protection for 18 months so at least that’s a small bonus and gives me time to find something else before taking a 14k pay cut.
I wouldn’t look for a new position on LinkedIn but I know of the recruitment agencies I need to deal with.
I’ve calmed down a bit after reading all your responses and I think acting professional and just doing my job, no more, is the best way forward. I have a lovely holiday planned next week and week after so I’m going to enjoy that and definitely won’t be checking teams!

OP posts:

rwalker · 05/08/2024 18:48

It happens all the time most of the people will know you’ve been thrown under the bus

as shit as it seems now a lot of the time it puts fire in your belly and motivates you to move on

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