Demoted after restructure and feel humiliated

[Primmyhill]

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.

Same has just happened to me. New boss has brought in a lot of people he used to work with. Someone else got given my job in the restructure and I'm to be made redundant. Thankfully they're offering me an enhanced package to go and I'm secretly delighted. It's all been extremely stressful though so you have my empathy.

In your shoes, I'd be questioning if the new higher level job you went for actually exists. Was it created to push you down a rung and manage you out by stealth? Are they actually going to find a suitable person or is the job going to be advertised ad infinitum?

Never ever be surprised by senior management and never trust them!

Smooth your feathers, dust off your CV and get yourself out there. This will hopefully work out better for you than you realise.

We had a nasty little cow come in and do the same to people who mainly had children or those she didn't like. There were loads of jobs available at the same level that people were shifted out of and put into lower levels. She ended up getting sacked for bullying 33 staff members and financial inappropriateness, the department had huge issues since the bullying and the whole university knows what a disaster that person was!
She went to the NHS - if you're in the NHS DM me! It's probably not her but she's a director who has been in that job about the same amount of time!

... I forgot to say, are you in a situation where there are jobs at your level still available that will be advertised elsewhere - if so, complain to HR

So you are on the same money for 18 months but for less responsibility? Honestly get a bottle of expensive fizz on holiday and celebrate. Smile sweetly at the shit managers and ‘lean out.’ You can spin it however you like on your cv when the time comes

Is this public sector OP? If so, what are the Union doing about it?

No, a very large employer. I have taken legal advice and they said it sounds like there might be a case to answer but what was I ultimately trying to achieve. I still have to work there and these things can go on and on for ages. If I’d ended up with no job at all, then yes, I would have taken it further but I just don’t have the fight in me at the moment.

I’m a firm believer in quiet quitting. New boss came in at my work - similarly my face doesn’t fit. There’s no overtime at my work - we’re salaried. Slowly but surely I’m quietly quitting. I’m extremely diligent & conscientious however I don’t work beyond my hours now. I was the go to person when tasks needed done with a quick turnaround - I still am but I won’t work on such reports etc in my own time like before. This hasn’t gone down well but has highlighted how much I was doing over & above. Unfortunately for them no one has stepped up to do these tasks so my quiet quitting is proving quite effective!

Enjoy your holiday.
Come back ready to roar! Do your job to the absolute best of your ability. Often after a restructure people leave after the settling period. That has happened to me and I have been promoted to a grade higher than my original one. Also people leave an organisation and you could find them on an interview panel in the future, you don’t want them thinking “ could not perform in the last few months”. As soon as you start to do less than you are able I think you lose interest and motivation and can undermine your employability. Good luck

Similar happened to me. I also quietly slowly left. Reduced the extra work i had always done and looked for another job. I got offered a new role and gave notice and then my line manager quit on the spot with no notice. They expected me to do her role too so i cut short my notice. Went on holiday the straight into new job. Apprently they cannot recruit anyone for our old roles as its a bit niche. Im on better pay/hours/pension and do not regret leaving despite being begged to stay on my last day!!

don't forget to take the odd sick day/s here and there, may as well get some free paid time off for it.

in fact check your contract re sick days, maybe you could get signed off with work stress at full pay for a while

OP - I would spend this time focusing the majority of your energy onto your life outside of this job - this is perhaps a good chance to think about what you want going forward while doing the quiet quitting that several people have noticed. You have 18 months cushion, so sit it out and prioritize yourself.

Just go in and do the lower job while you take the higher wage. Get a job description and just stick to it

I'd be working on my CV and cover letters and applying for jobs. In the meantime could you enhance your skills (and CV) with any additional training by an online course - it would give you something else to focus on.

Whilst you are doing this I'd just work the hours, don't do a below par job, but don't go above and beyond either. Stick to your hours, no our of hours emails or calls, don't tell anyone you're pissed off, just say "Oh sorry, I have X planned" if you're asked to do something extra.

Don't take it personally, it's just new management being arses.

De-bossing - it's all the rage atm with middle managers disappearing in droves in favour of 'individual contributors'.

I'm not opposed to it as most large organisations have way too many managers, but the change needs to be done fairly.

Why wouldn't you look for a new position on LinkedIn? That's how I recently moved employers for a 45% pay rise.

I’d think about how much your redundancy is, and effectively how long you could live off it - obviously it’s tax free.
Other than that, I’d do the hours you need to do and not much more. I say need on hours and not contracted but you do your job to a good level, but not oceans more.
If you’re still getting paid the same money, maybe focus on less work for it? Mindset like that can help a lot. But if you’re not happy, keep your eye out.
Without knowing what you do it’s hard but the job market isn’t the best right now and so I don’t think leaving is necessarily the best option as much as I know I would want to xx

It feels horrible doesn’t it? I came back from maternity leave to discover three new leadership roles had been created. I went from third most senior person to sixth. A lot of my leadership responsibilities have gone to the other roles and I’m completely out of the loop in terms of what’s happening at the upper level. I also felt the humiliation!

However, I’m finding comfort in the quiet quitting. Also when people are complaining about senior leadership i can just nod along rather than feeling responsible! I take breaks, finish on time and still get paid the same. I’m going to take my time finding work that suits me better and for the first time in my life not put work first. It’s quite liberating!

Always remember that even when people talk about you, it will be a brief conversation and then the conversation will move on.

It’s normal to feel humiliated by this, everyone would, but it’s a very brief conversation point to someone else. I’ve known people take promotions that they couldn’t manage and didn’t work out and then returned to a lower level and really, no one cared. So don’t give feeling embarrassed more head space than they are.

Hope you get a new job soon.

waves same might be happening to me too. Restructure was announced several months ago now and we’ve been through several temporary structures since. I still have my role, but it’s changed a bit and I’ve been moved a little further than I was before from the fun stuff. I have the distinct impression that my face does not fit. And I think this is partly a female thing - I have a female persona that is quite common but is sometimes labelled (particularly by men) as being a bit much. I have a great track record for results (but that really doesn’t matter where I work, plenty of mediocre men who don’t add much value but want all the credit), am well liked, especially by the millennial and GenZ workforce. I have a PhD and an MBA, so they could do so much more with me than they seem to want to do. You are not alone.

This 💯

I'd ask whether redundancy is still available and go

Quiet quit

If you are as good as you say you are
You will have no problem getting a new job
Update CV, use your contacts
Take your experience & knowledge with you
It is their loss
Good luck

I'd use the 18 months that you have your full salary to find another job. As you're doing less you'll have time to dedicate to the job search. LinkedIn is your friend! Get on there and start networking. Put 'open to work' on your profile and the recruiters will come to you.

It's a horrible position to be in, but most people have been through similar at some point in their career. I have! I was pushed out by a new director who brought all his mates with him. One of his mates wanted my job, so I had to go. I was devastated at the time, but I got the last laugh as I got a much bigger and better job elsewhere. I'm far happier now!

This will all work out OP. Go and enjoy your holiday and start your job search as soon as you get back.