DH trying to make a decision about his job, can MN help please? WWYD?

[Eddas]

Background;

DH been with employer (a) for 11 years, for the last few years he's wanted to move from ''just a salesman' to assistant manager. He's been for 4/5 interviews with employer (a) but has always missed out by 1 person(so they say). Whilst in employment with (a) he took a management training course, which he passed with flying colours in February 2010.

After completing the course dh's aim was 'to become an assistant manager within a year'

So an opportunity with employer (b) came up, he went for it and got it, yay!!

He started with emloyer (b) on monday. He's hated it, but although it's essentially the same job the computer systems/people etc etc are all different. Although it's a sales job where some of the customers would have been cutomers at employer (a) so he sees some familiar faces each day.

Today his old boss text and asked how it was going, also a few other ex-colleagues have text to say 'come back'. DH replied to his ex-boss saying that he hated it. His ex-boss said that if he wanted to go back his job is still there as he 'hasn't filed the paperwork yet' and this won't be done until tomorrow. So apparently if he returns to employer (a) tomorrow then he'll still be employed as he was before with the pension/sickness cover/life cover/holiday entitlement and most importantly service record(11 years is quite a bit of redundancy!!)

So he's now in 2 minds what to do, he hates employer(b) but it's only been 3 days.

He's wanted to be assistant manager for a LONG time and he's finally there

His salary only changed by a couple of thousand so the change wasn't about money.

The other 'thing' in his mind is that employer (b) is apparently being taken over by a larger company, who if they do take over will then have 4 branches in our town and the rumour mill is in overdrive that at least one branch will be closed. DH is concerned it'll be last in first out and he'll be made redundant. BUT I did point out that even if they do shut a branch they are likely to move people if they can and also natural redundancies happen(eg there's one staff member nearing retirement age who might want to leave, you never know)

He doesn't know what to do, so I suggested asking what the ladies(and men) of mn would do.

So, would you stick with employer (b) or go back to employer (a)

I know what I'd do and i've discussed this with dh, but I think it'd be good for him to hear other people's views who don't have any kind of bias.

If there's anything i've missed/not explained I'll clarify, i've tried to be as clear as I can

TIA

I think I'd ride it out with employer B. Any new employer is going to seem odd/negative after 11 years of knowing the score - I think unfamiliarity probably has more to do with his dislike than anything else.

He wanted the promotion, he tried repeatedly with a) and he got nowhere. If he goes back, he's destined for years of the same. Being taken over should be seen as an opportunity - far more chances for career progression with a big company.

It's always shit in a new job - I have wanted to walk out at lunchtime in every new job. But I stuck with it and it was OK.

If he just hates change, stick with it, because he will get to know the systems. But if he hates the job and the people and the company, go back to his first employer.

What is his gut feeling, putting all logic aside, as that is the right answer.

I'd tell employer a that I really want to come back as I was sorry to have to leave but that my career was important to me. I would come back for a similar level position guarantee within 3 months and get it in writing - I'd lay all my cards on the table including the course with flying colours

can't hurt can it? And then he still has employer b

Really depends how much he hates it. I have hated jobs and known that they were just totally wrong for me, and I would have jumped at the chance to go back....

It sounds as though employer a are missing him. Can he ask whether it would be possible for him to do additional management training, or shadowing a manager, or being promised the opportunity to cover for managers during holidays etc? That way he would be a step closer to his dream, in a company that he enjoys.

well the job is very much the same so it's the system and attitude of staff, ie he obviously doesn't know they system at all yet(only been 3 days) so asked the salesman for help to get told 'your the assistant manager' ie i'm not helping.

I've told him he needs to tell the salesman that he needs help and expects him to help, if he won't to tell tell the manager(not in a 'so and so won't help way' i find it hard to type the way I said to approach his manager)

Thanks for your replies

Keep em coming

yes, the first few days in a new job are awful, you go from feeling like a big fish n a small pond to a small fish in a big pond! I have to admit I've worked for the same place for 6 years now and wouldn't want to leave for that reason (as well as a load of others!)
It doesn't take long to settle in though.
I really really wouldn't take the backwards step, he might find the grass wasn't greener.
As for the redundancy issue, I agree that if they're fairly big they will hopefully be able to shuffle people round.

It's difficult thoguh - 11 years is a long time, as you say the benefits etc.

What would the position be if he returned to work for (a) but with, say, a 6 month gap?

Are there any jobs out there? If he was made redundant would you be up shit creek?

sorry. last post was written after reading Gay40 and Hassleds replies, will read others now

He needs to stay where he is
he should have thought it all through before taking the job
it's only three days
he needs to give it time

oh so his team have an attitude too

won't he have to give notice anyway? In which time his old boss's offer will have expired?

if he went back to (a) it'd be the same job as before, he already did the manger/ass man job when they were on hol he just never got past the interview stage for the actual jobs. They couldn't guarantee an ass man job as it depends on other people leaving etc etc, although in the back of his mind is thata boss he'd worked under for about 5 years recently moved branches and has told dh that his ass man is retiring in 2 years and he'd give him the job!! so I supposed he'd be deferring the ass man job for about 2 years.

with regard to training, he's just completed employer (a)'s management training course and there isn't anything else, it was literally wait til a job comes up and apply.

I think he should go back to A

If you really hate your job it effects your whole life

I'm not sure about notice, he seems to think he'll just literally go into one or the other tomorrow

I think you should stop calling it an ass man job

ass man

sorry

I would demand a pay rise and a position equal to the one he has at his new employer (b). If his old employer (a) will not give him that then they dont want him enough.

It appears to me that old employer now realises what they lost and in those circumstances they are the supplicant. If DH goes back without bargaining anything to the upside he will look weak forever. This is his one chance to negotiate the position and pay he wants.

By the way a 2 year guaranteed no redundancy contract would also be worth asking for if he goes back otherwise his old employer (a) could make him redundant next week as well.

sorry too lazy to type it all! did want to say AM but that doesn't work either

Is there anyone else at his level in company b that he can talk to about the mechanics (IT systems etc) of the job, and also about the team he has inherited? There may be underlying resentment coming out from his team that has nothing to do with him, but he's the manager so it's falling to him to fix it?

I like 'ass man' its accurate is it not?

He should go back to a). if there are any signs of redundancies, he can't really afford to take any chances imo.

If his gut instinct says his team are jerks, and unhelpful in the first few days, he should go back. If he is able.

maybe more about his job would help;

He works in a trade merchants, both jobs are the same product so he still has the massive product knowledge. Employer (a) were always going to be lost without him as he served 80% of the customers and was always being asked questions by all the other staff and knew lots about every product they sold. I acutally think they didn't give him ASSISTANT MANAGER roles because they didn't want to lose him as a salesman.

The only real difference is that they use a different computer system. The annoying thing is in 6 months they new employer are changing over to the old employer's system anyway!!!

BTW it'd be better if you all agree either a or b

yeah lol at ass man

I also was wondering about going back to (a) but bargaining. Think he's unlikely to get an ass man job so still thinking...
don't think the redundancy one will go down well, after all it's the position that's made redundant, not the person iyswim

sorry, I don't know your DH and am not basing his unlikeliness on his personality or capabilities I just think if he asks for that they'll think "cheeky sod stay where you are"

although maybe he should have a compromise in mind and then ask for an ass man job - aim high and barter down

shall I contradict myself any more?