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 really don't think it's possible to get enough experience of a job in 3 days to know that you hate it tbh. It's always going to feel weird and horrible if you've been somewhere else a long time as well.

Lots of staff have a bit of an attitude with a new manager, for example, trying it on a bit, testing his authority, but that doesn't mean your DH can't sort that out. You say the IT systems are changing anyway as well.

such great help SPB

thing is I don't think there's much point bartering at all. Basically his wages changed by £1.5K, so not much, it wasn't about the money, more the position.

A few years ago, when dd was due, dh was offered an assistant manager job, told employer a who immediately said they'd match his salary(quite a jump) but didn't match the job IYSWIM. So he already had the salary of the assistant manager, when he applied to employer b they said they literally could only justify upping it by 1.5k, which we kinda knew anyway. It was about the title.

AAAAAAAAAAAAARGGGGGGGHHHHH

We discussed all this at length before he got the job and decided that no matter what employer a offered he'd go to employer b as he wasn't getting the right opportunities. when he handed his notice in employer a got the area manager in branch to speak to dh and he offered him an assistant manager job in somewhere daft like Birmingham We live in Kent So they really did want to keep him on, but knew it wasn't about the money

Think he needs to ride it out with b. He can't just up sticks and leave morally ro contractually. It sounds like a fairly limited circle of clients and businesses so it will get round if he goes back without giving it a fair chance. 3 days is nothing and employer a can make all sorts of promises to entice him then string him along again. If the team at b really liked their previous manager they will be sceptical initially of a newcomer, maybe one or two of them even applied for the position and resent it. I'd suggest he allocates time to spend with each over the new week or so to learn a little more about them as individuals and their roles, even if he thinks he knows how it works.

ummmm aaarghh I dont know, I know your dh was talking to my DH on friday about the new job and my DH did say it took him a few weeks to settle in to his job when he moved (he'd been in his oldjob for 10 years) but loves where he is now

I think if he is truly unhappy then go back to job a but where would he stand re notice period/pay at job b?

I think he should stay where he is. If he goes back to his old job tomorrow it will have a negative impact on his personal integrity and might also look like he couldn't handle the responsibility of a managerial post and be doomed forever in job A.

Like others have said, it is early days. Why is he aspiring to be an assistant manager, anyway? Why not manager?

well he's made a decision. He's gonna go back. Not what I think he should have done but it's not me that has to be there 9 hours a day 5 days a week and every other saturday.

Thank you for all you advice.

If I were your dh, I would want to double check on the offer re continuity of employment before going back, just to make sure that it's possible for them to do that.

good for him for making a decision!
Make sure he brings up any notice period with (a) before he fully accepts - just in case they are awkward about waiting a month (3 months??) for him

He'll never get anywhere in a. They will always know now that he'll never leave even if he threatens, they'll never need to promote him, they've got him for life.

When b comes to implement their new system, he'll be the most useful person in the place, because he knows how the new one works. Three days is absolutely nothing in terms of getting used to the people and the place. He should tell his manager to make sure he has the back up he needs from the salesman so he can find his way round.

Hope this isn't too late! If he's 100% decided ignore me

I totally agree with AlarmBells. That is why I said in my earlier post that he has to negotiate hard before he goes back. New contract, promotion, pay rise, etc.

Eddas - TBH your DH sounds a great guy who works hard and is loyal. So much so that he has made himself indispensible in his position at company a. That is why they are reluctant to promote him - while less able people have played the politics and got the promotions ahead of him.

I think you need to put some steel into him and put down a marker to get himself better terms and conditions if he is determined to go back. Sounds to me like his boss is still doing the bare minimum to get him back.

I agree with llareggub. His return after a short time may well be viewed as an inability to cope with managerial responsibility and with the challenges of a different environment, new people and new systems.

He's obviously valuable to them in his current role and by returning to it (especially without financial/other incentive), will be demonstrating that they don't need to rush to promote him because he's not going anywhere, and because question marks may have been raised about his suitability for management anyway.

As you say, he's the one who has to be there so he has to be comfortable with the decision but I think it's worth bearing all these points in mind carefully.