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[Arsic]

Normally I internalize struggles like a real man do, but for some reason I wanted to put this up on GAF to just hear strangers inputs.

I've been working as a regional sales manager for over 2 years for a flooring manufacturer from Korea here in the USA.

As of today I am the only person left of my original team to an extent. The person who hired me quit, my partner who covered the eastern 25 United States quit, and my vice president also resigned. Our lead customer service person is gone. The other gal just had a baby and plans to not come back. I cover all 50 of the United States and Canada by myself…

We run extremely thin and overworked, without any real tools, lack of support, and even calling us the B team of this company would be generous. They listen to no customer feedback, provide next to no USA stock, were willing to lie and risk potential law suits, are owing $30M in claims to their biggest account, and more.

They had 0 new product launches this year, claims out the ass to pay for, lost the biggest account after the $30m is settled, had no stock, tariffs destroyed them, have no marketing whatsoever, and our VP before he left was hated by all of our customers.

I cover now 10 distributors in the United States and my role is to fly out , spend time with their employees doing presentations and events to help them promote and get sales. We had no budget this year so I barely went anywhere.

I tell you all this to show it's a shit show and I found out I am severely underpaid for my role for other companies for the same role in my field.

Despite all of this I like my co workers, have little reporting to do, and love my customers. Great people to spend time with and make money with. I figured, despite all the challenges and me still being able to single Handedly get us to surpass the goal for the year they would entertain a raise. Wrong.

Our VP and I butted heads 3 times this year which lead to him talking shit about me on his way out advising them to have me train a replacement then fire me…

I took it with a grain of salt but today a colleague who works in office was in the room when our sales director, HR, and others were in the room and said this was indeed the plan.

The VP for the record is hated by all of our customers who all confided in me. The largest account with the $30M and now taking their $100m elsewhere hates him. Our internal employees gave him the monicker VP Dick.

That said the 3 issues were:
-I refused to go after a 3 year account type for health care that is a role a company pays $250,000 a year to do. This isn't some side task shit. I told him I am incompetent to get you results for this. All he heard was "do you think it's too difficult so you refuse to do it." I explained you don't ask the janitor of a school to be principal next day. It's not only difficult but it's incompetent to do so.
-I went to our president at the time I couldn't catch him or anyone on the phone multiple times because a customer was going to call the president to complain about their issues because what I had relayed to them wasn't getting through from the customer. I was trying to get him advised via email this call is coming. VP said I lost the trust of the entire team because of this…
-Lastly, earlier this year I had a dinner in Vegas for 3 customers and our company had 6 others invite themselves. It came out to $1800, but I came in under budget overall for the trip. That customer went to to $700,000 above their goal for the year…

All our customers love me. Two of them have already approached me to come work for them.

I am now in talks for 3 separate roles all willing to pay me what I requested with far less responsibilities and chaos…

I planned to exit and bow out gracefully, but now I'm going scorched earth to tell every customer on my way out to dump doing any business and airing the dirty laundry.

I'm baffled the president didn't have the fucking sense to talk to any customers or internal employees or look at the sales to form his own opinion and realize quickly "this guy is the only reason we have this business at all right now."

When the VP left 4 customers asked me when I will be promoted to VP, and as mentioned others have been trying to poach me.

Lesson? I will never give another company 100% of myself ever again.

—-

TLDR VP Dick aka the $30 million deficit asshole successfully destroyed my relationship internally in my company so I'd get fired after training my replacement.

 

[EverydayBeast]

That's tough, and horrible that it happened

 

[BennyBlanco]

I planned to exit and bow out gracefully, but now I'm going scorched earth to tell every customer on my way out to dump doing any business and airing the dirty laundry.

I wouldn't do this if I were you.

Good luck finding a new job. Even if the job sucked after a while it's still invaluable experience.

 

[Arsic]

That's tough, and horrible that it happened

I wanted to exit normally and gracefully. I mean too much going wrong to stay on board and folks asking me why the fuck am I still working there.

It just caught me off guard that they would want to get rid of me without even talking to me if any of what the VP said on the way out is true or talking to customers lol.

 

[Arsic]

I wouldn't do this if I were you.

Good luck finding a new job. Even if the job sucked after a while it's still invaluable experience.

Too late already did. I consider a lot of these people friends.

They were willing to let $300,000 worth of known defective product sit at a customer and rack up claims, and risk a major lawsuit because they didn't want to pay it out.

They have NO moral compass.

Mind you it's a $3 billion dollar company.

 

[falconhoof]

I'm going scorched earth to tell every customer on my way out to dump doing any business and airing the dirty laundry.

Just make sure you don't do anything that makes you personally liable to sue. There might be clauses in your contract on this.

Once that's done though, light the torch and watch it burn.

 

[Arsic]

Just make sure you don't do anything that makes you personally liable to sue. There might be clauses in your contract on this.

Once that's done though, light the torch and watch it burn.

All I did was tell them about this unfolding today with the VP bad mouthing and now they plan to hire, have me train, then let me go.

I just said if they are willing to do this to me after all I've done as you know, then be weary of how you do business them moving forward without me around to keep things transparent and on the up and up. They would be willing to cast you aside and have you be stuck holding the bag if it suits them.

 

[Jinzo Prime]

Seems like some of your co-workers saw the writing on the wall and got out before it fell. With the Korean office cutting so much, it was only a matter of time before before the branch office leadership did everything they could to save their own skins.

When the money stops flowing people get desparate and they will turn on you in a heartbeat. You would do well to take yourself and your experience to a new venture.

 

[EntelechyFuff]

One thing:

All he heard was "do you think it's too difficult so you refuse to do it." I explained you don't ask the janitor of a school to be principal next day. It's not only difficult but it's incompetent to do so.

I'll just say this is how I got every advancement in every job I ever had. When I was the Janitor and they asked me to step in for the Rocket Surgeon, I nodded like a lemming and let the number on my paystub ease my guilty conscience.

Sounds like you're getting out of an unfavorable sitution anyway, but this section stood out to me in terms of my own career progression.

 

[Arsic]

Seems like some of your co-workers saw the writing on the wall and got out before it fell. With the Korean office cutting so much, it was only a matter of time before before the branch office leadership did everything they could to save their own skins.

When the money stops flowing people get desparate and they will turn on you in a heartbeat. You would do well to take yourself and your experience to a new venture.

The weird thing is even with all the loss, they plan to revolving door and rehire.

This company this year alone has had 15 employees I know of quit and leave. It's a mass exodus… folks with 10 years with them.

 

[Arsic]

One thing:

I'll just say this is how I got every advancement in every job I ever had. When I was the Janitor and they asked me to step in for the Rocket Surgeon, I nodded like a lemming and let the number on my paystub ease my guilty conscience.

Sounds like you're getting out of an unfavorable sitution anyway, but this section stood out to me in terms of my own career progression.

To be fair I still did what he asked. And for weeks asked for the info I need to proceed on step one of the process to work into a GPO. I was willing to do it and show we aren't qualified for this business.

I also at this time am covering the entire United States, Canada, and overseeing internal employee sales staff questions for the product line.

He should've been tasking the pregnant girl who was working from home with dick all to do…

 

[Darkmakaimura]

That really sucks but I'm sorry that's happened to you.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Sorry to hear that happen, I hope you find another job soon

 

[Donald mac Ronald]

I wish I was high flying executive like you op.

Tomorrow I've got toilets to clean.

 

[Arsic]

EviLore how much does modding for you pay?

Surely my history of shit posting is worth a prized amount.

 

[Arsic]

I wish I was high flying executive like you op.

Tomorrow I've got toilets to clean.

I won't deny my career path is awesome. I'm fortunate I have these other opportunities as well thanks to my reputation and networking.

I would not want to do what you do that's for sure, and you should be paid as much as me or more because of that alone.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Sorry to read you are going through a bad moment man. That said I'm sure you'll end up finding a better job and for better people, which imo is just as important.

Keep rocking dude, down the line you'll realize this was for the best, I'm sure.

 

[Arsic]

Sorry to read you are going through a bad moment man. That said I'm sure you'll end up finding a better job and for better people, which imo is just as important.

Keep rocking dude, down the line you'll realize this was for the best, I'm sure.

Nothing a persona 6 or shin Megami tensei 6 announcement couldn't remedy.

 

[jshackles]

When I was the Janitor and they asked me to step in for the Rocket Surgeon, I nodded like a lemming and let the number on my paystub ease my guilty conscience.

 

[Unknown?]

Sorry to hear this, must suck working with terrible bosses.

 

[Donald mac Ronald]

I won't deny my career path is awesome. I'm fortunate I have these other opportunities as well thanks to my reputation and networking.

I would not want to do what you do that's for sure, and you should be paid as much as me or more because of that alone.

I was only joking bro. However I have nothing but respect for people who do these jobs because they are hard and underpaid.

 

[GateofD]

So how firm are the offers from the people trying to poach you, or already offered you? Is it a done deal or just beer talk?

 

[DaciaJC]

I am now in talks for 3 separate roles all willing to pay me what I requested with far less responsibilities and chaos…

I'm sorry to hear about all the bullshit you've had to go through, but I am glad to read that the future looks hopeful. With luck in a few years you'll look back on this time and think to yourself, "Sheesh, why didn't I leave sooner?"

 

[Madflavor]

I went through a job change earlier this year due to my company's client terminating their contract with us. Luckily I landed a new job since then, but those were a shitty few months.

I know it sucks man but you can either despair or you can get to work. Update that resume, and start firing off applications. If there's a place hiring locally near you, don't shoot them an online application. Show up in person and deliver it to them. Make an impression and try to stand out. I can tell you from personal experience this year that every single one of my online applications got me radio silence or a rejection. The one place I showed up to in person actually called me and got me an interview.

Again I know the situation sucks a mean dick, but you have an opportunity here to move on to something better.

 

[ReBurn]

I'm glad to hear you have leads on new positions. I would take one and leave on good terms. Your reputation is important and you don't want to damage it.

Sorry all of this happened. Good luck!

 

[Nocty]

While I work in nuclear missile security for the UK government I cant exactly give private company advice, since our structure is extremely set in stone and regular audits means shit like this cant happen... I can say you are looking at this the wrong way. Go to each customer you love and get a CV in to them and sell yourself. You seem respected, getting a new job better paid will be easy.

 

[T-0800]

I planned to exit and bow out gracefully, but now I'm going scorched earth to tell every customer on my way out to dump doing any business and airing the dirty laundry.

Move on elsewhere and forget about it.

 

[Gp1]

Sales Manager? Strategic position (at least it should be considered as..) and one of the easiest positions to find a new job if you do your homework right.

Besides that
Copy the entire client database, take your clients with you
and smile.

 

[Arsic]

Sales Manager? Strategic position (at least it should be considered as..) and one of the easiest positions to find a new job if you do your homework right.

Besides that
Copy the entire client database, take your clients with you
and smile.

Already done.

And 100% true. As of this post I had another one of my customers reach out wondering if I would just come work for them instead.

 

[Robot Carnival]

don't burn bridges and bad mouth the company you're leaving with the customers, but do hint at what's going on and let them figure it out. if they really hate the VP like you said, they'll probably be able to tell what's happening and actually be sympathetic to you. try to remain civil, but do your worst at training the replacement. keep some key stuff like certain customer's contact and how best to approach them to yourself and don't share it. also, play this song on the day you're leaving.

 

[Hugare]

Lesson? I will never give another company 100% of myself ever again.

I'm also a manager, and my piece of advice would be: don't give 100% of yourself to your company, but give your whole self to your team.

I've recently had an epiphany. I'm not satisfied with my company, or my bosses, or even my job. I've always wanted to do some meaningful to others, like doctors or psychiatrists do. But I chose to be an economist when I was 17, so there I chose my whole lifepath.

Anyway, I was watching The Bear someday, and I cant remember which episode did this to me, but I've came to realise that I could make my job more gratifying by helping my team to improve themselves (since they are all young milennials).

And from that day, I feel like I have a purpose at work. That gave me some huge boost. My team loves me, we go out for drinks after work, we help each other everyday ... We live in a bubble while the company is on fire.

People are the most important part, always. They are the first thing you'll remember from past work experiences.

 

[bitbydeath]

I learned this a bit late in life, but you should be looking for a new role every three years, as from about that point on you will be underpaid.

 

[Days like these...]

Normally I internalize struggles like a real man do, but for some reason I wanted to put this up on GAF to just hear strangers inputs.

I've been working as a regional sales manager for over 2 years for a flooring manufacturer from Korea here in the USA.

As of today I am the only person left of my original team to an extent. The person who hired me quit, my partner who covered the eastern 25 United States quit, and my vice president also resigned. Our lead customer service person is gone. The other gal just had a baby and plans to not come back. I cover all 50 of the United States and Canada by myself…

We run extremely thin and overworked, without any real tools, lack of support, and even calling us the B team of this company would be generous. They listen to no customer feedback, provide next to no USA stock, were willing to lie and risk potential law suits, are owing $30M in claims to their biggest account, and more.

They had 0 new product launches this year, claims out the ass to pay for, lost the biggest account after the $30m is settled, had no stock, tariffs destroyed them, have no marketing whatsoever, and our VP before he left was hated by all of our customers.

I cover now 10 distributors in the United States and my role is to fly out , spend time with their employees doing presentations and events to help them promote and get sales. We had no budget this year so I barely went anywhere.

I tell you all this to show it's a shit show and I found out I am severely underpaid for my role for other companies for the same role in my field.

Despite all of this I like my co workers, have little reporting to do, and love my customers. Great people to spend time with and make money with. I figured, despite all the challenges and me still being able to single Handedly get us to surpass the goal for the year they would entertain a raise. Wrong.

Our VP and I butted heads 3 times this year which lead to him talking shit about me on his way out advising them to have me train a replacement then fire me…

I took it with a grain of salt but today a colleague who works in office was in the room when our sales director, HR, and others were in the room and said this was indeed the plan.

The VP for the record is hated by all of our customers who all confided in me. The largest account with the $30M and now taking their $100m elsewhere hates him. Our internal employees gave him the monicker VP Dick.

That said the 3 issues were:
-I refused to go after a 3 year account type for health care that is a role a company pays $250,000 a year to do. This isn't some side task shit. I told him I am incompetent to get you results for this. All he heard was "do you think it's too difficult so you refuse to do it." I explained you don't ask the janitor of a school to be principal next day. It's not only difficult but it's incompetent to do so.
-I went to our president at the time I couldn't catch him or anyone on the phone multiple times because a customer was going to call the president to complain about their issues because what I had relayed to them wasn't getting through from the customer. I was trying to get him advised via email this call is coming. VP said I lost the trust of the entire team because of this…
-Lastly, earlier this year I had a dinner in Vegas for 3 customers and our company had 6 others invite themselves. It came out to $1800, but I came in under budget overall for the trip. That customer went to to $700,000 above their goal for the year…

All our customers love me. Two of them have already approached me to come work for them.

I am now in talks for 3 separate roles all willing to pay me what I requested with far less responsibilities and chaos…

I planned to exit and bow out gracefully, but now I'm going scorched earth to tell every customer on my way out to dump doing any business and airing the dirty laundry.

I'm baffled the president didn't have the fucking sense to talk to any customers or internal employees or look at the sales to form his own opinion and realize quickly "this guy is the only reason we have this business at all right now."

When the VP left 4 customers asked me when I will be promoted to VP, and as mentioned others have been trying to poach me.

Lesson? I will never give another company 100% of myself ever again.

—-

TLDR VP Dick aka the $30 million deficit asshole successfully destroyed my relationship internally in my company so I'd get fired after training my replacement.

I don't know that there's any learning involved. I think you mean you found out.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Too late already did. I consider a lot of these people friends.

They were willing to let $300,000 worth of known defective product sit at a customer and rack up claims, and risk a major lawsuit because they didn't want to pay it out.

They have NO moral compass.

Mind you it's a $3 billion dollar company.

You could always work together with that account that needs to be paid back and start a mega suit. I don't know if it's feasible, but I'd want to take that direction, if it is. Double revenge on the house of assholes.

That said, I feel for you, having to go out like this. I had someone tell me they made a small remark to their boss about needing two beers to get something done and he was out by the end of the day, because as he explained it.. his boss drank on the job and it was a subtle dig at him.

 

[KrakenIPA]

It sounds like you have a healthy resume, there is a company out there that needs the skillset you have built upon. Shopping for a great gig is a tough road, but it may be worth it to try to get an interview with the leader of a crew that needs your expertise. I think you can succeed and thrive, so that makes at least two of us who believe i suppose!

 

[GymWolf]

Sorry to hear that op, i hope you land another job soon.

 

[ForAcademicPurposes]

You are walking away with your reputation intact, your customer relationships strengthened. That is the ultimate victory. Don't tarnish it with a final, emotional outburst. Let the smoldering ruins of that company be their own monument to failure, while you walk away clean.

 

[Trunx81]

Good to hear that you already got some job offers, OP.
Just one question: What took you so long to leave this shitshow?
Oh and make sure to take some customers with you!

 

[Baemono]

As others have said, I understand the feeling you might have about trashing your soon-to-be previous company, but don't do that, it won't help you (might even harm you) and won't really have an impact on them (either people know already, or won't care as you'd be like the bitter former employee).

 

[RagnarokIV]

-I went to our president at the time I couldn't catch him or anyone on the phone multiple times because a customer was going to call the president to complain

Does this customer have a hotline to NORAD or something?

 

[Ellis]

My mate was laid off last year and ended up in a real bad mental state. He's now been decorating with me for the past 8 months. Doesn't earn close to what he did, but his mental health game is so much better now. I think he's happy. He never liked the office environment anyway.

 

[ClanOfNone]

I feel like I could be fired any day I walk in the door, the owner of the restaurant I work for is not a big fan of mine.
I've told him to fire me if I'm a problem for him, but I crush numbers and the regulars love me so he hasn't had the balls to do it yet.

I'm betting you end up in a much better place op, sounds like it's already happening.

 

[Toots]

Isn't it a blessing in disguise ?

All your stories about this workplace show they don't value you or your work, are stupid and clueless to the point it borders with dishonesty and were on a downward trajectory even with all the work you did to prevent it.

I don't know how the market for a sales manager is currently, but as you said some of your clients went directly to connect with you so im not really worried for your ability to find a (much better) job.

Im sure you'll soon find out this is the best outcome for you.

Oh and before you go, remember.... coffee is for closers only

 

[p_xavier]

Hopefully you'll resettle fast OP. Never put work before your life. Your life is not disposable but your job is.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Isn't it a blessing in disguise ?

All your stories about this workplace show they don't value you or your work, are stupid and clueless to the point it borders with dishonesty and were on a downward trajectory even with all the work you did to prevent it.

I don't know how the market for a sales manager is currently, but as you said some of your clients went directly to connect with you so im not really worried for your ability to find a (much better) job.

Im sure you'll soon find out this is the best outcome for you.

Oh and before you go, remember.... coffee is for closers only

He basically got paid to travel, network and showcase. He's in a better position than many at the company.

 

[Hookshot]

Look for another job and don't train your replacement. It sucks but fuck them.

 

[RJMacready73]

While I work in nuclear missile security for the UK government I cant exactly give private company advice, since our structure is extremely set in stone and regular audits means shit like this cant happen... I can say you are looking at this the wrong way. Go to each customer you love and get a CV in to them and sell yourself. You seem respected, getting a new job better paid will be easy.

One would've assumed as part of your security clearance to work within the MOD i would imagine there's a section labelled "don't tell fuckers what you do" and breaking that particular rule on a public forum would be considered a big no no

 

[Nocty]

One would've assumed as part of your security clearance to work within the MOD i would imagine there's a section labelled "don't tell fuckers what you do" and breaking that particular rule on a public forum would be considered a big no no

I'm just a gate security guard, no MOD security clearance beyond NTK.

I am basically one of those dudes in Metal Gear that stands at an entrance for 12 hours a night and walks to the guard room a few times

 

[spookyfish]

Normally I internalize struggles like a real man do, but for some reason I wanted to put this up on GAF to just hear strangers inputs.

I've been working as a regional sales manager for over 2 years for a flooring manufacturer from Korea here in the USA.

As of today I am the only person left of my original team to an extent. The person who hired me quit, my partner who covered the eastern 25 United States quit, and my vice president also resigned. Our lead customer service person is gone. The other gal just had a baby and plans to not come back. I cover all 50 of the United States and Canada by myself…

We run extremely thin and overworked, without any real tools, lack of support, and even calling us the B team of this company would be generous. They listen to no customer feedback, provide next to no USA stock, were willing to lie and risk potential law suits, are owing $30M in claims to their biggest account, and more.

They had 0 new product launches this year, claims out the ass to pay for, lost the biggest account after the $30m is settled, had no stock, tariffs destroyed them, have no marketing whatsoever, and our VP before he left was hated by all of our customers.

I cover now 10 distributors in the United States and my role is to fly out , spend time with their employees doing presentations and events to help them promote and get sales. We had no budget this year so I barely went anywhere.

I tell you all this to show it's a shit show and I found out I am severely underpaid for my role for other companies for the same role in my field.

Despite all of this I like my co workers, have little reporting to do, and love my customers. Great people to spend time with and make money with. I figured, despite all the challenges and me still being able to single Handedly get us to surpass the goal for the year they would entertain a raise. Wrong.

Our VP and I butted heads 3 times this year which lead to him talking shit about me on his way out advising them to have me train a replacement then fire me…

I took it with a grain of salt but today a colleague who works in office was in the room when our sales director, HR, and others were in the room and said this was indeed the plan.

The VP for the record is hated by all of our customers who all confided in me. The largest account with the $30M and now taking their $100m elsewhere hates him. Our internal employees gave him the monicker VP Dick.

That said the 3 issues were:
-I refused to go after a 3 year account type for health care that is a role a company pays $250,000 a year to do. This isn't some side task shit. I told him I am incompetent to get you results for this. All he heard was "do you think it's too difficult so you refuse to do it." I explained you don't ask the janitor of a school to be principal next day. It's not only difficult but it's incompetent to do so.
-I went to our president at the time I couldn't catch him or anyone on the phone multiple times because a customer was going to call the president to complain about their issues because what I had relayed to them wasn't getting through from the customer. I was trying to get him advised via email this call is coming. VP said I lost the trust of the entire team because of this…
-Lastly, earlier this year I had a dinner in Vegas for 3 customers and our company had 6 others invite themselves. It came out to $1800, but I came in under budget overall for the trip. That customer went to to $700,000 above their goal for the year…

All our customers love me. Two of them have already approached me to come work for them.

I am now in talks for 3 separate roles all willing to pay me what I requested with far less responsibilities and chaos…

I planned to exit and bow out gracefully, but now I'm going scorched earth to tell every customer on my way out to dump doing any business and airing the dirty laundry.

I'm baffled the president didn't have the fucking sense to talk to any customers or internal employees or look at the sales to form his own opinion and realize quickly "this guy is the only reason we have this business at all right now."

When the VP left 4 customers asked me when I will be promoted to VP, and as mentioned others have been trying to poach me.

Lesson? I will never give another company 100% of myself ever again.

—-

TLDR VP Dick aka the $30 million deficit asshole successfully destroyed my relationship internally in my company so I'd get fired after training my replacement.

I've been in the "You are expected to train your replacement." role before.

I did my best at the time, but now I'd flat say "If you're letting me go, YOU can train them."

 

[p_xavier]

I'm just a gate security guard, no MOD security clearance beyond NTK.

I am basically one of those dudes in Metal Gear that stands at an entrance for 12 hours a night and walks to the guard room a few times

I've been a security guy for my entire life. Surprised you didn't need additional clearance. When I was a security guard it took 6 months to be vetted.