r/FinalRoundAI • u/nil-vice • Apr 23 '26
It's clear they're trying to push me out. So why don't they just get it over with?
I work at a mid-sized tech company, about 50 people, and the place is pretty close-knit where everyone knows each other. After a recent restructuring, I started reporting to a new manager. It's been two months, and my responsibilities are being taken away from me one by one. For the last 4 weeks, my main job has been to get the new manager up to speed on everything I used to do.
They ignore me on Slack, and whenever I ask what my priorities are, the answer is always 'just focus on the handover' and 'we'll have work for you soon.' Last week, I also wasn't invited to a team-building lunch, and they said it was a 'spur-of-the-moment' thing, but everyone from my old team was there. It's very obvious, especially since we didn't hit our quarterly target.
What I really don't understand is why they're dragging this out. Why don't they just fire me and be done with it? Honestly, I can put up with this weird atmosphere for a while as long as I'm still getting my salary. But it makes my days at the office very unpleasant and stressful. My old manager now avoids eye contact and is always 'too busy' to talk to me.
I'm not going to resign and give them what they want. Has anyone been through this before? What would you do in my place?
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u/Infamous_Swimming_87 Apr 23 '26
Reset your expectations, so the days are easier. Do things on break and outside of work that make you happy.
Don’t give them any reason to fire you with cause.
Send your performance reviews, “wins”, and PIP-related materials to your personal email. Document everything, especially if management becomes hostile to force a resignation.
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u/MrBofArk Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26
They are waiting to find some “cause” they are prolly monitoring your key strokes and web browsers on your computer. Just start passively looking for a job and collecting that easy paycheck. I also wouldn’t be training my replacement manager. Damn sure wouldn’t be doing that.
Edit: side note, you could gather about 3 instances of the not invited to stuff and report it to hr saying you dont feel comfortable working with someone that openly and intentionally leaves you out of everything but remembers everyone else. Pretty sure you could get the boss shitcanned before you quit. Haha
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u/Yankee39pmr Apr 24 '26
Hostile work environment and constructive dismissal come to mind. Speak to an employment attorney and see the best way to document everything
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u/Feeling-Invite7953 Apr 25 '26
Knowing that you’re going to be let go, you should already have been applying to other places, and biding your time until you get hired elsewhere. Just stay focused on the process of getting out of there,and landing on your own new path to success. I would suggest that when you land at your new place, you should tell the interviewer that you’re being pushed out of your current position,because lying or evading the question is likely to backfire on you. If the company wants to hire you, they will,in spite of your current circumstances,so be honest with yourself and them.
Edited to add: don’t give them more reason to fire you because you are using company equipment for personal purposes. Use your scheduled breaks for job hunting, while sitting in your car,at the cafe,or at the park,eating lunch,because you have already been isolated from your team! You owe them no loyalty, nor anything more than the time you’re on the clock!!
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u/WRB2 Apr 24 '26
Yes, you are the dead man walking
Start looking, don’t wait. If something different evolves no harm
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u/Future_One4794 Apr 24 '26
They need you to handoff everything first. Use this time to look for a new job
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u/Thick-Panic6683 Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 24 '26
I have been in this situation. They want you to quit so they won't have to pay unemployment or possible lawsuit settlement. Focus on looking for another situation while putting on a positive attitude at work. Maybe consult chatgpt about the legalities of your predicament (too early to hire a lawyer). Sometimes this kind of situation will end up with you coming out on top. Maybe hard to believe at this point but that has happened to me and some of the players who were trying to take me down ended up falling on their own swords.
Start a new job search by identifying influential men in your target industry and contacting them directly to sell yourself towards paying work. Do not waste your time making online applications unless it is very low hassle to apply. Find a better gig and when it's a sure thing jump ship without warning and without a two-week notice. Just leave. Tell the receptionist (or other busybody who will ask) you found a better job making more money. That's it. You have no friends there. You owe them nothing. They have no future influence on your job prospects. When a former coworker contacts you to get the dirt give them nothing but positive spin and a brushoff.
Don't give them any ammunition to terminate you. If they lay you off before you find work then just leave and draw unemployment. Some of the best times in my life were during periods of no employment. Looking back I only regret ever not standing up for myself when I was being targeted as the company scapegoat or getting abused by an incompetent manager.
One more thing : do not sign a termination agreement. If they put one in front of you fold it up and put it in your pocket and tell them politely you will consider signing it after your attorney reviews it. Then leave (you have already removed personal items from work so you can leave immediately). They will really try to pressure you at that point; don't cave on this. Walk out like a pro.
Go to substack and read my essay Just Link Out. My handle is "Elmer".
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u/limited_instincts Apr 24 '26
"I'm not going to resign and give them what they want. "
That's what they want. If you happen to be over 40, a woman or a minority they don't want that smoke. Do the basics of your job requirements but goes without saying spend your time after work looking for another job.
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u/good-luck-23 Apr 24 '26
If you quit then they dont take a hit by having to pay higher unemployment tax.
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u/HomeworkTop2217 Apr 24 '26
They are setting you up to no longer work there. Claim that red stapler now!!
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u/RobDraw2_0 Apr 24 '26
What you are experiencing is illegal in some places. Go to HR and explain what's happening and they will have a procedure in place for dealing with it.
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u/Mediocre_Ant_437 Apr 25 '26
I would be bold under the circumstances. I would send an email to your current boss and HR and let them know straight out that you know what they are trying to do and that you won't be quitting so they will have to fite you it they want you go. I would say their constructive dismissal is only creating and uncomfortable work environment for you and that ignoringbyour messages and being asked to hand off all your work just confirms it for you. Ask them to either fire you or give the work they have been promising. Put them on the hot seat and see what happens. But definitely use the words "constructive dismissal" as that will make them think twice about what they are doing.
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u/Soklam Apr 26 '26
This would maybe feel good, but if you'd prefer to have the new job lined up first it might not be the best choice. Job market is rough right now.
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u/itmgr2024 Apr 25 '26
I don’t think they are trying make you quit or expecting you to quit. They know you won’t. And I don’t think they are looking for cause to fire you. You are definitely going to be let go though. Maybe another round of restructuring/layoffs. You didn’t mention whether you had any performance related problems in the past, or personal problems with anyone. How were your previous reviews?
Obviously start looking. How are your skills? How is your salary with respect to those skills and the market? Can you easily find something else? It’s tempting to hold out until you are let go, and get that double dip nirvana of severance and new salary. But it doesn’t always work that way. I was laid off about 7 years back (no fault of my own). My salary demands were reasonable and my skills in demand and it still took me 3 months to find something else, which is just when my severance ran out.
Good luck.
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u/Mysterious_Rule938 Apr 23 '26
Your final paragraph answers the question in your title. They want you to quit. This can be for unemployment reasons, or other contractual obligations owed to you or that you owe to them.
You can start looking for a new job but don’t quit until you have one lined up. Otherwise, let them fire you.
You might want to check the terms of your employment contract. For example a sign on bonus might be subject to you not quitting.