Never assume your job is secure! The company I worked for found out I was looking into starting my own company. Which would be in the same line of work. To make a long story short, I' ve never been given a verble warning or a written warning in the 3 years I worked their.Yet today the owner pulled me into her office and fired me because I was looking into starting my own company. So a word to the wise, If you are going to start your own company make sure the people you talk to about it do not know your employer in any way shape or form. I'm not even sure how she found out. So if you see me over the next couple of days and I don't say much, don't take it personal. Just feel like kicking ass & taking names later, that is if there is any thing left of you to identify who you where to begin with. So please take care of your self and watch your butt,for now I'm out to kill all in my way 8(

U should institute legal proceedings. (sue the bitch)

Sorry to hear that Lone. A lot of companies have policies that allow them to fire employees, no questions asked, who are seeking new jobs or the like. If you had been looking to start a company that was in a different line than theirs, you might have had a case to sue them, but I imagine they see any employee looking to compete as potential competition, or that you would use some trade secrets or whatever. The silly thing about it is, firing you certainly won't stop you from starting your own competing company, so you have to wonder what the point of it all is. Was it to send a lesson to other employees? I dunno.

I don't know if this company was a big one or not, but I've been working for some years now for a big company, and I've been pretty turned off to it all over the years. The thing that gets me about many of these big corps, is that they expect some undying almost fanatical loyalty from their employees, but very few will show anything back approaching such loyalty to those very employees. How do they expect people to be loyal to them when they treat employees like dirt? Unless your some big honcho CEO, most of the time you're just a number to them.

I'm about ready to leave corporate America for good, and either strike out on my own, or work for some smaller place where I can feel I'm making a difference and I matter. It's hard to shake the feeling each day when I leave that all I did was make my meager salary and made the rich president and other CEO's of the company even richer. :o

Lone, I would think that you would be able to take some sort of legal action. Just because you're thinking about starting a business doesn't mean you're going to and it surely isn't grounds for being fired. I recently read an article on MSN.com that related to employers firing employees and the bases they needed to cover and reasons for firing that weren't acceptable. I'd look into it if I were you, unless you don't want to go back and this is the kick start you needed to strike out on your own. Still, a nice settlement might be just the seed money you need to start a new business. :)

@ all

Thanks for the input and the advise :(

@ Om

I know how you feel, thats one of the many reasons why I wanted to start my own company!

@ Rabban

As far as seeking Legal action, I'm not going to sink to her level. I will just use this to out due her and to fuel my drive. Thanks though. It just really hurt, I've busted my ass off for her, let alone this is the only time in my life that I've been fired from any job. Just to give you a idea, I started part time, became full time with in 2 weeks, became low manager with in 4 weeks, by the time I put in 1 year I had worked all the way up to General Manager,by the end of my second year I averaged almost 65 to 70 hrs. A week! So I know all about being a team player and getting screwed by the owner. B)

One good reason employers fear the entrepreneur is this one: while you work there you have access to their clients list and perhaps developed a good professionnal relationship with some clients - thus they might be willing to migrate their activities to follow you in your new venture.

It's a regular occurence in import-export businesses and wholesalers. The clients list is priceless.

@ Hugobrain

You can say that again. I'm not even close to being up and running yet I've all ready 65 customers, 15 of them are from where I work,wait I mean my old job :[

Hi lonewolf, sorry to hear this. I would agree agree with rabban, legal proceeding will do the job. And since she has no proof, bam u ruleeeeeeeeee. Yes, who ever told this to you boss, beat the shit out of him/her. And if ur using ur anger as a fuel to get ur company running use it and get back to those bastards[especially her....bye her. Own her. Use her.f her]. Let me know how it goes.

Guju :P

"Houston, we have a problem."

Lonewolf:

As to what,if any, recourse you have...it depends on where you live. In KY, where I work, they can fire you for any reason as long as they aren't disscimminating against you in some way (age, sex, religion...etc). You being a manager gives them a lot of lattitude that they wouldn't have had if you were an hourly worker. The company I work for requires all salaried workers to sign non-competition forms which limits not only who we can work for but also keeps us from using anything like client lists (any knowlege gained while in their employ). Non-competition agreements usually last from 2 to 5 years.

Good luck to you with your new company,

Later,

Chuck

Hey LONEWOLF, what is this new company, not to be insensitive, I'm just curious. Also, I would go with the famous second post.

@ ALL

Taking my family on a 2 day vacation, be back on Mon. Tell then please keep responding, will answer any and all comments then! Hope you all have a safe and happy holiday! Off to clear my head, if you know what I mean, we still have not told our kids. We feel they don't need to worry about that stuff, besides we planned for rainy days all the time,CYA B)

Last edited: Saturday, May 29, 2004 at 2:17:40 PM

One word:

Pastry. :)

@ lonewolf:

Im sorry lonewolf about what happened. That really sucks @$$

Doubt if u can fight it but just for kicks, check out the BBB

Good luck!

@ all:

I was fired from a large corp in may of last year. Seems my supervisor tapped into my conversation (in helpdesk this is common) with an employer who wanted to hire me. I got the ax the next day. I took the other job of course and it was more hours and harder work for half the pay...i ended up quitting that last oct. Since then been doing freelancing and have been runner up for 3 other good jobs. Got a couple more in the runnings but I have a few weeks left b4 I will get kicked out....if that happens no more TT....ack....might have to go back to working in the grocery business or some crap...too bad a skilled developer such as myself even has to consider that option...as mentioned on another thread music just wont make me enough money to survive...lifes a #$#@ then u die!!

Im on a nationwide job hunt....anybody that works for a company that needs developers please send me an email....Someday I will start my own contracting firm...i just dont have the $ to cover the initial expenses. Grants and such have all fallen thru thus far....

B

Edit:

I think OM nailed it.....the republicans keep control of the corporations and the corporations keep charge of the job market....with the few jobs there are, the employers control the workforce....employees dont count for anything.....basic supply and demand....

Its hard to maintain a decent small business....unless u have a product or service that cannot be easily duplicated the only way to survive solely on your business income is to grow larger and larger and have no life outside of work....there are many self employed individuals here in this community and almost all of them work another job to stay above water...

The american dream my arse.....

Last edited: Monday, May 31, 2004 at 2:38:47 AM

What's new biz name OM?

@ JJ

Safe At Home In Loving Carring Arms

So..... You're starting a daycare service? Ive heard the easiest service industry to rip people off in is the babysitting industry. Just givin ya information for your new business. ;)

@ AIM{+}HERE(KA7)

Its not for babys, its for pets, any type(cat,dog,bird, reptile,exotic,also have 7 months training in handling and care of pot belly pigs.I do it in there homes, no I do not come and stay over nights, I do what ever they need me to do for there pets and charge them only for my time they want me be to be with there pets. No charge for giving meds.! Once up and running I will be fully Bonded and fully Insured.

Heh, I work in game development (brand new company! The one I worked at before went under), and they ENCOURAGE you to do things yourself.

As long as they can have an 80% cut ;)

Hey Lonewolf,

I recently started my own company, graphic design, the one that I was working for before decided to go to a contract model so that left me in the position of pumping gas or going freelance. In my town there is not alot of demand for freelance, and in the last 6 months since I started I have had some feast or famine months, but it is looking up. There are times I am terrified and times I wonder how I ever did anything else. No kids yet so we will see how I feel with a family. Best of luck to you.

--dd

@ All

Thanks for the kind words and support.So until I find work or get up and started you'll see me a lot in your rear view mirror LOL B)

@Bolo Wow good luck. I've been layed off May 5th after 6 years. Many companies are relocating to other states & countries. My company, in particular, moved to another state. So I am also out of work in the IT business at the moment. It appears most jobs in my area are contract. I'm pretty close to landing one. I can say that up till now my movement from job to job was my choice. I always had a job, before finishing the old one. Till now. Since I've worked fairly long for the last company, they do pay a long duration closing package. I do see there is nothing out there in Sacramento, but I may have lucked out in finding a job with a Company that still has a headquarters in CA and a big office in town. Thought for sure I would have to commute to the mecca of IT, The SF/Bay area to find work. Over 100 mile commutes are nothing to look forward.

Good luck PREY....im gonna have to work a retail nobrainer job for a while...i cant take the risk of moving somewhere with no money...

B

Lonewolf: I left Xerox fifteen years ago with four friends to open up a Consulting practice. Called my bankruptcy attorney everyday for three years X/ Business finally kicked in and has been good ever since. Waking up in the morning without having to face some SOB at the office added years to my life. It's not how much money you make, it's how you feel about yourself when you go home. You're doing the right thing, enjoy it, bumps and all. :)

@ Kriegspiel

Thanks, hope things continue to go up and up for you ! B)