If you worked in a small enough company, say 100 staff, and were wrongfully dismissed, would you write a letter to the CEO if you felt it would be read and at least considered (if not positively acted on)?
I’m not talking of an angry, ranting missive. I’m talking a concise and to the point professional letter with a strong supported argument to support your complaint.
Would the fact that the person responsible for your dismissal (CIO) was also being dismissed (unrelated reasons)?
If it were me, I’d check with a Lawyer first.
Why?
Besides, they never let a CIO go for performance reasons. At least not publicaly. “He’s taking time to spend with his family and ailing mother.”
But the fucker was key in costing me my job. :mad:
As long as you’re polite and reasonable, I don’t see why not. Make sure you keep a copy for your records.
Wrongful termination is serious. Heck, any termination is serious. Personally, I’d just feel better if I got an opinion form an expert before I did anything that couldn’t be undone.
You didn’t give us many details about the dismissal, but if you think it’s OK, go for it. But cool down. When you can stop referring to the CIO as a fucker, write the letter.
What does “CIO” mean?
Nothing less than completely professional and level headed.
I’m just fuming on here because I can.
kevja suggests talking to a lawyer because anything you say in the letter could potentially be used against you in a lawsuit later. If you are absolutely sure you will not sue, then the letter won’t come back to bite you. Otherwise, you should be cautious and not write anything that could be distorted or taken the wrong way.
In the inflated language of American business:
CEO: Chief Executive Officer (president)
COO: Chief Operating Officer (executive vice president)
CFO: Chief Financial Officer (head bean counter)
CIO: Chief Information Officer (head computer guy)
What is the purpose of writing the letter? If you have any consideration of sueing, then you need to have a lawyer look at it first.
If you have no intention of taking legal recource and you just want to dispute the reasons for being terminated, then depending on the situtation, stating your case wouldn’t be a bad thing. I couldn’t see a company coming after you, so there isn’t a down side to writing the letter. The worst case is that they tear it up and you still don’t have your job back.
If you do write it, then stay very professional. I would recommend you show it to someone else since what fuming people consider “nothing less than completely professional and level headed” is different than what non-fuming people consider it. My friend and I sometime vet either other’s emails.
Depends on whether you want to work in that industry in that city again.
Oh, you’ll never be able to prove your letter had anything to do with your former employer spreading the word that you’re a bad risk. But somehow everyone else will just know.
Emails can be glossed over and ignored.
I’m going to speak with the CEO myself directly. It’s a small enough place that I can walk into his office without running a gauntlet of personal assistants. Besides, we’re from the same home town and share a similar hobby which we’ve discussed in the past.
It’s going to be a sales call. I’m going to politely ask if he knew I was let go and was he aware of the asset he will be losing. Then I’m going to sell byself by describing my string of successful implementations and positive feedback from clients as well as what else I have to offer.
I’m not going to raise any issues regarding the CIO situation or how he screwed me over.
It’ll either get his attention or he’ll smile, thank me and politely show me the door.
At least I’ll have tried.
If that doesn’t work, I can always torch the place later that evening. :mad:
KIDDING!!! No seriously, I kid! Come on now!!! 
Sounds like a good plan to me. Hope you get your job back, if that’s what you want.
Yeah. For now. The well is poisoned now though. I just want to leave on my own terms and in my own good time.
Plus the looks on the faces of the nest of vipers who set me up will be priceless if I pull this off.
I suppose I should fill in some details.
Fresh news just coming to light explains a lot. I was really taken aback when after 5 months of working here and a string of successes with project implementations and kudos from my users in the form of being asked to participate on new projects, I suddently became persona non grata. A few short weeks ago the CIO asked my agent if he could buy out my contract to offer me a full time position. Shortly before that, the CIO, pleased with my performance assigned two new projects to me despite the fact that his two full time PM’s were wrapping up their projects with no new work coming down the pipe. In addition to my PM role, I outlined and delivered a software SDLC and CM process which was adopted by upper management.
In short, and to blow my own horn, I was a star.
Now, my introduction to the company was not very smoothe in that the previous director who hired me didn’t really integrate me into the corporate structure as much as parachute me in as a mercinary and I landed right into a nest of vipers. I’m not an abrasive person by nature so I tried my best to not step on any toes. Never the less, people’s egos were bruised and feathers were ruffled. Noses got put out of joint and never set right again. A lot had to do with the fact that I’m good at what I do and require very little hand holding. I suppose some folks expected me to rely on them more or flat out fail. I did the opposite.
Fast forward to three weeks ago. The old director is long gone. A new one takes his place. The new guy is a hero and knows what everyone is going to say before they finish the sentence. In fact he’s so good, he thinks he can do it all himself. I read him almost immediately and worked with him without a complaint, negative word or reaction even though it was difficult as he questioned my every move. I think was frustrated by my independence and calm ability to successfully lead a project in my own way. I think he expected more noise and fury around my projects than I typically encourage.
Less than two weeks ago the seed of discontent that were planted when I started here bore fruit and a call was made to the new director telling him they did not want to work with me. The reason was not revealed to me in any detail. I didn’t fit in with the corporate culture was the crux of the argument used. My director broke the news and demonstrated his excellent leadership skills by not even making an attempt to stand up for me. When I went to my CIO and asked him why the sudden change in the weather, he simply shrugged and basically said that “shit happens” and there was nothing he was going to do about it.
Cut to yesterday. The moment things really came together for me. The CIO is leaving the company for personal reasons (Yeah, sure!).
So here I am with two days left and a 1:30pm appointment with the CEO to give him my sales pitch as a last ditch attempt to delay my parting so that I can better choose my own time to go. It’s probably akin to commanding the tides but a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.
Thanks.
best of luck. And don’t sweat the letter/legal thing. You’re already being fired, if the CEO doesn’t go for your ideas. That’s not going to help you. Might as well give the legal angle a try.
…It won’t be long now.
I spoke to the CEO. He was patient and receptive. He had no idea I was being released from my contract.
I gave him my sales pitch on my record so far and what I had to offer in the future. He seemed interested and promised to investigate the situation.
Regardless of what happens, I know two things:
a) I did my best and won’t have the “what if” thoughts going through my head.
b) This well is poisoned even if the CEO gives me a stay of execution. I’ll have to find something better in the near future.
I’m a little late to the party, but just want to point you to FindLaw’s info regarding wrongful termination.
Thanks Misnomer.
Yeah, I’ve got a case based on some of the conditions outlined by the legal site you provided.
Trouble is, there is usually nothing so bad that a lawyer can’t make worse. I’m not a hugely letigious person so I’m loath to get involved in that quagmire. Particularly since I’m still dealing with the legal process of my divorce.
But thanks again. Good to know. 