I've been working at Jones for nearly my entire professional career, right out of college, for the past decade. I worked hard to prove myself in the eyes of leadership and my peers. Copious amounts of overtime, volunteering for more work repeatedly, going above and beyond in every capacity I could with a ratio of 9 "Exceeds" to every "Meets". Promoted numerous times with several lateral moves, always "working my way up" however I could, because I believed in the company and wanted to be a part of something truly great.
But in that time...
I was hired with a title and grade two below the role I actually filled, told I had to work my way up only to watch others be hired directly to the higher title at higher pay than I made when I was eventually promoted. I was repeatedly paid less than the minimum for my paygrade, with more than one "Bring to Minimum" increase. I was denied increases outside of annual reviews, despite being below the minimum. I was never offered a partnership. I was converted to salary without my consent, with the expectation I continue working heavy overtime, in addition to regular weekends. I was denied opportunities for promotions due to my volunteer projects. And now, I have been ISP'd.
I stayed all these years because I felt secure, and I truly viewed many of my coworkers as friends. When I first toured the campus, in my interviews, even in the lunchroom I heard repeatedly how Jones was "one of the best places to work" and "never did layoffs", "the culture is incredible", and that "the happiest feeling in life is feeling safe and secure in your job, never worrying about putting food on the table" (exact quote). The older associates said this is somewhere you don't have to job hop, you want to stay here your whole career, it's that good. And, like an absolute mo--n, for the past decade I believed them.
This past month I've felt a lot of things... Anxiety. Shock. Frustration. Fear. Depression. Unappreciated. A number on a spreadsheet. Like my whole career has just been reset. But most of all? I feel betrayed. I've been stabbed in the back, and I feel sick to my stomach for it. And it's not only me - I've spoken to a dozen of my friends who all got the same news, and a dozen more who are heartbroken to see us all leave so suddenly (many of which received demotions). Being locked out of the building, having our names scrubbed from projects and tickets, being forgotten and shown firsthand that we never mattered. Thousands of years of cumulative experience purged in the name of profit for the select few at the very top.
My world view has been shattered. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to treat Jones as a stepping stone and take the opportunities presented elsewhere along the way. Instead, I was walked all over for years and the only thing I have to show for it is a lovely pink slip, and a crippling fear for my family's future. I've put out dozens of applications in the past month, putting my all into finding something new, and haven't gotten a single interview. They let us go into one of the worst job markets they could. At the start of this year, I thought I was going to retire from Jones... Now I don't know what my life will look like 6 months from now, let alone 10 years from now.
My faith in the firm's direction is gone; the company culture is dead.
If you're still there and thought you were safe, you will never be able to feel that way again.