MeowMeow

Senior Enterprise Account Executive

Canned before a massive deal closes

Well it's nearly the end of Q1 and I have a massive deal (well over 1M) that is going to land before the end of the month.

I now have reason to believe I'm going to get fired in an attempt for my company to avoid paying me on it.

The deal is in final legal review and needs 2 signatures and it's a wrap.

What would you do in this scenario?

I'm currently seething with rage and feel like I'm going to throw up. I'm at a startup and need to review the shit I signed when I was hired but given their past behavior I don't think I'll have anything to hold them to.

🧠 Advice

🍾 Commission

💰 Compensation

42 comments

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CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

And take all of that info, emails, facts, etc to an attorney asap.

RandyLahey

Politicker

Account Manager

This^^^. Gather any and all info, especially your comp plan, screenshot your QTD, any confirmation from the client, etc.
Don't let anything on, operate in the shadows. Business as usual. BUT GATHER ALL INFO NOW.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.

Maybe Dan Goodman as a first move? But fucking capture everything you can. And then back it up

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

I came here to say document, screenshot, and get whatever else you can in slack/email so it can be downloaded.

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

what she said. keep your files close.

BigShrimpin

Catalyst

Account executive

agreed, dont let them get away with this

MyAnonymousName

Opinionated

Sales Leader

A. Document those reasons that make you believe they are going to fire you for that reason
B. It hasn't happened yet so I wouldn't resort to seething with rage yet
C. Document, Document, Document and then if it does happen contact an attorney

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Document everything, and download your comp plan. Pre-emptively shoot Dan Goodman a message.
May I ask what leads you to believe you will be canned?

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Curious about the why as well.

MeowMeow

Politicker

Senior Enterprise Account Executive

It’s a combination of their behavior, intent to sell the company, and their shady practices that has brought me to this conclusion.

I think it boils down to them not wanting to pay me out. It’s the biggest deal the company has landed. I doubt the money is there to pay me on time as it would be paid out in the first check of next month. This account has net60 terms so there won’t be money come next payroll cycle.

It started later last year when it wasn’t going to be considered new logo because they paid for a pov. That was the first red flag. Then they were dragging the release of the 2024 comp plan because it would greatly reduce the commission on this deal. I pushed and got the comp plan and instead of 13% it was going to be more like 7%. I negotiated to get 10% but they wouldn’t put it in writing.

One of my first deals with the company closed when I was on vacation. This vacation was booked and discussed at length before I was hired. Since I wasn’t there to mark it C/W the decision was made to pay me 2.5% and not the 5% agreed when I took the job.

They also decided that the PTO grant would not cover the vacation but that was not discussed and it was not in writing. I found out when they docked my last paycheck of the year for the hours.

Today I got blasted with accusations that it looks like I’m waiting to cash in on this deal and then I’m going to quit. This took up most of the 1:1 meeting time and I now have a follow up on my calendar for tomorrow afternoon.

I feel like an idiot for giving the benefit of the doubt repeatedly. Startups are hard and I know things can be financially tough but now I just feel stupid.

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

so yes, rough situation here, and it's not like you had much of a choice in these dealings either.
If you are open to it, maybe discuss payment after the client pays their bill in order to smooth things over.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Is the 1:1 in person or remote?

MeowMeow

Politicker

Senior Enterprise Account Executive

Remote over zoom

MeowMeow

Politicker

Senior Enterprise Account Executive

Oh I would have been totally agreeable to them paying me on an adjusted schedule. It seems like they are more than willing to fire me rather than paying me at all. They have already done their best to knock a 6 figure commission check down to about $40k with their reclassification of the deal. The integrity and trust is gone.

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Im not in the situation I don’t have a pulse on the room, if there is an opportunity for a diplomatic solution here where you can come to an agreeable solution that works for everyone it might be best. You closed a huge account who is to say you can’t build on that and you know what it takes to keep them coming. It’s in all parties best interest to cure them to break

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

I saw something, I think from Dan Goodman, on LI the other day about companies bricking laptops during these last minute 1:1s where people are getting fired. The suggestion was to put your work laptop in airplane mode, and use your personal, so that you can still access and back up anything you might have missed before they nuke it all remotely.

Just a thought.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Agreed - @MeowMeow should do his best here but prepare for the worst.

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

You’ve gotten all the answers. Just asking you to update us. Would ya?

fuzzy

Notable Contributor

CMO (Chief Meme Officer)

Dawg this is definitely to avoid paying you out. Dan Goodman posts stories like this all the time on LinkedIn. You need to hit him up and don’t sign shit.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Do they have any other reason to let you go?

MeowMeow

Politicker

Senior Enterprise Account Executive

Not a single one right now. I’m trying really hard not to give them one either. 🤣

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

Account Executive

Hope you fight this and get your cut.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I’m prepared to be outraged on your behalf. Best of luck tomorrow. What a mess.

MeowMeow

Politicker

Senior Enterprise Account Executive

I’ll keep you posted! Appreciate it!

SalesBeast

Politicker

Sales Director

Exact same shit happened to me. Largest deal in company history. Said was going to sign at 8 am and by 10am same day I was fired.
I was tops sales rep a number of years in a row and they made up a bullshit reason to let me go.
Likely if the deal closes after they fire you, you have no ground to do anything to them or available legal actions possible. I spoke with ton of lawyers and all said if your comp plan (likely, as mine did) says you must be employed at time of said deal closing or payment-you’re fucked. This is why being a W-2 employee sucks.
I fought back on severance and told them what dirty pieces of shit they were but did nothing for me. Just know karma comes around to dirty people like this and they will get it in the long run. I ended up at a much better place with way better coworkers and management. So missed one commission but closed some fatties at the new company and am WAY happier. It can be a blessing in disguise.
Keep your head up kid.

MeowMeow

Politicker

Senior Enterprise Account Executive

I’m so sorry you’re have been through a similar situation. I absolutely agree with you though that this will lead me to the next phase that will be entirely less like the past year and a half. I wish I had time to line up that next company, but this place is such a dumpster fire that it’s probably best for me to get this final nail on the coffin now before I give them any more of my time.

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

Let’s take a step back. What makes you think you’d be fired? (apart from your gut feeling).

Are they treating you any different? Any other signals/signs?

MeowMeow

Politicker

Senior Enterprise Account Executive

My CEO had the most random and unhinged scream fest towards me yesterday. I was caught off guard because it was out of left field. Accusations were thrown that were wild. Their entire demeanor was a 180 from anything I have ever experienced. So I’m either going to be fired or the intent is to make it so hostile that they force me out.

Over my dead body will I leave on my own before this commission check clears!

NoToBANT

Catalyst

Senior Account Executive

Been said a few times but Dan Goodman is your man

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

Echoing everyone here with take every detail you can, comp plan too, and lawyer up.

Filth

Politicker

Live Filthy or Die Clean

Any updates?? I'm on the edge of my seat!!!

MeowMeow

Politicker

Senior Enterprise Account Executive

Not until this afternoon. It’s currently business as usual… evidence gathering and reaching out to Dan Goodman! 🤣

Filth

Politicker

Live Filthy or Die Clean

ok ok, just making sure I'm not missing anything Team @MeowMeow all the way!!

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

Director Sales and Market Development

This is the absolute worst, sorry to hear.

sugardaddy

Politicker

🍬

Major congrats on that win!

sugardaddy

Politicker

🍬

Wrong post. Sorry!

MeowMeow

Politicker

Senior Enterprise Account Executive

All I do win, win, win!

MeowMeow

Politicker

Senior Enterprise Account Executive

Update: It appears as if the tactic is now “make you miserable until you quit”. I have another meeting on Monday. Which means I have a job to report to still.

The next hurdle is not getting randomly fired until the signature is dry.

The hurdle after that is not getting fired until the check clears on April 15th.

The demeanor was lighter today but still confrontational. “You don’t have any pipeline outside of this one deal.” It’s almost like the $600k in my pipeline after this deal closes doesn’t count.

If anyone has a recruiter to recommend, slide on into these DM’s.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Hang in there! And have a great weekend.

pirate

Big Shot

🦜☠️ Account Executive

Try not to think you're getting fired before that's true. Because it affects how you talk to people who might be fighting for you not to get fired. Also yes meanwhile as others have recommended document everything and hire a lawyer.

RelationshipMaker

Opinionated

Head of Sales

In a years time you’ll thank yourself for sticking it out. It’s big and painful now but stay put, dig the trenches and you’ll be okay.

MackTheKnife

WR Officer

Enterprise Account Executive

I've been there, but they just rewrote the comp plan mid-year. Just here to commiserate, great advice on this thread.

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MeowMeow

Canned before a massive deal closes

42 comments

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