TheEnglishMajor

Account Executive

Valued Contributor

Laid off after referring over my replacement. If this company really thinks I'm not petty enough to forfeit my entire severance by not doing right by me, they're in for a surprise.

Zero warnings, zero communication, wasn't even at the bottom of the performer list. 3 week severance. (Series A company, ~100 employees, rapidly growing their followers and becoming a known and trusted voice in the space we sell in)

We have a referral program, and two weeks ago, a former colleague of mine accepted an offer to join this team as a fellow AE. Our policy is to pay out a bonus (in this case $5k) once that new hire has reached their 90 day mark. Zero other stipulations.

They offered to pay me half at the 90 day mark.

Lmao. Nope. That's not how this is going to work.

Already have champions who I had built around this company's product reaching out to me with shock and disappointment on how this company handled this recent round of layoffs. Many of them well respected thought leaders in the space.

Imagine if word also gets out on how they screwed me out of a bonus I was promised for referring my literal replacement 🙃

🔫 Job Separation

25

38 comments

Sort by:

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

11

Account Executive

Name and shame. What’s the use of all this ire if you hide the source of the injustice?
I understand wanting to stay anonymous here and everything but it kind of comes across as pretty toothless if you’re not willing to point them out, no?

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

6

Account Executive

Hell I’m happy to name them, but my only concern (and hope) is that they do decide to do right by me on this and then I would be breaching a confidentiality thing (I haven’t signed anything yet, but I worry it will be taken off the table). Ten days for me to sign it, not signing until we have mutual terms, don’t want to take it off the table though

Actually, does this shit even matter?

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

2

Account Executive

Makes sense!

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

3

Account Executive

appreciate the understanding! Once things are settled one way or another here I'll be sure to vocalize honest reviews and will always give people the scoop if they reach out.
That's one of the things I've learned... reach out to former people in that same role if there is anyone who on paper should have been a good fit... things like decent background and some kind of presence in the space, ask them what happened and get their advice.

BigShrimpin

Politicker

1

Account executive

unless you signed a non disparagement agreement you can do whatever you like and even then theyd look worse going after you for this

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

0

Account Executive

Yeah that's what they want me to sign but I'm not doing it unless they pay up

BigShrimpin

Politicker

0

Account executive

which you're totally within your rights to do so keep fighting it

unclespacejam

Politicker

3

ur dad’s brother

LET THE BRIDGES U BURN LIGHT THE PATH FORWARD BAYBEEEEEEEEE🔥🧨🔥🧨🔥🧨

BigShrimpin

Politicker

1

Account executive

this is a sick line will steal for future

unclespacejam

Politicker

0

ur dad’s brother

That one’s for free big dog. You can thank UNCLE “PETTY AS A MF” SPACEJAM

Arv

Executive

2

Account Executive

As an aside to this, if you're in the USA, the National Labor Relations Board has held that employers cannot make you sign anything that withholds severance for negative reviews on websites.
https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/nlrb-requires-changes-employee-severance-and-other-agreements
Not a laywer. Do your own research. Slay.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

9

☕️

Blood. We want it.

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

6

Account Executive

Oh we will get it. No commission plan has ever been able to motivate me like VENGEANCE does

pirate

Big Shot

1

Account Executive

Revenge is a dish best served cold. If needed plan it and hit them where it hurts

jefe

Arsonist

6

🍁

This is dirty.

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

3

Account Executive

What’s worse? The product is literally for revenue teams 😱 doing dirty to the people they claim to support

pirate

Big Shot

1

Account Executive

I do not get it... also it is like 5k so why offer to pay the half. Not fair

bonez

Politicker

4

Account Executive

Sounds like they did you a favor by letting you go. What a toxic environment to be in. You’ll come out better and in a better org.

Sorry this happened. Hope your buddy who you referred sees the light and dips too!

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

3

Account Executive

Honestly if I would have known how toxic this place could be, never would have had him join up. We're both seeing it for the first time

bonez

Politicker

2

Account Executive

Some are just damn good at hiding it sadly. I worked at a place just like this. They were great until they started firing people because they were hurting. Sad to see but it always comes around.

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

2

Account Executive

What are some ways in which you vet it out moving forward? Each place I’ve moved to I’ve learned how to dig around something for my next move. Curious to hear any advice you’ve learned in your time

bonez

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Some times you can’t sadly. But I will usually look for any red flags around ego in the c suite. The spot that started firing people for me should have been more obvious since the CEO made every decision and all of the leaders basically defaulted to what he wanted.

Another is constant turnover even if they have a good excuse for it. People leave for reasons and you can always reach out to former employees and ask why they left.

I also look for reviews around that are honest and realistic. If people leave review that this company is basically the next Jesus then they are being asked to do it in the honeymoon period. Actual reviews that give pros and cons are a great sign.

Flesh it out in the interview too. Flat out ask the managers what their managing style is. Ask them how involved they need to be in deals. Plainly ask them if they want to run the process or hand it over. I turned down an org because a manager flat out said to me that he was promoted because he was a great rep so his reps follow his lead. Major red flag and signs of toxic culture. Interviews are two way streets to find this stuff out.

Last, listen to your gut. If something smells or seems off, walk. It’s not worth uprooting your career to test a theory out. Every time I’ve had a bad hunch it turned out to be true and some times I paid the price by ignoring it.

braintank

Politicker

4

Enterprise Account Executive

So what are you gonna do?

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

4

Account Executive

Publically call them out! I sell to sales teams. If they can’t do right by sales, sales shouldn’t respect them.

braintank

Politicker

2

Enterprise Account Executive

On LinkedIn, Glassdoor?

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

4

Account Executive

glassdoor is a no brainer once all is said and done for the experience... linkedin will be the place if we can't come to mutual terms. Glassdoor is about my experience there for people looking into the company, linkedin is about calling them out to others more of a brand thing. don't want to do that (unless needed) because of course which company in their right mind would go on to hire me... if it comes to blows though and I have to, it's a great path because I know that next company will respect my values, yanno? gotta give this one a chance before a public blast though

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

4

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Are they running out of $$?
Sorry this happened. I hope you are successful in your quest.

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

2

Account Executive

Appreciate it! And no, they are not. Just had their most successful quarter ever in Q3 but missed Q4 (btw I personally came in at what I actually forecasted, no shocks on my deals). They have 2 years runway

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Grrrrrr. I’m irritated on your behalf.

HVACexpert

Politicker

4

sales engineer

Yikes, they did you a favor though, this place obviously sucks. Good luck in the job hunt.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

4

🦊

I am sorry this happened to you. Let's put em on blast. Who do I bite first 🦊

Pachacuti

Politicker

3

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

First off - that sucks you got laid off. That said, was it a general layoff or were let go for some reason? Was it the referral bonus? And are they asking for a non-disparage in exchange for the severance?

If you don't need the $$, fire away. Go crazy. Just make sure you can handle the lawyers when they come calling. Because they will whether or not you sign a non-disparage.

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

1

Account Executive

4 layoffs because company missed quarterly target. Meanwhile they hired 7 new people. No reasons were given beyond that in terms of how they decided on who
They are asking for non-disparage in exchange for severance

medhardwaredr

Politicker

3

Director of Sales NA

Yea this is so not cool. Go get your loot! Sorry this happened to you, you’ll land somewhere great!
Also, glass flipping door these cats no doubt

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

2

Account Executive

Update: fortunately the company did right by me. If anyone is ever in this situation and looking for the magical words, here is a redacted version of what I said

Thank you for following up. Regarding the referral bonus, the only stipulation that was outlined was that the new hire be employed for 90 days. I sourced this candidate for the benefit of COMPANY and at the expense of pulling him away from our mutual previous employer. I also put a lot of time and effort into training him through the process and encouraging him to take the position.

Given that there were no other stipulations, I do expect to be paid in full at that time should REFERRAL reach his 90 day mark and request that the COMPANY team agree to honor this commitment.

SalesBeast

Politicker

1

Sales Leader

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

0

Account Executive

What did you end up doing? Sorry that happened to you as well!

Justatitle

Big Shot

1

Account Executive

Expose em

Chep

WR Officer

0

Bitcoin Adoption Specialist

Shortsighted move by this organization. They will regret it!

Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.

Products

The War Room Jobs Tech Sales U

For employers

Hire sales talent Executive search

Company

About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty

Contact

© 2024 Bravado Inc. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy Legal and Privacy Center Trust Center Sales Jobs