nandortherelentless

Mid Market Account Executive

Worried I will come off of leave, to be let go.

I'm currently on approved paternity leave and my founder is covering for me. I'm concerned that he is going to make a decision that "we did it while he was on leave, let's keep doing it".

Prior to leave, I had been hitting quota and have multiple deals for the new year ( I've been nurturing those while on leave).

I'm the only AE in the company, but there are a few SDRs.

How concerned should I be?

👐 Emotional Regulation

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35 comments

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braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

That'd be a really shitty thing to do.
Is the founder an asshole?

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Many of em are unfortunately 🤷‍♀️

nandortherelentless

Contributor

Mid Market Account Executive

No, but I’ve seen it happen to co-workers before

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Coworkers at this company?

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I'd like to know that too. It's important.

nandortherelentless

Contributor

Mid Market Account Executive

Yes, at this company. Was early 2023

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

life is a gamble, just send good vibes to your founder

HVACexpert

Politicker

sales engineer

Have you reached out? Set up a call and see how things are going.

Fenderbaum

Politicker

Retired Choirboy🪕

Give him a call asking for updates, etc., at the same time tell him you're looking forward to getting back to work. Some of these guys need a little attention thrown their way.

nandortherelentless

Contributor

Mid Market Account Executive

I like that idea. Thank you!!

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

Amazing how a little bit of communication can cure a soul. Take it on and squash the worry. 👍

nandortherelentless

Contributor

Mid Market Account Executive

I’ll see if I can set something up and I’ll post results back in here.

Retired Sales Professional

👍👍

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

It'll calm your mind and reflect well with your founder.
Enjoy your time with the little one

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

It's a great idea!

ThePiedPIPr

Executive

Enterprise Sales Executive

I think you could have some legal standing if they do let you go, but you can talk to an employment lawyer if that happens.

I think in your situation, you need to talk up the deals you are nurturing for Q1 and let them see it would be a mistake to act too fast and potentially lose those deals.

Maybe even talk a few of your Q2 deals up like they are Q1 deals, if possible.

lowhangersalesbanger

Politicker

Account Executive

I don't know but wouldn't that technically be retaliatory and thus illegal? Either way hopefully you don't work for a complete douche who would do that to you.

nandortherelentless

Contributor

Mid Market Account Executive

I don’t think that I do, but the company has a track record of doing things like that after someone gets back. They laid off a co-worker of mine last year after he returned from his honeymoon.

I think performance was more of the issue there though

Phillip_J_Fry

Opinionated

Director of Revenue

Careful not to fall in the trap of thinking "this person did X and got fired, so if i do x, i'll get fired". There are almost certainly things outside of the honeymoon that this person was messing up that led to being let go. Poor performance, pissed off the wrong people, etc.

SalesBeast

Politicker

Sales Leader

If you are working the deals and maintaining relationships then you are solid. If you have them handling new deals and new leads I would be concerned.
Smart move continuing with current deals or would lose that commish.

JCG139

Member

Enterprise SDR

I definitely understand that I’m even stressed taking a week off because of what I’m missing and my numbers slipping.

nandortherelentless

Contributor

Mid Market Account Executive

Don’t let it stress you out! You deserve a week off. 🙂

SoccerandSales

Big Shot

Account Executive

I would doubt a founder would layoff the only AE in the company because they were able to manage while you are gone. I do agree with other points about communication though

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Yeah, I suspect the founder can cover for a bit, but has other important things to take care of, and will be happy to pass the sales role right back.

ChumpChange

Politicker

Channel Manager

Take the entire time. I've seen people get let go even though they were hitting and exceeding plan. If they offer it, don't be ashamed to take it.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

ERP Sales

Majority of the time people are overworked and are happy you are back

Sales rep

🥲🥲

GDO

Politicker

BDM

I expect him to be happy to give it back to you. I hope it will be fine

pirate

Big Shot

Account Executive

I think you will be ok

wolfofmiami

Opinionated

🐺

do something unexpected, those deals youre nurturing, see if you can close one of them. and also reach out to them schedule a meeting soon and talk with your founder about game plan for new year and new strategies you've learned on your time off

nandortherelentless

Contributor

Mid Market Account Executive

Thank you so much everyone! I love this community!

medhardwaredr

Politicker

Director of Sales NA

Don’t live in fear. Come back, have fun, work hard.

BigShrimpin

Politicker

Account executive

As shitty as it may be to have to do you should probably still do a touch base with him on a regular interval (1-2 times per week) to advise on in funnel deals and keeping things running smoothly.
That way at least your fingerprints are still on everything.

mrmiral

BDR (Business Development Rep)

This would suck. I was let go earlier this year 2 weeks BEFORE my approved paternity leave. Very shitty experience.

kindagoodae

Executive

Account Executive

I was in a similar position early 2022 at an early stage start up and all I will say is.....
Your gut is telling you what will happen.