I just had to share this crazy experience I had at work recently. I work for a large company that provides managed services to customers in our region. Our workplace is like an enclave, deeply embedded with one of our major customers, and it has its ups and downs.
First off, we have an amazing customer. They truly understand that people have needs and obligations outside of work. Our engagement officer is fantastic and allows us to leave early for important life events, pick up our kids, go to the doctor, and even grants free leave during emergencies. It's a supportive environment, and we've built an awesome relationship with them. However, sometimes they make requests that go beyond the scope of our contract, and we happily oblige because of our great rapport. The other thing regarding working at the customer site is certain positions are co-signed by the customer and need their approval (important later on).
Now, let's talk about the not-so-great part of our company. We have managers for the sake of having managers. When we return to our host company's offices, it's like a maze of self-appointed managers, constantly trying to prove their worth and existence. Needless to say, dealing with them can make life much harder.
Recently, I was promoted from assistant manager to manager. Along with the promotion, I asked for a $10,000 pay raise, which would still keep me below what competitors are offering, but I don't have the wealth of experience that some have. I was told that everything was going according to plan, and the approval process was underway, already signed off by The customer.
But then, things took an unexpected turn. One of the middle managers thought I was being paid too much and decided to delay my promotion. They withheld the paperwork, and even the outgoing manager couldn't get them to budge because of their higher position in the pecking order. That's when the customer engagement officer, who I have a great relationship with, stepped in.
He expressed his concerns about my promotion not being officially signed off to the Contract Executive (Who sits with the CEO and VP). They went straight to the middle manager's office and basically said, “Are you willing to risk losing a 10 million dollar contract over a 10K?” Long story short, the middle manager was subsequently removed from the office.
Just a few hours later, I received my official promotion! It's amazing how one person's power play and ego almost derailed something significant for the company. But thankfully, common sense prevailed in the end.
I wanted to share this story because it's a testament to the importance of strong relationships, standing up for what's right, and the potential consequences of letting egos get in the way of business decisions and sometimes justice prevails.