Hi there! Several years ago, I was hired at one of the biggest sign companies in the world as head of the electrical department at the local branch. The previous lead had left to head up the maintenance department at a big, local commercial electrical company.
I was brought in as a temp to hire and was hired in a little over a week. I started to tackle the very large backlog they had, doing field work AND paperwork back at the office after hours. I was doing estimates in the mornings and then going out on job sites in the afternoon. I was on call 24/7 for emergencies.
Everything was working out great. I was turning in estimates that were right on target and all of them ended as signed contracts with customers for new work. I brought in many thousands of dollars in revenue. The gen manager even told me I was killing it and that he was stoked that I was on the team.
Fast forward three months. I now had an apprentice I was training who had gotten to the point of taking his own truck out on calls. I streamlined the estimation process to the point where I was cranking out 2 or 3 every day. I even had customers requesting me by name for service and new construction work. I managed some very big jobs at some high profile sites with great success. The salesmen were bringing me with them to help sell, etc…
I came in one day and this new guy was in my office, sitting at my desk. I introduced myself. He said he was the previous lead electrician, nice to meet you and so forth. I was kind of taken aback at that point. The gen manager called me into his office and told me what the new situation was.
I was now going to be the field supervisor and this guy was in my position as the lead. I had a nice truck to drive around doing estimates. That truck was his now. I had a great office, that was his now. They told me I had to drive a giant service/boom truck. I was no longer doing estimates. I no longer had an office and had to get all my shit out asap.
I told them I didn't want to drive a service truck and that I was not happy with the new situation. He said OK, don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out! Let me know if you would like a reference for your new job search! Have a good day!
I was so shocked I didn't even say anything and just walked out, got my tools and left. I forgot my friggin ladder too. Turns out the scab was the bosses brother in law and he couldn't cut it as the lead at the other company. He came back to take my job away from me.
I was able to obtain a job later on that afternoon. If you don't burn bridges in construction, it's usually very easy to find work. So I wasn't super angry or anything. I know that guy was messing stuff up before I got there, so I am assuming he continued messing stuff up after. This state is “at will” so no recourse really, just to move on…