I've got myself in a bit of a situation that I regret. It's very complicated (as most things are in my industry) but I resigned from my employer in January with a 30 day notice, but they decided to make it effective immediately. So be it. Following the months after, I was reached out by my previous employer “where can we find this” and “where can we find that”. I had worked at that employer for many years and built everything from the bottom up and since I was resigned immediately, I didn't have the time to get my documentation organized.
Fast forward to last week and the CEO calls me asking me to come back. I went in and met him and reluctantly accepted despite having already started a new job that week which was somewhat higher pay and mostly work from home. Why did I do this? I have no idea, perhaps a comfort thing. I already knew the in and out of everything at the previous employer and the owner and I had a great relationship. I had a lot of respect for him for various reasons, he was a great person to work for and the job in itself was great until we hired a 2nd person in my department (I was running a one man show) and we brought on a family member of the owner as a client who was difficult to work with to say the least which changed the job overnight from slow paced, low stress, to work overload, high stress. I finally asked for a raise (that's the one downfall of owner, a bit cheap and doesn't give raises often, but does provide good benefits overwise).
After working 2 full days, on the morning of the 3rd day… I discover I'm being micromanaged by my coworker that I previously hired. Going out of her way to review audit logs of every little thing I do then talking to the owner, then asking why I did this, or did that, etc. Despite being offered a “leadership role”, my coworker is acting that role despite her having said she didn't want that role.
They say never burn your bridges, but they also say never go backwards. I have a better understanding as to why they wanting me back in a hurry. My coworker was about ready to quit which would have met the end of part of the business for the owner, so in a sense, he's looking out for himself & having that extra “profit center” for the company, but feel like they only wanted me back because they couldn't find someone with the same skillset and she was ready to walk.
Needless to say, after the events of this morning, I'm about to walk (again). I'd likely stay if it wasn't for my coworker. I had several people tell me they had a “bad feeling” about her coming onboard and I wish I listened. She wanted me out the door the day she started and I feel like she's trying to find any and all reasons to make me look bad now that I'm back. I don't understand it frankly.
I'm about ready to go back to my “old new” job… slightly better benefits, better pay, mostly remote work, etc. I'm starting to wish I ignored that call from this employer and let that door remain closed.