This happened nearly a year ago, but just now I feel like sharing.
I joined my previous company (Call it “M”) in January 2019. Joined there with an acceptable pay increase, mostly running away froma toxic boss. New boss was great and the company had many benefits such as annual salary increases, private health insurance (Not the norm in the UK as we have the NHS), an excellent pension plan, 37.5 hours contract, finish at 12 on Fridays, free annual company share incentive, well you imagine.
I won't lie, it was not an easy job, and I really had to work myself hard to get things into functioning, mostly due to the lack of a dedicated person to do my job for over a year prior to me joining. But I shouldered it in and after over a year I was already managing quite well with the changes I had introduced and the agreements I had reached with the customers.
But then things started changing.
First of all I missed the first salary increase because I was too new (oh well I thought, next year). but the next two salary increases (2020, and 2021) were cancelled due to “COVID”. Needless to say the company still made over £200M in pure profits both years (it's a big company).
Next thing they did was increase everyone's work hours from 37.5 to 39 hours (No pay raise). They also cancelled 12:00 finish on fridays and you cold not leave before 15:00. They also cancelled private health insurance, with the option for us to pay extra for it if we still wanted or needed it. They changed the pension plan to a much worse one. No shares were given in those years… you get me…
Still these changes happened so slowly throughout the time I was working there that I didn't realise (like the frog in a pan of hot water thing). but things started to boil down when it came to work loads. First thing was that they mixed two divisions, and one of the other guys in the other division took the chance and retired, they didn't fill the position, they re-distributed his job. The same happened when another lady (who had worked there for 47 years) left because she was tired of the company's b-shit. They did not hire anyone else for months, they first said they wouldn't and then after a lot of protest they did.
During that time I also applied for a job vacancy in a department that was managed by my manager's manager as well. I did not get an interview, and only knew I was not successful when they announced who they hired for it. (I was qualified for the position but they chose someone from outside).
Whilst all of this was happening we kept working overtime, without extra pay, and without salary increase for over 2 years, whilst the whole COVID malarkey was unravelling. But for me the last drop was when one day we were called into a meeting saying they were going to re-structure our department again (2nd time in 2 years go figure). After that we were called individually to explain the consequences. They told me that in the new structure my function was to be performed by a lower level, and that my new title would lose the “Manager” title, and moreover that although I would not get a salary reduction my salary would be “red-banded” thus making me uneligible for any salary increase until the new “Band” where I am in catches me up.
That did it for me. As I left the meeting room I updated my CV and spent the rest of the day applying for jobs. I had 6 calls within 4 hours and within a month I had 2 job offers, both with a 20% salary increase. When I left I made sure to have a meeting with every single manager and explain that the reasons why I left was because of everything they had done to us.
It just happened that during my notice there was a townhall meeting and the chief of HR was asked about the “incredible amount of people leaving” and she just responded “We have no control over people wanting to leave”. Therefore I made sure to send her an email, copy CEO, my boss, and every person I could imagine informing her that she does have “ALL CONTROL” over people leaving by not doing shady stuff like cutting people's salary. Or for example granting career progression.
My Notice letter was equally scathing, not against my boss, who I still think is great, but against senior management. Also my “goodbye” email let everyone know everything that has happened. Also left sacthing reviews on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc.
Since I have seen many people leaving, and those who have stayed are in even worse job conditions and higher pressure due to people leave.
Also… my other half just accepted a job in that company… FML, he's been warned…