I moved across the country for this job with a friend. My friend is well known in the industry and his parents own a huge company in the industry.
We do the same role, I do so much more work than he does, and I go to every single fucking work event I can to make people like me outside of work.
After a month of grinding and feeling good and getting positive feedback from colleagues, I went into my one on one with my boss where I asked questions about the job at hand that showed my deeper understanding, then outlined what I’d been doing and what I plan to do to be proactive on my client accounts. He then handed me a performance improvement notice outlining I have 60 days to improve (I leave for a two week preplanned prepaid vacation next week) the issues presented to me with my work were lies and I have proof that they’re not true. Colleagues (same ones who said I’m doing well just last week) told my boss they have no idea what I even do on my accounts. Baffled. When I presented proof that I’ve done the work and am engaged I got called in to chat with the ceo and he told me I was being defensive to my boss and haven’t added value to the company in my entire 18 months of working here. Told me I have to improve or I’m fired.
Everyone I work with closely and likes me is shocked and trying to help me. If I lose my job (I just signed a lease) paying the rest of the rent will crush me. Destroy 20k in savings. I do my job and i do it well. There’s always room for improvement but I am not worth being fired.
Back to my friend. A. They love me and are my best friend so I know if I really get fired they have my back and will give me a job with their family company. B. I was told “be more like him, he really gets it” yeah… sure has nothing to do with his family’s company giving our company money, has nothing to do with him being a man and me a woman… I love him but ti say we aren’t comparable in work is insane. Some colleagues who have worked with us both that I trust agree that I do a lot and don’t deserve to be in this position.
I have been hit with an intense stressful thing every month this year. I don’t have it in me o fight this and yet I just have to grind it out and do even more to prove I’m just as good as my friend who is half as knowledgeable. Confirmed in writing my time off won’t be impacting my performance review. Speaking of performance review my last one in April was glowing. They can’t say what caused the shift because they don’t want to rehash the past. Fuck corporate.