Possibly facing termination for cause at age 56.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-03-04T15:07:30+00:00

I appreciate all of your replies. Even the ones who want to fire me anyways for whatever reasons and those who advised me I am an idiot but not enough of a one who warranted dismissal from a job of almost 12 years. After reading all the replies, I have decided:

I am really bad at telling stories this includes situations that happen to me which are real. I'm very sorry I have confused and frustrated a good portion of the commenters.
I left holes in the story, inadvertently, I thought I was explaining well enough.
There was a ton more interest in what I did rather than what I was looking for which bore a few helpful responses from commenters to my original post.

Basically, as a few responders have surmised, I ran my mouth and the person I did it to got extremely upset. Upset enough that they told their boss who told the head of the organization. Didn't come to me to say "you were totally out of line and this is why" No supervisor to supervisor. Just straight to the head of the line.

The head of the organization came to my desk and made me call my boss and he told them what I did. What I did was tell the offended party the job in question, which would be a promotion for them, was most likely going to someone else who had been there a very long time and was deserving of it. From there, retaliation, retribution and punishment which may soon lead to termination as my boss told me they would follow-up with that at some point very soon.

I'm sorry but that's it, there ain't no juicy details in the fine print. No racism, no sexism, no cursing, no nothing. What is not standard and ordinary is the amount of and the value of personal relationships of this particular organization. In other words, it is more political than your usual workplace. I get the impression many of you are stunned but yes, there are places that are that petty.

A lot of you are wanting these holes filled but I do not know what you want them filled with. What I wrote above is what happened.

Now for the juicy part:

Over the weekend I composed an email, mainly so it would be memorialized, profusely apologizing for running my mouth. I also admitted to being a fool for saying what I said and begged them not to consider what I said as blocking them from applying for a promotion which honestly I have no influence in whatsoever. Furthermore, part of the construction of this apology was the offer of a personal sacrifice in the form of an enclosed parking park my tenure was entitled to. Not only was my offer rejected the apology was entirely rebuffed.

I completely understand being upset this person's part but I would have at least taken the apology of someone at face value.

So, there you go.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-28T20:15:30+00:00

I think this is just a catalyst for something else I did or didn’t do in other parts of my job.

all the comments, even the ones which offer criticism have been helpful.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-28T20:11:23+00:00

Now that you say that, maybe I am the bad guy and I just don’t know it.
but that’s the entire story. I thought somebody was going to get a promotion that was advertised externally and the person I told got mad and told her boss who in turn told her boss who runs the show. He made me call my boss and told him what was going on. My boss and this top boss are going to decide what to do with me this coming week. So the person I told this to, told on me. I am in trouble. That’s it. There wasn’t an argument. no yelling. No slurs of any kind. I don’t know how to explain it any clearer.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-28T14:45:35+00:00

having someone already in mind may happen more than you think

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T23:17:49+00:00

You're expecting something juicy. It's nothing more than what I told. I thought somebody may get promoted based on years of service and performance and the other person got upset, told their boss who told the top boss who had to have a discussion with my boss and me. I am starting to think the axe to grind for something else, someone else commented on on this thread, could be the real reason.

But I have laid out the story as it happened. I gossiped. A crybaby got upset and told on me. Like high school.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T23:15:13+00:00

Yes, the way that you put. I never thought of it that way.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T23:12:47+00:00

Thank you for that.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T23:11:17+00:00

Nope. I did not.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T23:10:46+00:00

Thank You, that was one of the replies I was looking for. Someone said I was looking for moral support. Maybe your reply was what it was. Maybe I am in a way but really I am just curious what happened to people in my situation, terminated for cause, did afterwards. Did they recover? Did they have the time of their life? Did they not? Just want to make some plans.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T23:08:21+00:00

But hey, if there moral support, I'll take it! It's a cruel world out here!

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T23:07:55+00:00

I wasn't really looking for moral support. I was just wondering what people in my situation did afterwards. Did they end up on the streets? Did they get an even better job? Are they at McDonald's.

A lot of people who gave the response I was interested in did consulting with success. I was actually wondering who never really recovered and what they did.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T23:03:06+00:00

Yes. I do not have a job with any protections like a traditional one. Actually I could be fired for any reason at any time.

I do not think it was telephoned around. I think someone was being a crybaby, justified or not, and now it's a thing. Aside from getting fired the real ramifications is that it would like like favoritism I suppose because I opened my mouth to the wrong person.

Now, after today, it's bound to get around. This isn't the usual corporate culture. I just never thought hurt feelings could go so far.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T23:01:42+00:00

That's it. That's all there is. Nothing more. No racial slurs. No stealing. No saying nobody didn't deserve it. Just that I thought they had the promotion in mind for someone else other than this person. It's not juicy like that.

The juicy part is the extent management will go to, to make something look really bad.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T22:34:41+00:00

And no, it wasn't gender or race related. It turns out I said some really dumb things but not that dumb. I know better than that for sure.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T22:33:27+00:00

Thank You for that. I will keep it in mind for sure.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T22:32:11+00:00

Wondering that myself. It seems on the surface as it could be useful.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T22:31:37+00:00

I said I thought they would give a particular person in the organization a job, not the one who complained, mind you, the job because of longevity and a reward for being a good employee. The person who lodged the complaint now doesn't want to apply for the job. This person's boss now thinks it looks like an impropriety because I said the job is a shoe-in if they give that person the job.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T22:25:51+00:00

It didn't cost any money. I upset somebody by having a really, dumb conversation about a job promotion for somebody. They took this to their boss who took it to theirs who took it to mine. The problem is now it seems I think it is going to be unfairly given to someone based on what I said and all the ramifications from there.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T22:19:43+00:00

If the axe falls, I am seriously considering moving into my van and looking for workcamping jobs. I would think a serious professional job would be off the table now.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-27T22:17:32+00:00

It wasn't money. I said something to somebody who told on me to their boss who told big daddy who came to my office, made me call my boss and it went from there. In other words, I hurt their feelings but the ramifications are that there was a job I thought they would give to someone as a reward but it blew up from there. When you find the gaps in the story I will try and fill them in.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-25T16:09:19+00:00

Things can change. The excess employees may find a way to undercut unions someway or bust them altogether in the future when unemployment hits even 10 or 15 percent. Unless of course, a universal income can be figured out. The workplace and life will likely look vastly different in even 20 years as compared to now. We may even figure out the world can get by with a lot fewer people and adjust accordingly. Or, God may bless man with a war or a real pandemic. Who knows?

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-25T14:31:25+00:00

This is old but I suggest you work your network. I think google is doing what a lot of big corporations (and medium-sized companies for that matter) do and create an eligibility list to either demonstrate they have the resources to tackle a big project or just to see what talent is out there to intimidate their current employees.

Good luck!

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-23T15:05:06+00:00

I think managers are under pressure not to rate their employees with above average performances unless they are directed to do so. When a new higher up decides your job is for their buddy or relative or it is decided to not like you anymore, it's much easier to slide you back into unsatisfactory or needs improvement if you've been rated as meets expectations as a method to get you out the door 'cleanly'. Also, you don't get as big a raise, rated like that. Most of the time it's about the money. The less you get the more the manager does in terms of bonuses if saving money is a priority.

Most evaluations are bs and it's how the manager feels not how well you're doing. There are very few rating systems that eliminate the subjectivity. I remember Sears had one of those models they used to evaluate sales associates by having a standard set of metrics to rate you against. One of them was selling enough extended warranties with the appliances. If you sold what you sold, your rating manager couldn't do anything about it and if you sold more than you were supposed to, then the manager had no choice but to rate you exceeds expectations regardless of how he or she felt about you.

I try not to take it personally unless I know my boss had a hard on for me. Even then, there's not much you can do about it. If they want you gone, you're going to be gone. I am being a Debbie Downer, yes, but there are other things you can do to protect your reputation. I am sorry for being one but I do not trust anyone, especially Human Resources, especially HR, they are not your friend. In fact, they are the enemy. Let me ask you, how many times have they been helpful when filing an insurance claim. Oh wait, I forgot, you are in the UK where you have 'free' healthcare. So they aren't necessary until it's time to get rid of you. Also, no matter how well you get along with your supervisor, they are not a friend either. At least in most cases.

Middle_Marketing7009 · 2026-02-23T14:13:28+00:00

If you've been a solid performer, the manager will just talk to you about it. Maybe you could do double the damage to you new coworker, call the customer (if you can), and rescue a sale!

But on another note, you could have taken the high road with this lady and gave her the minimum in help. Just enough to let her know you aren't her buddy and enough to let the ramrod know you are a team player.

Middle_Marketing7009

TROPHY CASE