A lot has happened
OK. A lot has happened in the last few days.
The initial offer from the company was pay till the end of the year (eight months). We settled for 12 months.
As this blog is about my insights - although unimportant - I will share the reasoning behind the decisions I make in the hope that it will benefit the reader.
The first step I took was to evaluate my legal position. Legality is important because the legal system is the power of last resort to which you will eventually have to succumb. And although it is prohibitively expensive, it remains the only way in which to enforce your rights in a civilised society.
I listed the facts:
- when did the problem start, according to the employer? - 3 years ago
- is that a fair time to let a matter rest before acting? - No
- is there a paper trail - was I reprimanded in writing? - No
- did the company ever offer to retrain me to rectify the shortcomings they identified? - No
Although one needs to save money when you are retrenched, it is wise to speak to a knowledgeable lawyer to form an objective (basic) view of your situation. I did that.
The lawyer’s view was that I could get up to 24 months salary and that I might have a claim for compensation based on various legal rules. He sent them a letter on Friday morning saying we would settle for a year’s salary and I will vacate my post immediately. Friday afternoon we had the written acceptance.
Saturday morning we saw a mouse in the house. My wife invited my daughter’s cat over for the weekend. Sunday morning the mouse had disappeared but was replaced by 10 billion ants in the cat’s food bowl.