<p>I agree that the annual review (which should happen since you’ve been there a year) would be a perfect, natural opportunity to talk about how you’re doing and what your options are at your current company. I’m sure you’re highly valued for dealing with your high maintenance boss. It is true that you could be viewed with suspicion if your boss does go to a competitor. </p>
<p>If you aren’t even all that fond of the current boss, I’d be reluctant to tie my future success or failure to sticking with him, which you will do if you move with him to the new company. I much prefer to stay with people whom I genuinely like and can work well with over a hotshot that causes a lot of stress wherever he is, even if he makes more money.</p>
<p>Small company - not really on target with reviews - I think I had one at 4 months - and that was with my boss! So no way to request an annual review to discuss other job paths within the company. I have tried to be as aboveboard as possible - boss wanted me to meet with folks at new company - and I replied that I did not feel that was appropriate at this time. Yes - I believe as soon ad he gives notice - I will be interrogated - did I know he was leaving - have I copied any records for him, etc. I am absolutely dreading what next week will bring.</p>
<p>Why would I want to work for a jerk? I can deal with him - he needs me - I am comfortable enough with him after a year that I can tell him when he needs to back off. He apologizes periodically. We complement each other in many ways. It’s not all bad! If I do go with him, I would certainly negotiate the best deal possible.</p>
<p>Once he gives notice I think you would have every right to inquire about your future at the present company. In fact I think they would find it quite odd if you did not raise the issue, and might even just assume you were leaving with him. Obviously you want to be in a position to weigh both options and your current boss should understand that. I think there is really nothing to hide here, anyone would do the same and no one would fault you for that approach.</p>
<p>He is leaving for 2 main reasons - he feels he is not liked, respected or valued at present company - which I agree with. He is one of the top producers - but is not treated as such - because he is generally so difficult to deal with. He also believes the competitor has better products and pricing - which means more business for him.</p>
<p>I’ll absolutely ask about my job prospects the second he gives notice! I just wish I did not have to wait. I’d sleep much better knowing the present firm wants to keep me and will find a comparable position for me.</p>
<p>I am certainly no expert in these matters, but I think that the moment your boss gives notice, you should speak up and find outwhere you stand. But I don’t think you can say anything whatsoever until the boss does so first.</p>
<p>You could be valuable to the company by picking up the pieces your boss will leave behind.</p>
<p>Some factors to consider… Would the current boss be replaced by someone like him to schmooze the existing contacts, or would you have an opportunity to move up (I see an issue if you are not a schmoozer and the contacts need to be schmoozed), or would he drag his contacts and accounts to his new place, leaving you with a tiny commission base? </p>
<p>He would take his clients and contacts with him. If I stay - I would probably be an assistant for another salesperson or possibly two lower volume people, and help them grow their business by handling all of the office work. I’m not interested in a sales position. I am very content to service clients, handle forms and paperwork, etc. I’m also curious to see if they would offer me something completely different within the company.</p>
<p>Often, there is a non-compete clause and salespeople are NOT ALLOWED to take their clients and contacts with them and NOT work within the field for a period of time (like a year). Are you sure that he isn’t subject to this type of clause in his contract? That would greatly affect his ability to generate income and whether clients will follow him or not.</p>
<p>This raises a red (or at least yellow flag) for me. What is going to be different at the new company? Is he going to be less difficult, or are they just going to like him anyway?</p>
<p>Plus, I have come to value people who are pleasant to work with. </p>
<p>I would be curious how different the financial prospects would be, but my inclination would be to let the difficult boss go to the new company on his own.</p>
<p>I do not believe he has a non-compete clause in his present contract - at least he is not acting as if that is the case. I think he is being very naive. He thinks he can give notice and they will wish him well and give him time to pack up his office, etc. I picture mayhem - they immediately cut off his access to company computer, email, client database prigram, etc. - and perhaps watch him pack his personal stuff and escort him out.</p>
<p>I guess I do have some sense of loyalty to him as I was hired specifically to work with him and I also know how disorganized he is and how much he needs someone like me to keep him on track. </p>
<p>There are bosses who are jerks and difficult everywhere. At least it’s the jerk you know than the jerk you don’t know. If you know how to handle him than it’s not unknown.
Since it’s a small company, could it close down if this boss leave? it sounds like he is not treated well there as a top producer.</p>
<p>Usually folks that are difficult to work with end up with a lot of baggage that will follow them, especially in an industry and in a community. I’d be leaning toward staying put, as long as your current firm offers you something decent to stay. He can find someone else at the new firm who will work with him and handle the details he needs done, or you could opt to go with him if it works out for you.</p>
<p>People tend to have the reputations they deserve–even if you bring in a ton of clients, if you’re difficult to work with and high maintenance, you will be perceived as difficult and not win popularity contests. The current firm may have had to handle some delicate situations because of him and his personality, further lessening his value to them. None of us here KNOW, but those are things that can come up with folks that tend toward high maintenance.</p>
<p>I also see somewhat of an issue in that you will be arriving at the new company as a “team.” Everyone will view you as “aligned” with him. If he is indeed that difficult to work with, then it is doubtful anything will change in the new place. You may have a harder time distancing yourself from the reputation he is bound to create again for himself. Think you might be hitching your cart to the wrong horse here.</p>
<p>Yes, there are many who are difficult–some brilliant and others not as much. You will definitely be perceived as part of boss’ team if you switch jobs with him. If he’s a salesperson, he’s not Steve Jobs and not CREATING something new. He’s selling and you’re doing the detail work that goes with these sales. Personally, I prefer not to be tied to people who are perceived as high maintenance.</p>
<p>Some rhetorical questions for you to consider: How much of your current income flows from business generated by your current boss? Did you come with your boss to the present firm? Do you have any reasonable prospect of being promoted to your present boss’s position? Is there someone else at the present firm who is likely to ascend to your present boss’s position? If so, what is your relationship like with that person? Do they have their own internal team of trusted advisors? </p>
<p>If it is likely that the company will hire from the outside, you face the very real possibility that the new person will bring their own team and shut you out completely. The company will likely assure you that you have a job but if your productivity falls all bets are off. </p>
<p>I’d base my decision on the strength of my relationship with the current boss, and not on fear of change. The most important relationships in a job like yours are the relationships with the folks who are generating the business. If that is your boss – or if you and your boss have successfully collaborated in the business generation efforts – I’d follow the boss. You might want to negotiate a better deal than he us currently proposing to compensate for the risk of change. </p>
<p>But you owe him an answer. He needs to negotiate on your behalf with the new employer and waffling us going to put everyone in a bad position, </p>
<p>PS as a corporate litigator, I should note that the departures of teams of employees often generates a lot of litigation so make sure you comply with your employment contract and company policy to the letter. Don’t go downloading a bunch of company documents on the way out! You’ll obviously want to talk to legal department at the new place as to how to communicate your new contact info to clients from the prior firm, etc.</p>
<p>I had missed your post where you said your boss is a selfish jerk! So it sounds like you are NOT satisfied with your relationship with your present boss – that’s huge! So the question for you to consider is whether, in the absence of your boss, there is a need for your position after your boss is gone. To be safe, you should assume your boss’s replacement will have their own team. You CANNOT let on that your current boss is about to leave. You can, however, start to strengthen your relationships with the folks who will be remaining and to discretely inquire whether a transfer to a different team would be possible. If he really is a selfish jerk, people might think this is the reason for your inquiries. Not sure from your description how much of your work is tied to the present boss, but if you are going to stay you need to build your working relationships with others at the company very quickly. A year at a company is nothing. They may be disgruntled with your present boss when he leaves and if you are too closely associated with him those negative feelings may spill over to you.</p>
<p>Boy I missed a lot of posts while I was typing my long replies! To the extent my rhetorical questions have already been answered, i apologize! But I think it is reasonable to discretely inquire whether a transfer to a new team/boss would be possible WITHOUT letting on that your present boss is leaving. The implication will be you want yo change bc he is difficult. If they say, no way, there are no other positions, that will give you valuable info. </p>
<p>By the way, what happened to the other assistants who he couldn’t work with? Did they remain at the company?</p>
<p>More questions: are his current clients institutional clients, or clients that he personally brought in? If the latter, they are more likely to follow him to new firm. Do you have relationships with these clients that might help convince the clients to stay with present firm? Is he taking any other salespeople with him? If he is s big producer, with his own clients, who may be taking others with him, your present firm might be facing big problems when he leaves. Steep drop in revenues equals job instability.</p>
<p>I don’t know that it’s even worth worrying about right now. It sounds like you can’t do anything until he gives notice. And when he does, why not immediately talk to those in charge. Tell them how much you like working for this company, and that you would like to stay (add some positive points about the company). Ask them what kind of work they would have for you now, now that he’s leaving. Knowing where you stand makes it all very easy. If they say they have nothing for you…go. If they are anxious to keep you, and you think you’ll like what you’re doing, stay.</p>