Last December I ended up in a group that I don't like (my team was dismantled) so I finished the half and requested a transfer. My FLM was fired last month and apparently he didn't tell anyone I was looking to leave so now my transfer is being block by the sales director. Is this even legal? I'm concerned they will block it then RA me or something.
Anyone ever been in a similar situation? I don't want to look externally at this time.
How close to retirement are you? Hang on for a few then?
I know for a fact that a significant percentage of our high-band group is staying a few more years as transition to retirement. They're working hard (well, me included ;) )
How do I know this? From talking to the younger top g-ns (8-9) that also left - but for new jobs. And some I know more personally.
I think Arvind (& HR) and such pay too much (too little?) attention to immediate turnover rates and figure it's ok enough - but don't understand the pipeline of retiree's they've implicitly set up (manager said 4-5 years to catch everybody up to industry competitive pay - hence the departures & planned early retirements).
Well, somewhat of a segway, but if you're "close enough" to consider retirement, then weigh the pain of hanging on (or waiting for the transfer) vs the firehose of a new job.
A very key thing to remember that I learned very early on is that while a job may suck
(1) it's bad to make a rash switch (lest one end up in a similar but different he-l)
(2) One can deal with A LOT of cr-p if one has a PLAN and is executing it. "this sucks, but I'm working on it and will do it on MY TERMS".
(3) #2 can almost ? be a interview answer "here's what I did in one untennable position"
Generally blocking a transfer requires a "Business Needs" justification.
That said - a "business needs" justification is easy to produce, generally not vetted, and in particular never vetted against the destination orgs business needs.
Likely a di-k move until he's sure he can get a replacement requisition
Now you're likely at the bottom (or off) the raise pool list - or anything else interesting.
So you need to decide how long to tough it out (receipient manager may have a clue) vs just leave.
On the "just leave front" - I know a number of folks at my former employer that quit to avoid an unjust transition period and rehired weeks later.
But that requires a leaving manager who's not going to permanently black list you in spite as well as pre-arranged new position (harder with the HR BOTS as gatekeepers).
Your boss's only real interest is that he may not be able to immediately replace you head-count wise.
It was common at NTAP, particularly support, to not let people transfer (eg usually to Dev) for 60 to 90 day. This made it difficult as one hiring manager said "I can hire off the street and have a worker in two weeks, so it's hard for me to hold something open like this." And that entire (support) management chain didn't give a sh-t.
When it affected me I told my manager "make it 30 else you've got 2 weeks notice starting now".
So find out what his objection is and see if you can negotiate something. RA isn't part of it. See if you can negotiate. Otherwise ..... brinkism with enough intention to ollow through.
Is this even legal?
In the USA, unless you are in some protected class
https://subscriptlaw.com/protected-classes/
and the reason for the firing was not within those, there is no other legal reason they can't fire you (or RA you). They don't have to have a reason at all.
Might want to look externally now but easier to find a job when you have one. One month severance not worth waiting around for
In the shithole looking for a diverticulum to hang out in. But sounds like a big splash is imminent.
Keep documentation. IBM is putting you in a box and trying to fire you. One of the tired plays in the HR manual.
Is it within the same business unit that you are trying to transfer? There is a hiring freeze, but apparently internal transfers do not require VP approval. Could it be that there is a reorg in flight and there is a freeze in your area because of that? Sometimes there is a pause prior to reorg because they do not want people moving around.
Time to leave... this company is a waste of time. I left two months ago to a much better company, much better pay and steady bonuses.
And at the same time promoting brain dead peeps (friends) to PM.
I feel your pain, but its a great job market so saddle up and leave.