Sad Peruvians

The CFO did not call the next day or the day after that. The HR director however called everyday (!) in order to change our heroes mind. The astonishing part was that he told him that he had discussed the issue with the CFO and that our hero had the approval to move to Buenos Aires immediately and rent whatever apartment he wanted, with no limit regarding the rent! Our hero was beginning to get mad. These are not serious things he thought. Why couldn’t have they approved this during the three month period that he had be going back and forward to Argentina and sending continuous e-mails regarding the Argentina transfer. There doing it now when they are realizing that he is ready to leave. Anyway our hero thought this is history now. In the meanwhile, in the local company many people started to find out that he was leaving. Everybody was sad. He only had friends in the company and nobody wanted him to leave. Furthermore, everybody knew that without him communication with central offices would become much more difficult, especially for the finance team.

Final Decision

He prepared the letter and sent it to the group CFO, the HR director and the previous CEO. These were the three people that hired him. He did not send it to the group CEO, because he wanted to inform these people first and let them inform him. Later on he found out that this was a mistake. In any case, he did not hear anything for about three days after sending the letter. Finally, he received a phone call on the fourth day. Hello said the HR director. I am here with the finance director and the marketing director to discuss your issue. Our hero was annoyed. This issue is personal and has nothing to do with the other two he said. We are only trying to help the HR director said. Anyway they spent the next hour on a pointless conversation. They all tried to convince him that he was making a mistake and that things would be corrected. I am tired of being patient our hero said. I feel like a fool. It was clear that they did not expect him to make a decision like this and that they did not want to lose him. They felt safe with him in L. America since they could count on him to do the job. Please wait the HR director said. The CFO will call you tomorrow to discuss. Ok our hero said. But my decision is final.

Deceived

They did not discuss their decision with anyone. They wanted to formally inform the company first. Our hero decided to send a letter to the central offices. He decided to explain exactly the reasons that lead him out of the company. He would focus on the stock option issue and the handling of the Argentina transfer. But more importantly he had to make clear that he wanted to be treated with the same respect he showed everyone in the company. He hoped that his message would be clear. However there was no way back. Whatever the company would tell him, he would not change his mind. The journey was over. He was a bit nervous about returning to Greece without a job, but he was confident that he would find a solution. Most importantly he was disappointed because he really enjoyed working with that group. He also respected the group CEO and, at least until that point, the group CFO. However he was not treated at all professionally. He felt deceived and that is a feeling that you cannot stand.

The Right thing to do

What do you mean his wife asked? What can we do? Only one thing, our hero said. Let’s go home. It is not worth it. We have been deceived and it is clear that the future will not be better. I don’t trust them. I agree, but what are you going to do in Greece without a job. Don’t worry our hero said. I will get a job with at least the same money I made before coming here. You will also start your job again since you have such a good relationship with your former boss and we will be ok. I just need a couple of months to search all my options. Are you sure, his wife asked? Totally our hero said. It was a nice journey, but its time to draw the curtain. Come on, besides the stock options issue, they promised me a bonus and i did not receive anything. They asked me to be in charge in two companies in L. America, with the same money I was paid for one. I can’t stand these people anymore. They think that we are idiots. Let’s show them that we are not. Ok, said his wife let’s do it.
Things were actually simple. The same way they decided to move to Peru, they decided to go back to Greece. It felt like the right thing to do.

I am going to fix it

Our hero was very disappointed. He felt that he had made a big mistake. He showed good faith in many occasions and unfortunately the company did not do the same. He informed his wife. She was also sad. Bottom line: They had moved to Peru, to another continent, leaving both their jobs, their families and friends for nearly the same money they were making in Greece together. Our hero had done a very good job, more than he had agreed to and this is how the company rewards him. This was totally frustrating. I can’t stand this our hero said. I feel like a complete idiot. Don’t be hard on yourself his wife said. You acted in good faith but unfortunately the company did not. It is their fault. No our hero said. I am responsible and I am going to fix it!