113. I Got My Boss’s Job
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I was working for an advertising agency, a pretty big one. When I started out, I had a manager who was one of the most unethical managers I’ve ever dealt with. He’d order his sales reps to do things that would increase his bonuses (which are based on margins).
I was the guy that refused his demands. He would tell me to cheat my clients and I would refuse. He would get mad. I wouldn’t care. This went on for quite a while.
Now, I live in a one-party consent state which means so long as I’m aware a conversation is being recorded I can record it without informing the other party. I had just upsold my largest client making him even larger…but I didn’t sell the products my boss wanted me to sell. He demanded I switch things around. I refused.
I told him I sold the client XYZ that’s what we agreed to, I’m not going to change that without the customer’s permission. His exact words were: “[Bleep] the customer, this is your largest client I need him on ABC or I’m not going make my number.”
“I’m sorry, but you and I both know ABC isn’t right for this client and that’s why he didn’t buy it.”
“You’re fired. If you can’t follow instructions, you’re fired.” After confirming he was dead serious, I said, “If you do that, I’ll have your job by the end of the month.”
Sure enough, the next morning, I’m locked out of all our systems. I call tech support and they tell me I’ve been fired. So who do I call? I call our Regional Vice President and tell him I have several recordings I think he should listen to.
Remember my boss ordering me to do unethical things wasn’t uncommon. So I meet up with my RVP and play six different recordings that I had saved showing my manager was pushing his agents to break the law.
The RVP leaned back in his chair, and let out a sigh knowing he had to fire my manager. At which point I asked for my job back. He agreed that I would get my job back and asked me to take the week off and call him on Monday.
That Monday I come into our morning meeting. The RVP was there, and he informed the entire team that my boss had been fired and why. He also mentioned that if anyone wanted to apply for his job there was now an opening.
So I applied for it, and after 3 rounds of interviews, I got my promotion! I was right; I did have my boss’s job by the end of the month.
