Terminated becuase I am the highest paid person in my position

[tgough2002]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

I recently got terminated from Starbucks after having a perfect employment record for the 10 years I worked there.

I was a Store Manager and and for the past few months my boss's boss kept commenting to me that I am the highest paid store manager in the region and that I need to seriously think about changing positions. Then sixty-one days ago my boss came into my store and asked me if I had given any thought to changing positions. I replied back that I am enjoy the challenges as a store manager and I know that I am capped at my salary, but I am okay with that. She repilied, "Are you really going to let me decided your fate with Starbucks?". I didn't know what to expect.

The next day, I was put on a formal sixty day formal action plan. I was stunned as this type of action is reserved for employee's who have multiple write-ups or at least three. I have never received a write up and I just received an award for being the top manager of my district (Yet I am being placed on an action plan).

Durring the course of the action plan, I was given more task than any manager in Strabucks history could handle along with running a very busy store. Yet some how, I found away to do it. Half-way through my action plan, I had a review with my boss and she told me that I was not going to make it. I didn't understand as I have done everything they asked for and I did it better than expected. What was wierd to was she had me type out notes of exactly what I did every minute of the day and turn it in to her at the end of the week. When I did, she wouldn't look at it and just throw it straight in the trash.

I contacted my HR department, to make them aware of my boss breaking company policy and determined to terminate me. I had left numourous messages with them on voicemail, only to discover that they simply just don't care.

I need help. I was an awesome employee. I become a victim because I worked there for 10 years and they paid me well for it. Any suggestions would greatly be apprecited.

 

[You Are Guilty]

Did you have a (signed) employment contract?

 

[tgough2002]

Did you have a (signed) employment contract?

I have never been offered an employment contract from Starbucks.

 

[LeeHarveyBlotto]

It's perfectly legal to fire you because you make too much money for the position.

 

[Antigone*]

I have never been offered an employment contract from Starbucks.

Then your firing is perfectly legal. Definitely prepare a resume and file for unemployment.

 

[xylene]

You wanted to stay were you were content, and the company wanted you to move either laterally or to a higher level.

When you forced the issue, they squeezed you out.

This is perfectly legal as an at will employee, and points to a good career adage, that there is no real way to refuse a promotion, because it is not an invitation.

 

[commentator]

This is the wonderful world of "at will" employment. However, good for you that you stuck it out when they tried to force you to quit, and now you are going to be able to file for unemployment insurance while you are looking for another job, because they cannot say you were terminated for a valid misconduct reason. File for unemployment benefits immediately, do not wait, and they will begin the process of seeing if your claim is approved while you are looking for another job.

You got ten years of paychecks, ten years of experience, and they lost a good employee when they let you go, but it was their loss. Now when you are seeking other employment, don't spend too much time trashing them for treating you the way they did. Unfortunately this practice is very common. The big box stores very frequently clean house and hire a whole fresh contingent of lower paid employees, just because they can and it will cut their labor costs a bit. They get kudos for doing it.