Employee saves company $1.5 million per year, gets laid off within months: 'Instead of getting a thanks or a bonus'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Dec 7, 2024 3:00 PM EST

It seems like in this day and age, you're never quite sure where you stand with your company. Getting let go is always a bit of a shock to the system, no matter who you are or what kind of work you're doing. That's what happened in this situation, when an employee who by all accounts was doing a commendable job, was suddenly relieved of their position after their big money-saving project was complete. It seems as though sometimes they just want you for a specific project but don't want you after it's done. 

But what do you do with all that leftover energy? Do you resolve to take your talents elsewhere, or do you dig your heels in and try to make sense of what just happened to you? That's what the commenters were trying to help this worker through, and all had different avenues of advice. Read on for the story. 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10437395712
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story

  • 02
    I saved my company 1m$/year and got a layoff as a reward
    via u/SmoothInspector6229
  • 03
    A couple of years ago I worked on a project that was struggling. The deliveries were late, the work did not go well, the providing company was often late etc etc. In general the mood and morale was low and my former company was paying close to 1.5m$/year for this project.
    via u/SmoothInspector6229
  • 04
    Being new in this company I was motivated and took up initiative. So I started drafting business plans on how this project could also be done internally. These business plans that I came up with were discussed in multiple rounds and with higher management and a couple of months later this business plan was accepted and put in place. My business plan saved the company around 1m$/year in project cost. I was happy that my voice was heard and that I could actually change things in this company. Howe
    via u/SmoothInspector6229
  • 05
    Instead of getting a thanks or a bonus I just was told that as the old and more costly project is coming to a close and the new one is starting that I didn't have a place there anymore and that person X from another project who always wanted to take on more responsibility is taking over now. This information was communicated to me on last notice before the new project started and I was more or less put on the bench in favor of an employee that has been in the company for 15+ years and was well c
    via u/SmoothInspector6229
  • 06
    Then about two months later I got a review meeting with management telling me that I had "communication" problems and vague accusations that honestly I have never heard before. I did not accept this review but got laid off the next year because I apparently missed my deadlines which also could not be proven. What do you think about this?
    via u/SmoothInspector6229
  • 07
    NatashOverWorld 6h ago . Sounds like standard company bulls . They liked your idea, but didn't want you around making waves afterwards. Even excellence is punished these days.
    via u/NatashOverWorld
  • 08
    . SecureWriting8589 · 5h ago If you can create great business ideas and plans for them, then you can do the same for yourself. It looks to be time for you to start your own business, one that competes directly with these guys.
    via u/SecureWriting8589
  • 09
    SmoothInspector6229 OP 5h ago • Thanks for the kind words and this should probably be my way to go.
    via u/SmoothInspector6229
  • 10
    unhott 5h ago • Now you're saving them $1M AND your salary. Look at the bright side.
    via u/unhott
  • 11
    SmoothInspector6229 OP • 5h ago • Also I am saving costs for a psychotherapist that I would have needed if I stayed there any longer
    via u/SmoothInspector6229
  • 12
    . jimmy-the-jimbob • 5h ago • There's not much you can do. Put this on your resume as an achievement. Highlight it when you interview for new jobs.
    via u/jimmy--jimbob
  • 13
    Once you are working somewhere else, observe areas of the business that need the same dire help. Formulate a plan, start a consulting side hustle, sell the idea back to the business as a service for 5x more money. Believe me, this happens ALL the time. The moral: never give away your best ideas as an employee. Sell them as a consultant. This is the way.
    via u/jimmy--jimbob
  • 14
    DaveClint 5h ago • • It sounds to me like one of your managers saw the merit in your ideas and presented them as theirs. They probably received full credit and any commendation for them too. Now you have to go to cover up the lie. I would email someone higher up and explain why you are puzzled why you've been let go after contributing so much with your project and how hard you worked on it and in what ways your innovation helped the company.
    via u/DaveClint
  • 15
    Jerry RiceOfOhio2 4h ago • • vague complaints of communication issues is what my company uses to fire people that have nothing concrete to use as an excuse. it just means you were doing well but someone wanted a bigger bonus or someone wanted their brother in your job
    via u/JerryRiceOfOhio2
  • 16
    the_simurgh • 6h ago ld be checking my papers to see if they had a document giving them ownership over my cost saving idea and then if i dont have one sue the pants off them.
    via u/the_simurgh
  • 17
    sarcasmismygame Yes that's 4h ago. but not surprising unfortunately. They probably got rid of you because one or more of those higher-ups claimed that they had come up with the plan instead. Keeping you around would have exposed their incompetence. Realize some companies run this way and instead of realizing they have a stellar worker they get rid of that one.
    via u/sarcasmismygame
  • 18
    And unless your business plans are workable for the new project I'm betting that one has turned in to a bloated monster as well--until the next bright person comes along. Anyways, I hope you fought them on getting unemployment and actually have a better job now.
    via u/sarcasmismygame
  • 19
    IWillEvadeReddit 5h ago . • Can we TM our work so it is our intellectual property and not the company's? I know hindsight is 20/20 and all but I feel like we should be doing this so sh like this doesn't happen. I never worked in an office before so I may sound dumb. Of course the company can write in their terms of hire all work produced by the employee is a product of the company's but I'm talking about intellectual work like OP's, not somebody building a care bear off the assembly line.
    via u/IWillEvadeReddit
  • 20
    LJski 4h ago • They had to layoff someone, it sounds like, and they built the case for you. Chalk it up to experience, update the resume, and move on.
    via u/LJski
  • 21
    Bungeditin 4h ago I worked for a large retailer and would save them hundreds of thousands every year. It occurred to me that I'm making this company so much money and I'm getting paid peanuts in comparison.
    via u/Bungeditin
  • 22
    So I took the leap and started my own business saving other businesses money and taking a percentage of what they save. In turn my staff earn a great wage (I have people desperate to join) with achievable bonuses and a great benefits package. Now at a point of starting a second business...... honestly take the skills you've got and make them work for you.
    via u/Bungeditin
  • 23
    Inevita... • • 3h ago Edited 2h ago • The truth is we are all contractors at a company. We aren't shareholders, co-owners, family or w/e. If a contractor to fix a house and if he notices extra issues that saves the homeowner 50k in repairs, most people would say "thanks" but since he's a contractor he isn't given a cent extra. That's work he could have done next year.
    via u/Inevitable-Drag-1704
  • 24
    That's often why no one stepped in to try to save the company from spending 1M dollars. Other people likely got fired too over the new plan.
    via u/Inevitable-Drag-1704
  • 25
    shapeofthings • 2h ago I found a way to save my company hundreds of thousands at my last job. I never told anyone about it, that's what you get for crop pay and lies about promotions.
    via u/shapeofthings

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