New owners fire all employees and make them sign new contracts, employee only discovers they no longer have dental care while at the dentist: 'There is no HR'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Feb 6, 2025 12:00 PM EST

Changing terms of employment and a lack of job security with mounting uncertainty and changing terms can really upend your entire life. First, its policy changes, then it's not honoring the terms of agreements, and next, the whole world is shifting beneath your feet.

When new owners took over this employee's place of work, they were confronted one day with the sudden notice that they would be terminated. All employees were lined up before being told to sign new contracts under the new corporate entity that was taking over. They were told that these contracts were essentially the same.

However, later, under the shining lamp of the dentist's chair, they would discover that this wasn't necessarily true—the terms of the deal had been altered, and they no longer had dental cover. And facing down a hefty dental bill is one of the last times you ever want to discover that your coverage is no longer—well, covering.

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  • What do you do in this situation? In the immediate, there's really not a whole lot you can do but accept that something needs to change. It is most prudent that you seek more certain employment and security as soon as you possibly can.

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    Cheezburger Image 10463996416
    via Romain Dancre

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    "Aaand there it is..."

    When the new owners took over our department became an entirely new company. Happened a couple weeks ago on the spot. Walked in and there was a line behind 2 tables, one giving out termination papers from the old company, the other giving out on- boarding paperwork for the new company. We had no choice, it was
    via johnnyvlad
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    either sign this or no job. They told us a million times the compensation and benefits are exactly the same. I signed an offer letter with my current pay. They said our insurance policies transfer over, using the exact same policy #. Same PTO same paid holidays.
    via johnnyvlad
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    Of course the facade is beginning to crumble revealing the big fat lie underneath. Starting when I showed up to the dentist and discovered I no longer have dental insurance. Nobody at the company has been able to give me an answer. There is no HR. Today they told us that we are currently under evaluation and could be receiving pay cuts if they don't think
    via johnnyvlad
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    we're worth what they're currently paying us. That offer letter was just to make sure everyone didn't walk out the door simultaneously. Oh but I get to keep my seniority date! Too bad its useless, as there are no perks or privileges offered based upon it.
    via johnnyvlad
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    Trying to stay positive but there are a million horror stories that start with new owners taking over. And at this point in my life, with the state of the world and the astronomical cost of living, its getting real hard to justify continuing to tread water
    via johnnyvlad
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    Mammoth-Percentage84 • 11h ago You should all walk away, in the middle of the working day, en masse & stay away until such a time as they agree to honour their original agreement. Unfortunately you are in America & there will be enough people willing to stick it out through fear/lickspittling/rugged individualism/drank all the Koolaid that they would survive as a business.
    via johnnyvlad
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    This going to become more & more commonplace as the spoilt, petulant orange you have just installed tightens his grip- & the Boss class become convinced they are untouchable. Best of luck.
    via johnnyvlad
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    • JustmyOpinion444 8h ago If money is being withheld from your pay for dental and health insurance, they owe you the coverage. Check if you actually have health insurance, and do it quickly. Your story IS one of the horror stories. I'd walk at this point.
    via johnnyvlad
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    Here4Snow . · 10h ago Do you have a 401(k) or other retirement plan account with the old employer? Now is a good time to check the plan summary description. When my company got bought out, 2 of us (salaried) out of 400 or so moved our retirement monies. Later we were in a meeting being told about the new ESOP and everything would be converted. The two of us were pretty outspoken, told there was no way we did what we did, but
    via johnnyvlad
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    we did. Those new owners ended up in a class action lawsuit against 1200 (union filed, too) of us. We filed for embezzlement by the new owners, essentially. They sold it again, and it completely shut down. It's a super fund site now. I ended up with two smallish lump sum pension payouts into my Trad IRA, one from the old
    via johnnyvlad
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    company, one from the second company (kept our seniority dates, so early vesting), and a piddling settlement from 2 lawsuits (personal and class action). It might seem like fun and games, but I didn't sleep much for 5 years. At least my own money was under my control. Also, keep every meeting handout, keep copies of everything they gave you sign, take notes.
    via johnnyvlad
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    • jueidu 4h ago File for unemployment, as your compensation has decreased without notice.
    via johnnyvlad
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    simulation07 • 2h ago Organize people who feel the same and all walk out. Maybe get the local news involved, citing lack of healthcare benefits/transparency on employment.
    via johnnyvlad
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    Cheezburger Image 10464005120
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employee employment-discussion job work employees overworked-employees workplace Horrible Bosses employment in the workplace
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