Need Advice On Work issue...

Sorry for the novel but here it goes...


I have been working as a Field Service Engineer servicing MRI equipment for the Past 3 Years. Prior To that I was a FSE for Philips Medical systems and a Magnet specialist (the current company buys their magnets from Philips so my expertise crossed over). I was located in my home town in Saratoga,NY.

When I signed on to work at Aurora the boss needed me in Socal for 18 months covering 8 systems since there was already a guy in the NY area. After 18 months the FSE in the NY area quit and so did my original boss. By rights they should have offered that position to me, however, the new boss said he didnt have to honor my contract with the old boss. so he wouldnt move me and gave the sites to the guy in MA. Now the Guy in Mass has 11 sites. We lost a few clients in CA so I only have 3 sites and the guy in N.Cali has 1 site. Recently the FSE for Massachusetts quit. So they currently have 11 sites with 0 coverage.

Another thing to note is that I am still the magnet specialist for this company so 75% of the work i do is worldwide (I'm actually in Vietnam right now). So i rarely work on my sites in CA

Anyway, My boss, when the first guy in NY quit, said that he thought about moving me but decided not to since the MA guy can handle the workload. I asked about my 18m contract and that i should, by rights, be able to move to NY but he said my contract was with the old boss not him. Shady...

So after the MA guy quit i saw that ray of hope that id be moving home. The boss called and asked me if i was interested and i said yes. This was before xmas. I recently asked him about moving back and he says he "needs" me in CA but he is still thinking about it. I talked to our administrator and the boss has been interviewing people for the open position...

In my eyes, give the guy in N ca with 1 site my 3. then he will have 4 and i can move back to ny and take over the 11 systems. As it is right now, there are two guys in Cali covering 4 sites and nobody in the northeast. He's talking about hiring someone rather than giving someone who is existing and knows the system, first dibs on the job... shady again...

What should i do? It's not like I'm some shitty worker. He relies on me for everything. He has said himself that I'm one of his most valuable guys and he needs me to be in charge of west coast operations. Even the CEO of the company calls me her ace in the hole because I always bail them out of nasty situations by travelling to sites worldwide and fixing the "high dollar" issues.

So what should i do? Should I go over his head? Talk to the CEO? If he makes a decision for me to stay I think i may look for employment elsewhere just for the ethics and personal morale. I cant work for some place that breaks promises. I think its wrong to drag someone through the glass. Im basically taking it from behind without the courtesy of a reach around

 

nobody?

 

Tell your boss that you really need to be closer to home and that it has been hard on your personal life to be out in CA for longer than the original time discussed. Ask if there is anything you can do to help facilitate both your needs and those of the business. Perhaps you can train a new hire to do what you are doing in CA, then move back.

If you have a good relationship with his superiors, then I guess going over his head could be an option. Just depends on how that is viewed within your organization. If it's all an old boys network type of deal then you may not get far.

If that doesn't work, and you can't afford to quit in a blaze of glory, then I guess start sending off resumes.

 

If tho CEO is accessable, by all means go over the new boss' head. Sounds like new boss has had nothing but disrespect for you so far...

 

yea, i basically told him our life is on hold for the company. We havent tried for kids or anything until we can move home. I travel 50% of the time so having a pregnant wife or infant at home while im on the road would not be good. If she was home, she could be near friends and family for support.

Its tough to apply and interview for jobs when I'm in CA.

I already did train a new guy and he's the one in N Cali. Hes been with the company for a year now and is self sufficient. Currently they have him in NYC assisting with a "break down".

This guy really has his head up his ass or something. The FSE administrator/ dispatcher thinks the boss feels threatened by me since I have the most real world experience and expertise. He thinks that the reason the boss wont bring me back is because i might take over his position...

 

Ive been left alone with my thoughts for too long. The weather here in Vietnam is 105 in the sun with 70% humidity so its dangerous to go outside with a 130 degree heat index . the hotel room is about 6x10 so ive been hiding in the AC till nightfall stewing over this whole issue.

I can't actually do my job because the parts have been sitting in customs for the past week.

 

It does sound like you have the CEO's respect. If you can approach her in the right way without coming across as pissed off, things could go well for you. Sounds like you are enough of an asset that they are unlikely to let you go for just stating that you are unhappy with your current assignment.

 

I think you may be right and that is the next step. I have to do it right without coming off as an ass but i also have to worry about this douche still being my boss.

I should probably do it before this r tard hires someone else first

 

Im also a FSE for C.T's. that stuff happens all the time. but if I was at the point of quitting, wouldnt hurt to go over his head. your expertise may be appreciated more then you think and they may work with you, although it could mean friction between you and the boss but at least you're close to home and then you can send out resumes.

 

I concur with this observation.
Best of luck with your decision & don't get malaria while your in Vietnam!

 

i got giardia here 2 years ago.

 

This is a good point. If it comes to quiting or going over his head you are right, going over his head is better.

The company is pretty small. We only have 100 or so systems worldwide and only 7 FSEs. I cover all magnet issues as well as normal FSE duties trouble shooting all MR systems from coils to Electronics cabinets. Before i worked for the company they were spending $300k a year for magnet service from Philips. (I was the one who did the service from philips so we have history even before i was hired) So as arrogant it is for me to say, Im pretty invaluable to them. They even asked me to fix a site as an interview test. I was like WTF but ok...

 

Go through the chain of command, start at the lowest point possible and work your way up. Let your intentions be known and you won't have any problem working your way up to the CEO. My company also deals with medical equipment including MRI and they are based out of Murray Hill,NJ. Check out www.linde.com and the carreers link is http://www.bocjobs.com/us/JobSearch/JobSearchList.asp?View=Jobs

 

thats another thing i do is fills lmao! I know tons of guys at your company.



Im actually training the Vietnamese to fill our magnets. Were waiting for our transfer lines to clear customs.

 

Welp, I finally heard back and I am in fact moving back to upstate NY. All it took was for one of the sites in Mass to go down and they didnt have anyone to fix it.