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Take Over

small.time.architect

Say you worked at a firm for 15-20 years.  A small (under 20) well establish firm in a rural / small city area.  Everyone you work with has also worked at the firm for similar amount of time, except for 2 newer draft persons. What if you were the second last person to be informed of the firms take over by a national firm, two years after negotiations with the partners started and only 2 months before the deal is to be done.  Second last of all the long standing employees. How would you interpret that?  Should note that you have your own client list and one client is an international company that kept your company going during and after covid.

 
Nov 19, 24 3:23 pm
OddArchitect

Are you a partner in the firm?

Do you own stock in the firm?

What is your role in the firm?  

Have you been full time at the firm for the 15-20 years?


Nov 19, 24 3:27 pm  · 
 · 
small.time.architect

No, No, I am a project manager. I take projects from the proposal writing stage through to occupancy. I am co-head of a department. The person I am co-head with has known for a year it seems. And yes full time for the full 15-20 years.

Nov 19, 24 3:46 pm  · 
1  · 
reallynotmyname

Now you know that the partnership considers you the lesser of the co-heads in the department.

Nov 19, 24 4:12 pm  · 
1  · 
OddArchitect

One more question - how long have the other team member known? More importantly, how long ago did the third to last person learn of the merger?

Nov 19, 24 4:14 pm  · 
1  · 
small.time.architect

OddA - I don't know unfortunately. I think the rest has all known for over a year and only a couple of us are just finding out this week.

Nov 19, 24 5:35 pm  · 
 · 
OddArchitect

Are you in the US? Do you own stock in the firm?

Nov 20, 24 10:25 am  · 
 · 
graphemic

Sounds like you are are hired for your labor. 

Sorry to hear it, though. I can't imagine how the purchase will benefit the projects, the users, the community, or the workers. 

Nov 19, 24 3:35 pm  · 
 · 
small.time.architect

This is how I am feeling

Nov 19, 24 3:48 pm  · 
 · 
Wood Guy

That is incredibly lame. They may have seen it as you're too valuable an employee to risk you leaving before they want you to. I doubt it's because they think little of you. They should have announced it to the whole company at once, or in two phases--management and then regular employees. 

Nov 19, 24 3:40 pm  · 
1  · 
reallynotmyname

small time, are you able to surmise why the national firm bought your employer?  Do they want the geographic location, the client base, some of the senior people, or some combo of these?  What I am getting at is: will your current bosses be sticking around after the deal?  To what extent will the new owners change the direction of your office?  It could go a lot of different ways, and be good or bad for you personally.   If the buyers have done this before, learn about what happened at the purchased firms.

It would be a good move on your part to begin a discreet investigation of other opportunities that may be available to you.  A realistic understanding of your options is good to have in your head while this transition happens.

I can't comment on the order that they told you and other people, but you should know that absolute secrecy is standard procedure for these kinds of transactions.

Nov 19, 24 4:08 pm  · 
1  · 
OddArchitect

It does sound the like firms owner didn't want the OP to learn about this and have him / her leave before the buyout occurred. That to me in concerning .

Nov 19, 24 4:16 pm  · 
1  · 
reallynotmyname

My problem is that the OP's supposedly equal "co-department head" was privy to the sale a year ago and they weren't. It's obvious OP was not as high in the pecking order as they thought or maybe even led to believe they were.

Nov 19, 24 4:40 pm  · 
2  · 
OddArchitect

That's what concerns me.

Nov 19, 24 5:32 pm  · 
2  · 
atelier nobody

OP didn't state whether their co department head had equity interest. That would be the only reason I can think of for informing one and not the other.

Nov 19, 24 10:41 pm  · 
1  · 
OddArchitect

That's what I was thinking as well.  There is a lot the OP isn't telling us or doesn't know about.  No fault to the OP.  It's a tough situation to be in.  

Regardless - the OP's firm doesn't seem like a very nice place to work if this how they treat team members.

Nov 20, 24 12:36 pm  · 
2  · 
gwharton

Take you clients and leave immediately.

Nov 19, 24 4:38 pm  · 
3  · 

Treat your employer the way they treat you - go out on your own.

Nov 19, 24 5:18 pm  · 
2  · 
small.time.architect

Cant leave immediately as I am entitled to severance if I don't sign the new contact offered by the new firm

Nov 19, 24 5:37 pm  · 
 · 
atelier nobody

Consult an attorney before taking clients with you when you go. (Of course, if you just notify them you're leaving and they casually ask where you're going, then at a later date they approach your new firm...)

Nov 19, 24 10:46 pm  · 
1  · 
b3tadine[sutures]

I'm wondering if the national firm is NELSON, they have a habit of doing this.



Nov 19, 24 6:56 pm  · 
1  · 
bennyc

I would interpret that exactly how you felt when you found out, if it felt good, then you are respected there, if it didn't, it means you are not respected as part of the leadership team or part of the firm but just a project manager. I would be stoic about it, take your time, don't let ego or emotion take over, do what is best for you FINANCIALLY for the time being, plan ahead without letting anyone know of your next moves. 

Nov 19, 24 7:27 pm  · 
4  · 
reallynotmyname

ThiS!^ Keep calm and keep your eyes open. If the new ownership situation presents opportunities for you that you want, by all means step up and take them. If the place changes in ways that makes working there no longer good for you, undertake an exit strategy in complete secrecy.

Nov 20, 24 12:14 pm  · 
1  · 
smaarch

Time to either join forces or break out on your own. There's no middle ground.

Nov 20, 24 4:23 am  · 
 · 
reallynotmyname

I would venture to say that the odds are about 50-50 that the selling partners will still be at the firm 3-5 years post-buyout. OP will probably be managed by someone different if they stay long-term.

Nov 20, 24 12:19 pm  · 
 · 
smaarch

Not always. The selling firm is usually interested in protecting the principals. The buying firm's interest is putting them out of business. How do you get projects? Simple get rid of the competition. Been there, done it and own the tee shirt.

Nov 20, 24 9:32 pm  · 
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