JennyK and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day About This Page:

[JennyK]

Did you know that if you own a business you can still get fired? Yeah, neither did I until my DH came home at NOON yesterday and said that his dad and some people (we'll just call them "accomplices" for now) forced him out.

Let me give a little background: DH took over his dad's business - a franchise of a home improvement company - with two partners. DH had controlling interest (51%). His dad had done some things before he retired that my DH disagreed with, but he let it go because he had no other choice. Then he took over, had a few good quarters, then the economy went bust at the same time a major competitor with lots of funds to advertise also entered the market. DH's business had a terrible year last year, but was starting to come out of it because of some changes DH had made to the staff and their sales system. As soon as he started reporting some profits, the franchisor decided to take over operations of DH's franchise. He appointed my FIL to take over the decision making for the company. Did he ever!

After a month of my FIL making all the decisions for the company, all while not following the rule that my DH was supposed to be the communicator both to the employees and to the corporate franchisor, corporate and FIL decided that DH could no longer handle the company and have forced him to give back the shares to his father and resign. They offered him a crappy position (with even crappier pay) to hold him over until he finds something else, and they are going to pay him for the shares he had already paid his dad for. He will not be taking that position, but will be accepting the money (it's ours, after all). Now my FIL will get all the credit when DH's changes make a big difference and that horrible excuse for a parent will look like the hero.

My smart (literally a genious), capable, business savvy, sensitive and caring DH has been betrayed by the man he looked up to his whole life. His dad was the best man at our wedding. DH could have picked from any one of his college friends, but he chose his dad because his dad raised him to be honest and upfront, to fight for your beliefs and to stand up for his loved ones when they were in need. Now FIL won't follow the rules he set up for his own son. He didn't even have the courage to tell him out loud. He just handed him an envelope with some letters from the franchisor and the accountant and lawyer, who are FIL's friends.

What will we tell our kids? They love their grandfather so much, and now he has taken away their financial security. How are we supposed to go to holiday celebrations now? I never had an easy relationship with my MIL, but I do love her and I feel so horrible for her now. She is literally in the position that she must choose between her husband and her son.

I have been so strong for him for the past month, but I'm not sure how much longer I can go without letting him see me cry. The last thing I want is to make him feel guilty for all of this. He cannot know exactly how much I am hurting, at least not now. How can we support each other if we're both crying and needy at the same time?

We can't afford this. We will probably have to declare bankruptcy. There is no way I can get a job that will support the four of us, even if I work two jobs. The only thing we can think to do is move somewhere else and get a fresh start. There was nothing keeping us in Ohio besides family and DH's job, and now we're left with no job and only my family. We cannot live so close to his father and the business now. It's too painful. This business was my DH's life. He loved it, even in the most stressful times.

Pixies would be nice. I am praying so hard that this is not an end, but the beginning of something better. I cannot imagine living with this pain for much longer.

[valegirl5292]

I am sorry about your horrible circumstance, I hope it gets better for you.

[Momof4gr8boys]

[Lemap760]

I never really thought of owning a franchise was "working for yourself". You're still under the Franchise microscope and have to follow their rules.
I hope things work out for the better for you.

[Tonichelle]

and hugs!

[Disneydiana]

[greentie]

[DisneyBlonde]

[jimmymac]

[chezp]

What a terrible, terrible position to be in. My heart goes out to you guys.

[WDWfan]

[lkmom]

[katspjs]

[eff051102]

I'm so sorry that this happened to you and your family. I wouldn't want to
be in your position with your inlaws but I will say that your MIL needs
to have a talk with your DH about what happened and then she can make
her own mind up.

[kelkan]