Where to start?
Basically, BF graduated from college and started a job as an Assistant Director for a major hospitality company. A year later, one of BF's co-workers was supposed to take a promotion and open a new concept. The guy backed out at the last minute, so BF's bosses BEGGED him to take over and open the concept. BF agreed, opened the concept, and has been working there for the last year.
Well, little did BF know when he took the job that the higher-ups never properly researched the company prior to franchising it. The ONLY reason the initial location made any money is because the owner ONLY employed illegal immigrants & paid them $5/hour under the table with no benefits. If you pay people legal salaries and don't cook the books, the business CAN NOT make money.
So, after several months of working there, BF's bosses started complaining that he wasn't making money. They kept pressuring him and pressuring him. It got so bad that BF laid off all but 2 employees and has been working in the concept himself (when his job actually should be hiring/firing, inventory, ordering, financials, etc.) to save on labor.
The concept still BARELY made money. So rather than the higher-ups admitting that they f-ed up and should've researched the original concept more prior to franchising it, they blamed BF's "poor managerial skills". They even threatened to fire him in February.
BF really hustled and has got the place to make a LITTLE money now, but he still is working in the concept 80% of his time instead of doing the job of a manager. He hates the job and wants out. He's applied for several promotions and lateral moves and never got them--eventually one of his bosses told him "You're not promotable".
BF wants out. Badly. He found this amazing job opportunity and applied for it. He told his boss that he applied for another job to give him a heads up in case he goes anywhere. Now his boss is going to the higher ups and telling them that BF is "actively searching for other employment". Whenever ANYONE looks for another job, they find a way to fire them. They either dissolve the position or create a BS excuse as to why the person should be fired.
So BF spent all last night freaking out--angry and terrified. I don't really know what to say because he's so sensitive about the whole situation.
What are all of your thoughts on the situation? How can I help? Any advice for BF?
Thanks for reading this!