AThrowAway99

No worries, you and others are helping me see this.

It's such a good point to find the right environment. I think that's the best approach going forward with other companies. I've worked with many people over the years and was perfectly fine not being close friends or anything like that, this is the first time I've had people actively trying to exclude me from inter staff things as well as with others in the local community.

It's so weird.

Thanks again!

Thanks, this really help me get a proper perspective on this!

Thanks, hearing that helps a lot.

I totally agree, I've never been in this kind of situation before. I've managed teams before, worked as a grafter and everything in-between, my complains have always been technical in nature. Never personal, in fact quite the opposite.

My best guess is it was rooted in the resentment that an outsider created something (in a fraction of the time) that meant the disposal of years of their work. And this is no comment of the quality of their work at all, it was excellent. It just didn't strike a cord with audiences. This has happened to me many many times. Something along the lines of an unearned position.

So yes, I think although there is no reoccurring pattern of this. I could have been much more sensitive to this issue.

Thanks for this comment!

This is exactly the contract that has caused the issue. I asked for the agreed fee for my IP under the terms of the contract.

I have started to think along these lines now, but have to be careful not to bias myself. It might turn out that this is true, and I am keeping an open mind about it all.

Ah sorry I was not more clear. I have been paid for some of the work, but not all. The contract was signed and they do owe me the money.

I was more wanting to hear some feedback on my situation. It's a tough season for me and I want to make sure I'm learning the right things from it.

To perhaps gain some clarity as I don't have many people I feel comfortable talking to about this.

How it relates to the article, I feel. If the people you work with unfairly dislike you it might be a good sign of a problem deeper down.

(obviously a great deal of soul searching is needed to know if 'unfairly disliked' is applicable)

I have been paid for some of my work, just not the full amount.

I was and am a private contractor, labour was paid but not the IP transfer. Thats what brought it to a head, me asking for the fee.

Yes I think this answers my question quite distinctly, asking for the agreed amount should not have resulted on what happened. Even if there is a misunderstanding on any side, it should have resulted in negotiations, not an immediate accusation and denial of work done.

It's all in all pretty disappointing.

Thanks so much for the time to write all this!

There are some great points here, but a few leaps.

Nope, not from a codependent family.

I did create the product (A game), I designed the game and designed a novel tech to run it. I was given an open brief and created this game based on my domain knowledge. It was meant to be part of a larger project but it got such a good response that it became the entire project.

I'm ok with people not being my friend and being professional. I'm unsettled by being singularly excluded and rumours spread about me.

My professionalism has been impeccable, beyond reproach even.

I did get payed, just not the full amount.

And I've got about 15 years behind me.

The things you've said that ring true are:

What you said about seeing another developer on the team getting paid far less than what they are worth. Yes I saw this, one of the middle managers let slip they thought he was a coward and would not leave because of poor pay. I foolishly ignored this sign, rather I tried to get them to increase his pay.

"CONTRACT IS NOT MONEY", oh yes! I know this very strongly. It is a concern, but my reputation is of more value here.

Because many people were involved in the game it feels odd to stand my ground, but I see no other alternative. And yes, I did walk the second there was a refusal to pay. I hope you don't get down voted too much here. Some good stuff!

It's clear something like this has happened. Writing it down and getting valuable feedback here is helping me with my self doubt. I'm always questioning all kinds of things about myself surrounding this. I didn't create the end product in a vacuum, many people contributed to it and it feels weird to state my importance over others.

Looks like it will be court at this point. I'm more worried about my career and reputation now.

I did think we where both, this is 100% my mistake.

Not being bitter about it, rather I should have been more strict and not offered business favours for free. Things like not charging for late payments, relocation and so on. 100% my error.

Yes, I usually agree.

We do have something in writing and my lawyer is taking it seriously. What bothers me, if a bigger name than I is claiming my work as his own, what impact that will have on my career?

No not yet, this is only weeks old at this point.

Yeah, after seeing the velocity in which I was told I created little of value for the company, I think the resentment and ego issues runs much deeper that I saw.

This is a throwaway account, but I'd like some advice on this very subject.

I recently ended a working relationship with a company that had a problem with 'not liking' me. I moved to another country to offer onsite services to this company, as I created the core (design and tech) of a product that unexpectedly performed very well and became the focus of their business. Unfortunately this meant throwing out years of work by their core team, the owners work included.

As I had only been working remotely and very part time till this point, I saw an understandable resentment toward me and addressed it head on with each of the team when I arrived onsite. I perhaps failed in this because I was met with nods, smiles, and a professional behaviour me most of the time but not friendship. I was actively excluded from team lunches for example. And I heard less than favourable rumours about me in the local community, a community I never worked in.

This is ok, to a point if a little hurtful. As it didn't impact my work, I thought just letting it go was a better approach. Many people had a secure job based on my work...thats probably my resentment talking but worth saying.

Anyway it came to a head when I asked for the money we agreed for my contribution. (I had held off charging till the company was on more solid ground) At this point I was quickly told that the owner created the thing I made for them. Not me. Then closed ranks and told me I was a bad friend, refusing to pay obviously.

I think being left out in the cold all this time was a good sign that the company as a whole was planing something like this. Not explicitly but something.

Did I do the right thing in leaving? Am I the 'bad friend'?