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Advice for employee not offered share options (missed out on hefty pay out)
My partner worked for 10 years at a software development company. It was very small when he started there and he was one of the team who grew it into a successful business, progressing to more senior roles over time.
A few years ago the company directors started to work on plans to sell the company. Shares were promised to senior colleagues (including my partner), in lieu of pay rises.
Fast forward to last year...there was gossip (later confirmed) that some colleagues (all of whom had joined the company after my partner, one of them had been hired by him) had officially been given shares (not share options).
My partner queried this and tried to get the same deal, but they refused.
The company was soon sold and my partner raised this again, even discussing getting a reduced amount as compensation, again they refused. He felt very let down by this, but also it became clear that his specialist area was a low priority to the new company (even though it's essential), so decided to leave. He left on good terms, despite being disappointed (to say the least) and has been been supporting the remaining team who are struggling to keep up with their workload (unpaid).
We've found out how much the company was sold for today. His colleagues who had shares have got life-changing amounts of money.
This question isn't prompted by greed and I know it's a long shot, but this has caused incredible stress - it's very hard to walk away from a job that you've been so committed to for such a long time and to feel so let down and under-valued.
My question is, are there any legal grounds to raise a complaint about unfair treatment? The boat has long since sailed for any significant funds to be awarded, but is there any chance of some kind of goodwill?
Thanks for reading - I've not posted here before!
A few years ago the company directors started to work on plans to sell the company. Shares were promised to senior colleagues (including my partner), in lieu of pay rises.
Fast forward to last year...there was gossip (later confirmed) that some colleagues (all of whom had joined the company after my partner, one of them had been hired by him) had officially been given shares (not share options).
My partner queried this and tried to get the same deal, but they refused.
The company was soon sold and my partner raised this again, even discussing getting a reduced amount as compensation, again they refused. He felt very let down by this, but also it became clear that his specialist area was a low priority to the new company (even though it's essential), so decided to leave. He left on good terms, despite being disappointed (to say the least) and has been been supporting the remaining team who are struggling to keep up with their workload (unpaid).
We've found out how much the company was sold for today. His colleagues who had shares have got life-changing amounts of money.
This question isn't prompted by greed and I know it's a long shot, but this has caused incredible stress - it's very hard to walk away from a job that you've been so committed to for such a long time and to feel so let down and under-valued.
My question is, are there any legal grounds to raise a complaint about unfair treatment? The boat has long since sailed for any significant funds to be awarded, but is there any chance of some kind of goodwill?
Thanks for reading - I've not posted here before!
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