How to negotiate with an ex employer

[Ratatapa]

Ok so i'm expecting lots of strange opinions, but hoping for some real opinions hehe

Situation (in bad engrish).

I've been working for an employer for 2 years from Jan 2010 to March 2012. Until September 2011 average everything went well. But after that shit started to hit the fan (won't explain much because it would take forever) but in resume he kept saying he didn't like my work and all that shit. On Feb 27 i gave my 2 week notice and left on March 9.

During my last week, he invited me to dinner and kept saying I can change, it's not too late and etc (almost felt like a i was dumbing a girl 0,0). And then what pissed me off, he said Well please don't go i don't wanna have to search for someone else and all i'll get is stupid Arab people. But i still left because the other job was more appealing for me (1.50$ more per hour and insurances). So I started my job on March 12 and on April 2. My boss comes and says You are fired (due to budget restriction). Yay go me.

Now I don't know how he learned but my Ex boss sent me an email saying i Heard you lost your job. I simply ignore me.

Now he sends me another email yesterday (here is the translation of the email)

P.S I work in computers.

Boss:
hello,

If you want to work again for me you are welcome. I will soon begin the migration of servers, updating concessions WAN (fiber optic or cable modem or 120mbits 60).
update all on 2008 x64 servers and rebuild the AD.
Then gave me news, we could go to dinner to discuss if you wish.

So i tell him but you already got a new tech (PS we were only 2 in the company me and my boss)

He answers lets go eat and discuss
and then he tells me, that i will replace the new guy he just hired to rep me.

So from the mini book i wrote here are my questions for opinions

1) Should i even take the bait for the meeting? (I know that i have the big part because he asked me to come back, not me)
2) If I do where is it considered overexagerated in negocitaiions?

- I was planning to ask like 1-1.50 from the job i had for 3 weeks (so 3$ from when i left this guy)
- I hate working alone, so i was gonna give him an ultimatum and ask him to find more clients and upgrade and hire at least 1 more tech. (because he wasn't even helping me when i needed help back then)
-And asking for more respect from the customer because some were treating me like shit.

I know it feel strange but thanks for all the serious opinion I really don't know what to do

[test123]

Get some other offers before meeting him?

[Valisk]

1) Yes. It won't hurt to sit down and discuss what your options are.

2) Start high and work your way down. Ask for a range increase such as +$2-4/hr (so he will obviously pick the lowest if he can deliver on the other demands; if he can't then the upper end of the range needs to be implemented). Worse he can say is no and you'll be in the exact same position you were in before you went to the dinner meeting.

[Ratatapa]

Get some other offers before meeting him?

Sent like 20 CV in 3 days and got no answer yet, kinda got an invisible limit

[Acevalefor]

Sounds like he is a desperate small business owner that values you but doesn't know how to treat employees. It's just a matter of how much shit you want to put up with and how willing he is to change the way he treats his employees. If I were you, I would talk to him and lay out my expectations for working with him. Make sure he understands your position very clearly and let him make the decision.

Remember, he is the one that offered you the job back. So the negotiation table is completely in your favor. If you don't feel like you can work for the guy, don't entertain the idea. Go find something else.

[Conrad]

hit him with a water bottle

[Qalbert]

give him an all tomato

[Siniroth]

hit him with a water bottle

Was waiting for this

give him an all tomato

Someone I know says it this way (not sure if deliberate or doesn't know the actual word) and I want to hit him every time

I'll mimic the advice earlier in the thread, going to dinner does nothing harmful, may as well see what's up

[Gustave]

give him an all tomato

I was totally unprepared for this. Now my keyboard is covered in coffee. You just made my Friday. Thank you kind sir.

[Ragns]

Here's what will happen: you'll get your job back for less than you expected and will resign after 6 months when shit hit the fan again.

My advice: Run!

[Kongolo]

my 2 cent.. peace of mind worth alot..

so maybe look for more options b4 u go back.. give him a week at least

gl

[Skjie]

Here's what will happen: you'll get your job back for less than you expected and will resign after 6 months when shit hit the fan again.

My advice: Run!

Much like MMOs and abusive ex-boyfriends, old bosses never change.

[CerberusResin]

suck his dick, you know you want to.

No but seriously, previous jobs are like previous relationships, it always seems like a good idea to go back because your desperate, but in the long run shit never changes.

[Ratatapa]

suck his dick, you know you want to.

No but seriously, previous jobs are like previous relationships, it always seems like a good idea to go back because your desperate, but in the long run shit never changes.

I hear ya for the relationship part.

How are you Resin been a while

And for the rest thanks for the tips

I'll go meet him monday and see how it goes

[Day]

tell him you'll come back for the rate you had at new job, don't go back for same rate or you'll hate yourself and leave at first available chance

[hey]

Take the job, and leave as soon as you find something better.

[Serif]

Take the job, and leave as soon as you find something better.

You sound like Conformity

Besides that, you are getting a free meal out of this? Fuck yeahhh

[Brill Weave]

Take him up on the offer for dinner or whatnot. Hear what he has to say. But if you decide to go back do not get comfortable there. You need to continue looking for a new job. Because sooner or later he's going to move to terminate you or put you on a performance plan etc. The guy sounds like he was using you as a scapegoat.

[Ratatapa]

He kinda was. But what the problem is. I started looking for a new job on November 2011 and got one on Feb 2012. While then i was still working for him. So it kinda took awhile, I kinda don't wanna stay on welfare that long either.

But yeah one of the reason i don't wanna go back is 1 client that really pissed me off and treated me like crap. So if I do go back, you can be assured that this point will be mentioned.

[Day]

a job you hate is better than being broke as fuck