Ambiguous Offer Letter - Performance Goal reward changed based on employers interpretation.

Location: Minnesota

Last year I was poached over to a new office with some much greater earning potential contingent on hitting a performance goal. At the beginning as we negotiated my offer I was under the impression that after hitting the goal my salary would increase but commission decrease (our industry hits slow seasons, so this was something that was a huge plus to me). It may be important to note that my interviews and negotiations were directly with the CEO of the company (smaller business).

About a month in I submit my commission statement and get pushed back that the office cannot pay me commissions as written in the offer letter. There was a couple months of back and forth before it was resolved and ultimately the letter of my offer was honored but the nuance of the commission structure changed. This was red flag #1, but I still put my trust in the CEO and loyalty to the mission of the business first and told myself it would improve. I documented things heavily during that period.

As we resolved the initial commission issue I was informed verbally that I was incorrect in my initial understanding of the offer letter and that upon hitting my goal the commission was actual set to increase much to my delight and surprise. Especially as my wife and I (recently married) were moving back in with family to save up to buy a house. Ultimately we did buy a house budgeting based on me not hitting the performance goal but of course with buying a house we’ve had quite a few projects we want to get done so it was with the intent that this verbal clarification to my performance goal would provide financial breathing room for us.

Fast forward about 6 months of just being locked in, working overtime (but not being paid overtime - exempt employee) and sending in my notice that the goal has been hit and verified and I’m told my commission is reduced and assuming the same goal for next year my pay is actually seeing a net reduction.

I have what I believe would be considered hearsay texts with some close friends and my wife when I learned the commission was set to increase helping me place a time line on exactly the date and time that conversation was held. I have teams messages with the CEO verifying that conversation but not the contents for it, just confirming that we would be meeting in a few minutes to clarify my commission per the offer letter.

I also have teams messages of the CEO saying he would put the contents of that conversation in writing and email it to me, but I never received the email despite multiple follow ups asking if/when I could expect it.

Now I’ve hit my goal. I’ve sacrificed time with my family, straining personal relationships to make sure I could grind away to achieve the goals (which I didn’t just hit but exceeded). And I feel utterly betrayed. I’ve put in so much at the cost to my mental health which is now very rocky and I am seeking help and medication for that. I don’t know what to do or where to turn to. It feels predatory to have given me the offer with such ambiguous language and tell me the rewards for my goal is one thing when I haven’t hit it then tell me it’s another after I’ve put in the work to achieve it.

If it’s also any help, I believe the business is in significant debt and that is possibly influencing their enforcement of their interpretation to avoid paying me what was offered, confirmed after starting employment, and achieved in my performance.

Please help. Any advice you can give. I’m drowning and after this my mind and body are shutting down.