I have a question - but the need a bit of background. I apologize if I'm vague in some areas, but I can't give too much info about the company itself due to non-disclosure agreements.
I have worked here for 13 years, and it started out as a small company with about 7 people. In that time it has grown - now to about 100 people. As it started small, many of us who worked together were family/friends/romantically involved and it was fine, mostly due to our small size. It was honestly like working for one giant family.
So, in that time, my partner began working here as well (7 years in the company, 8 years my partner). I have held a manager title most of that time, he does not - although he does not report directly to me. My best friend, who I met here, and has been my best friend for nearly 10 years now - also lives with me and my partner.
One day our CEO says to us that he has 'partnered' with an investment company, and essentially takes a huge check and checks out, leaving us all wondering what the hell is going to happen to us.
Naturally, the investment company wants to move us to a more corporate environment. They have just given us an employee manual (we have never had one) - and it basically forbids relationships between employees. I spoke with the HR person they have provided, who has informed me that in this type of situation the manager involved would be the person they asked to leave. I asked if the option to step out of management or into another type of role would be available, but they said the only option is to terminate the relationships or to leave. As I'm working on a wedding with my partner and my best friend lives with us/ maid of honor, etc - these are not relationships I can terminate and were fine with the old CEO.
So..... I guess the question is, am I honestly just out of a job because of this? Do I really have to give up what I have devoted most of my adult life to - a company I helped to build and recruit employees for? I feel like the answer is 'yes' and I'm really heartbroken by this because this place is so important to me but I don't see any other way. Are there options I don't know about? Anything that might help?