milee
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Post by milee on Jan 20, 2016 17:58:45 GMT -5
Glad to see you back here, but sorry this is why. Your approach to this is incredibly mature and professional.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jan 20, 2016 18:17:58 GMT -5
DH was let go at the end of a contract. It's only happened once. The vendor later told him that he was the only person to last the full length of the contract and that this company continually interviewed as they onboarded new hires because of the dysfunction. As long as you impressed your vendor that's what matters. They probably know how bad the company is. Oh, they definitely get that. They weren't even told I was being terminated. They heard it from me, after the fact, and they were not pleased. Almost the first thing my contact said was, "You've been nothing but professional here and we know you were doing good work in a tough situation. This reflects much more on them than you." It wasn't the first time I'd called during the assignment to apprise him of the company's shenanigans. I was careful about what I shared but in my opinion the vendor needed to know about some of the more egregious stuff that happened. I think being candid with them prior to this gave me more credibility when push came to shove, so I'm glad I kept them in the loop.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jan 20, 2016 18:19:24 GMT -5
Can the vendor help you out? Network for you?
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jan 20, 2016 18:22:07 GMT -5
Can the vendor help you out? Network for you? They're working on finding me a new position, but it's okay if they don't. DH and I have decided to move to a town 3 hours away and I was already job hunting there so I'm mostly carrying on with that.
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Jan 20, 2016 19:07:21 GMT -5
Welcome back, how is babybird? You handled the termination with grace and dignity. I have been terminated several times and handled it pretty much the same way. Once they let go about 1/3 of the people including me, some cried, some stormed out. I told my manager not to worry I would be fine then asked another manager for a job, he hired me as a temp then another manager hired me as a temp, I worked as a contractor later then back as a temp the next year so it took them 14 months to get rid of me. Other times I have been unjustly fired but still their choice they don't want me I will just go now, lick wounds and move on. I think waiting until wounds are licked before applying for new jobs is best so apply for unemployment and get over it before applying so you don't come off angry. Are you moving to Seattle?
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Post by mojothehelpermonkey on Jan 20, 2016 19:10:26 GMT -5
Although I don't think you have any obligation to continue a friendship with your manager even if she eventually reaches out... I was laid off right after the holidays a few years ago, and my contacts at the company later told me that the one manager who I considered a friend felt terrible about doing it. Sometimes that is how it goes. Someone else in another country was willing to do my job for less money. Nothing personal. Good call on handling it professionally and not burning any bridges. Everyone that I have used as a reference from that company has asked me how I want them to describe why I left. I found a new job two weeks later, so I usually say to tell them that I was tired of the 2+ (round trip) hour commute. In my more recent job, I was in your manager's position. My colleague who I supervised was being unfairly scapegoated by someone higher up who didn't like her. When I tried to intervene on her behalf, they told me that the only option they would consider was firing the employee who hadn't even done anything wrong. I spent the whole weekend considering it because that particular toxic employee (one of a few at that family owned company) was increasing my workload by preventing my other coworker from doing her job. If I didn't have a healthy emergency fund, I probably would have told them to fire her because at least a new hire could start with a clean slate would not be prevented from doing her job by a whackadoodle. I hope you don't take any of this personally and find a new job soon.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jan 20, 2016 19:26:13 GMT -5
Oh, I'll happily resume the friendship if it works out down the line. One thing about me - for better or worse, I rarely give up on my friends. I let them go if the circumstances don't allow for an active relationship, like here, but I'm almost always willing to try again later. Circumstances have a way of changing. And I think everyone has provided very understandable reasons why she might not be able to talk to me right now without risking her job.
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Post by mojothehelpermonkey on Jan 20, 2016 19:29:30 GMT -5
I still think she is totally lame for agreeing to give you a head's up and not following through. When things were up in the air with my coworker, the most I would say is "I can't discuss this" even though I felt terrible saying it.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jan 20, 2016 19:35:51 GMT -5
Yeah, that was unfortunate. And honestly, it was the only reason my feelings were hurt. I didn't take the firing itself personally, not even for a moment. It obviously wasn't about me and it didn't really bother me. And I certainly never blamed her for it. I just felt a little betrayed in the beginning that she hadn't warned me, given our relationship and that she promised me she would.
But I'm over that too. It is what it is. Maybe someday we can be friends again.
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suesinfl
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Post by suesinfl on Jan 20, 2016 19:47:48 GMT -5
I'm really sorry to hear this, but so proud of you for your grace and dignity. I wish you the best and it's so glad to hear from you.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jan 20, 2016 19:56:17 GMT -5
I've really missed all of you! It's hard being away from the board but it's too frustrating to try to follow threads I can't participate in.
I think about my imaginary friends all the time though!
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Jan 20, 2016 20:07:13 GMT -5
I was once told at a very low paying 20 hour per week job that I was being put on an IDP. Nobody had ever taught me to do the job. I was told when I was hired I was their second choice, so I assumed their first choice turned them down.
I learned you can't replace a long-time, highly popular employee, especially when the employer gives you no training. Instead of going through the IDP, I chose to resign. I signed off on the IDP, thought about it and resigned.
Eventually I would have been let go because the department was dissolved and the other employees sent to other departments. Don't know if there would have been a place for me.
I just was not going to be stressing over a job that paid $10 per hour for 90 days. Wasn't worth it.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Jan 20, 2016 21:35:37 GMT -5
Can the vendor help you out? Network for you? They're working on finding me a new position, but it's okay if they don't. DH and I have decided to move to a town 3 hours away and I was already job hunting there so I'm mostly carrying on with that. wait, where are you moving to?
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jan 20, 2016 21:38:38 GMT -5
Bend- probably. We love it, just need to find jobs there!
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jan 20, 2016 21:55:55 GMT -5
Good luck
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Jan 20, 2016 22:24:35 GMT -5
Good to see you back, Firebird! I just wish it didn't have to be under these circumstances. Still, it sounds like you handled the matter with dignity and maturity and are already moving forward and leaving it behind. Kudos! Hope you find the perfect job in the location you want to live and that all goes smoothly.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jan 21, 2016 6:40:34 GMT -5
Bend reminds me of Jackson Hole
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geenamercile
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Post by geenamercile on Jan 21, 2016 7:30:24 GMT -5
Sorry for the job lost, but great attitude and I'm sure you will land somewhere better. Toxic work places can do so much harm to you in so many ways, and most of the time you don't even realize it until you are no longer there. Then you need to readjust your normal meter so you don't end up in another place that is Toxic.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2016 8:22:18 GMT -5
And Im so sorry to both you and Carl. Wait. What? Carl lost his job too?
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Jan 21, 2016 8:37:59 GMT -5
And Im so sorry to both you and Carl. Wait. What? Carl lost his job too? He's in administrative leave right now.
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Value Buy
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Post by Value Buy on Jan 21, 2016 8:43:24 GMT -5
Fortunately I never was fired from the company I worked for.
Worked for them for 47 years. When I turned around fifty, upper level management was changed and did work hard to get rid of mid level management in place, who were longterm employees with lots of vacation and insurance costs and I had to duck low to remain in place, and I sincerely know the feeling of losing the job might be in the next week. Took about two years of lying low and escaping the ax man. Took tons of notes hard copied e-mails, lots of copying of yearly evaluations, soul searching etc, but they knew I kept my powder dry, because of when they did seem to be fishing for me, I pulled out the necessary docs I had, to keep me in place. Most of us hated the company for what they were doing, but it was just business. Hardest part was not allowing your feelings to flow downward to your associates and put them into a downward spiral, which could then sink you with bad evaluations based on associate happiness or lack there of. By the time I turned 57, I seemed in good company again, and was left alone. I saw good people forced out who like me, hit or beat goals set by upper management, but the common denominator was pretty much the person let go, always let their mouths get in the way and pull them down. I shut up, and kept my mouth shut, and survived, until it was back to business of everyone making money. It was hard to work for a company that I felt was coming after me, but we all know it is hard for someone in their fifties to make a move to another company due to your age. Upper level mgmt either met their goals of cost cutting dollars, or knew I was a soon to be retired person, who would cost them too much in litigation costs. Ours was not a big company, so I know the situation is different from others here, but please just hang in there. I sort of know what you are feeling. Good luck to those who were let go. Just realize your next job should hopefully be with a much better company.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jan 21, 2016 9:15:50 GMT -5
I learned you can't replace a long-time, highly popular employee, especially when the employer gives you no training
Amen to that. That's what happened with my job after Creighton. The person I was replacing was the PIs best friend and had been doing the job for 10 years. All of her notes were written in a way that only someone who has done the job for 10 years could understand.
Here I come green behind the ears with only three years experience. They wanted me to step into her job like I never left AND single handedly set up the new lab here at UNMC despite me also being unfamiliar with the rules here.
It was a disaster and did not end on good terms.
I hold no ill will towards my former PI. I see her from time to time on campus and we will talk. She was happy to hear that I landed on my feet after that and have gone on to have a decent career.
I do think her former tech is a bitch. She came in one day to train me and pretty much all she did was make clear that the only person who could do this job was her. She gave me no training just told me to "read her notes". Then she bashed me to the PI to the point where I ended up getting terminated.
I learned a lot from that experience about what type of job I want and what kind of boss I want. I also think that experience benefited me when I landed at Boys Town b/c this time around I recognized the situation right away and had the guts to do something about it.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jan 21, 2016 9:53:34 GMT -5
Bend- probably. We love it, just need to find jobs there! I have family in Bend. I love Bend! One of the best little cities I've ever visited! They moved there from Ann Arbor - both of them work in the school system - and have never regretted it.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jan 21, 2016 10:32:29 GMT -5
He's in administrative leave right now. is he still getting paid? Is there a thread we missed?? He posted on the Job Hunt Thread.
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on Jan 21, 2016 11:00:07 GMT -5
Firebird you handled this with way more professionalism and dignity than I think I could muster. Kudos for that. That workplace did sound toxic. I had a facility manager once before who felt the need to fire people whenever he got pissed off. Didn't even need to be the person who actually did anything wrong. He'd just pick someone on which to fix his ire and once he decided you had to go, you were gone. He fired several very good people, and several other people voluntarily found other work in order not to have to work with him anymore. I only hung on because I didn't work directly for him (good thing, too, because he most likely would have terminated me, too, if he could have - he didn't like me - which I took as a good thing ). Took about five years but finally corporate HR figured out the guy was probably psychotic and at very least, a really bad manager who was running off valuable employees, and they gave him the boot.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Jan 21, 2016 11:16:49 GMT -5
I can tell you from experience that she probably had no choice. Due to company downturn we just recently had a "right sizing" and I had to let an employee go. I knew it for two months before but couldn't say anything. She specifically asked me if there were going to be layoffs (we are in finance so she saw the numbers and the forecasts). I had to tell her that I had no knowledge of any layoffs. When the day came she was devestated and holds me responsible for letting her go and for lying. Both of which I did but it was my job to do so. And I wasn't friends with her outside of work so I can't imagine how she would feel if we were Wouldn't it have made more financial sense to the company for you to top,her off? Then she might have quit and started a new job elsewhere and you wouldn't be on the hook for severance pay. LOL on "top her off"...but no, I don't think she would have left. To be honest, she is a very difficult person and she was one that I thought for sure would sue. Everything offended her...so that would have just given her time to gather ammunition to sue. It is over 2 months now and she still doesn't have a job. I don't think she would have found one any easier if she knew we were going to get rid of her.
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aprilleigh
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Post by aprilleigh on Jan 21, 2016 13:06:25 GMT -5
Bend- probably. We love it, just need to find jobs there! Hey Firebird! I'm glad to see you pop up! I've been wondering how you were liking Portland! Bend is exploding right now, as far as construction goes. My company is working on a townhome project over there that is just a giant cluster, due to inexperienced Project Managers ... they need you!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2016 13:29:59 GMT -5
How about masons? They need stone masons?
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sapphire12
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Post by sapphire12 on Jan 21, 2016 14:22:45 GMT -5
Glad to hear from you again Firebird! You are definitely handling this situation very well. I wish you all the best in your new endeavors. Knowing you, you will be soaring again soon.
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