Fired!

Murdoughnut said:
Nah, unfortunately in an "at will" state, they can pretty much do whatever they want as long as it doesn't constitute federal discrimination.
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You might want to check into that anyway. NJ is an 'at will' state and the company where my wife worked has been sued for allowing a hostile work environment to exist. I'm not a lawyer, I don't play one on TV and I fully expect to be corrected by the legal types here, but I know that her old company was sued successfully by employees for allowing a hostile work environment to exist and therefore HR required retraining of certain managers who had too many complaints.
 
Damn dude. Leave it to dick management to push people around.

No wonder consumers don't have money, bosses keep firing good people.

Keep your head up.
 
Sorry to hear that. That totaly stinks. I definately would run it by a lawyer and see what he/she has to stay. That sounds like BS to me. You talk to HR and the boss you complained about fires you. That sounds illegal as hell to me.

Good luck!
 
Im sorry to hear that. I know the feeling. I live in Vegas, am unemployed and have not been able to secure anything here for awhile now. The unemployment is 15% and it is also a "right to work" state. Im moving back east.
 
Thanks for all the support guys - I'm just lucky to have a sugar momma to keep things afloat for awhile. Doesn't help that I just dumped my savings to have a new driveway poured.

For the time being I'll keep dropping resumes and try to enjoy the time off for at least a week. Going to grab my camera and go on photo safari. I've also been toying with the idea of a side business start up - not something that's going to pay all the bills, but to supplement my income. May start looking into that now.

Thanks! This is just a temporary setback.
 
Damn dude I remember when you were excited about that new job. A miserable work environment is something that saps the fun out of the work environment. My wife recently got a new job and got away from a very hostile and demeaning environment. She doesn't like her job as much as the one she left when we moved but at least they treat her with respect and she has some say in things.

Actually having to get out there and do something is a huge motivator for upstart companies. That is why you see a lot successful businesses start in recessions. People get laid off and push comes to shove they have to go out there and make things happen. In my case I wasn't making any money CFI'ing so I started making web sites. Didn't bring in a ton of money but it paid the rent, and I had a few ex-employers who helped me get started. One thing I learned is to call on past connections and they will really help you jump start your business. B2B is a good segment.
 
Sorry to hear that. Your wife is a lawyer (immigration I think). I still think you should maybe talk to one - although I imagine that your wife would have directed you to one if she thought it was valid. Just doesn't seem right - you followed protocol (HR visit, etc) and sounds like you got boned.
 
Bummer. :(

As we always say though, when one door closes, another one opens. It seems to be a growing trend around here of people getting let go and then finding better jobs shortly thereafter.

Good luck! :)
 
My old man very wisely said to me once, during a particularly hostile job situation I was in, "Son - no job - not one - is worth your dignity."

He was right about that. So...I'm sorry you lost the gig 4 weeks in, but it sounds like it wasn't that good an environment to begin with.

You've mentioned before that you were a teacher. Is that something you could do again? You're already PPL/IR - could you and Mrs. Murdoughnut handle you pushing forward to the CFI tickets and your start instructing, perhaps as an independent or through the flying club?

What else might you enjoy doing?
 
Dang man....that stinks. But, like others have said, no job is worth taking abuse.

Keep your head up.....good luck on your new ventures......they're sure to come!
 
killbilly said:
My old man very wisely said to me once, during a particularly hostile job situation I was in, "Son - no job - not one - is worth your dignity."

He was right about that. So...I'm sorry you lost the gig 4 weeks in, but it sounds like it wasn't that good an environment to begin with.

You've mentioned before that you were a teacher. Is that something you could do again? You're already PPL/IR - could you and Mrs. Murdoughnut handle you pushing forward to the CFI tickets and your start instructing, perhaps as an independent or through the flying club?

What else might you enjoy doing?
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Yes, I've always agreed with that. I hold a Masters degree, but I would mop floors before I ever let someone talk to me like that.

I wish to god I was closer to my commercial so I could try and get an instructor job - just to do something else for awhile. Timing is just a bit off right now. I let my 3-year teaching certificate expire a few years ago when I left education and moved into market research. I could try and get it again, but teaching jobs are scarce these days. I have an adjunct gig that will start back up again in a few months.

As crazy as it sounds, I'm thinking about interviewing with a local restaurant my wife and I love. They're seeking out servers and I've developed such a strong love of food and wine the past few years ... not sure if that's a good long term plan, but might be a good adventure for a year or so.

Waco - I might run it by an employment attorney, but everything I've ever seen here seems to suggest that everything is at will.

I'm hoping I'll here something from one of the apps I dropped this week, though. For now, I'm just going to enjoy having a few days off. Thanks for the support guys!
 
brent p h said:
"for going to HR with a problem" --Elaboration please...:confused:
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Well long story short is, I was being verbally accosted by this guy every step of the way. On the 6th day on the job, I got lit into for allegedly doing a poor job of managing a project. My crime? I asked a question related to the project I was taking over to a vendor on a conference call. My boss claimed that I was there to listen, and I should keep my mouth shut. Not very professional seeing as how I come in with 4-years of experience managing these projects, but I figured, "eh, whatever"

So the next meeting we had, I decided I'd just keep my mouth shut - not ask any questions. When we stepped in to this woman's office, I noticed she had a photo from where my wife and I got married. After introducing myself, I asked her about the photo and we had a quick (20-second) conversation about the place. I otherwise sat and listened the whole meeting. Yep, got ripped into for that too. Boss said "Did I not make myself clear!? Keep your mouth shut until I give you permission to speak!"

So three weeks into the job, I'm doing the work (which is easy) and keeping my mouth shut for the sake of keeping things at ease. Not even being polite to people, just nodding. One Tuesday night my wife sprains her ankle and ends up at the hospital. The next morning I need to pick up some crutches for her and her prescriptions. I email the boss and let him know I'll be about 30-minutes late. I ended up coming in 20-minutes late, and staying 30-minutes late that night. Turns out, he wrote me up to HR for absenteeism. Now at this point, I realize the job isn't going to work out, but I don't want to be fired for "absenteeism" because it means no unemployment. So I wrote a very formal and legal-esque email to HR explaining my side of the situation, and offering to have HR clock my times in and times out, in addition to overtime hours, to prove that I'm not having an issue with absenteeism. HR writes me back requesting a meeting, which I attend.

At the meeting I explain my frustrations, and the harassing comments that have been made towards me (which I haven't detailed here). HR decides we should do a mediation, and I agree. Three days later ... fired.

So that's the story, minus the disparaging remarks which I won't go into here. Normally Murdoughnut is the type of guy to fly off the handle and start throwing @#$% but this time I didn't. I was just too exhausted by the situation. I was escorted out of the building, and when the boss said "good luck" I said "thanks @!#hole!". When he said "you need to leave" I said "don't worry, I know what you drive". (I don't plan to do anything to his car, but I thought I'd at least make him worry).

So that's the story really. Time to move on. No sense living in the past :)
 
For others reading - this advice is too late for Murdoughnut - the car crack is not something I would advise. If this guys car gets keyed, or anything else happens (and he sounds like someone who would invite abuse) - guess who the number one suspect in that deal would be??? Calling him an • isn't as bad as the car crack, although I will post this article that was in the KC Star this weekend that I made Maggie read because it was good: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/1747016.html

As for Murdoughnut - Although Florida is an employment at will state, I still don't think that it alleviates them from abuse of employees. I would seriously check into this. You left a good job at HSN for this job which turned to crap - a job yo wouldn't have taken knowing the kind of abuse you would take - I would certainly check with an attorney.
 
Murdoughnut said:
Nah, unfortunately in an "at will" state, they can pretty much do whatever they want as long as it doesn't constitute federal discrimination.
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I would talk to a lawyer that specializes in employment law anyway, they might pay you a few bucks to shut you up (not that they would have to, it might end up being cheaper for them). Getting you to leave a good job, and firing you almost immediately after you do is kind of crappy, especially if you've got documentation about you doing the right thing...
 
WacoFan said:
For others reading - this advice is too late for Murdoughnut - the car crack is not something I would advise. If this guys car gets keyed, or anything else happens (and he sounds like someone who would invite abuse) - guess who the number one suspect in that deal would be??? Calling him an • isn't as bad as the car crack, although I will post this article that was in the KC Star this weekend that I made Maggie read because it was good: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/1747016.html

As for Murdoughnut - Although Florida is an employment at will state, I still don't think that it alleviates them from abuse of employees. I would seriously check into this. You left a good job at HSN for this job which turned to crap - a job yo wouldn't have taken knowing the kind of abuse you would take - I would certainly check with an attorney.
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Good article! I did speak with my wife's "life coach" before I made my inquiry into HR. She agreed that it sounded like the position would be terminated after 90-days, and I needed to ensure that I could demonstrate that it was without cause. So the decision to go to HR was based 60% on this, 40% on a hope that it would really resolve the situation.

Part of me is thinking about standing on the road outside of Valpak with signs commenting on their unfair labor practices. Not because I expect anything from it, but because it might be fun. Especially since the company has franchise sales reps and other guests in-house everyday, and there's only one way in and out of the place.

Also glad to report that I have a phone interview tomorrow! Will still chat with an employment lawyer, though - you guys are right, it is worth a call.
 
so what is your expertise in?


sorry about the way it went down...but at least you didn't endure that type of hardship for too long. def agree with everyone else about talking to an attorney! that just doesn't sound right.
 
Kristie said:
so what is your expertise in?


sorry about the way it went down...but at least you didn't endure that type of hardship for too long. def agree with everyone else about talking to an attorney! that just doesn't sound right.
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Survey research and statistics.

I have put in a call to an employment attorney. My wife agreed with you guys, it was worth an inquiry. I was told that I would have a 90-day probationary period, and I was only given 30-days. Perhaps violation of an expressed contract. Seems like they should owe me two months worth of pay. We'll see anyways.
 
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