Mixed Feelings About Being Fired

[Imagebuffet]

I am mulling over the events of this last week, and this last year.

I worked for my former employer--first as a temp, then as a full hire--for more than 10 years. I was a computer help desk tech for 2 years, then forced into logistics parts expedite for the next 8 years. I never wanted to work in logistics or call management, and over the years I often looked for employment elsewhere.

When I first came to the parts expedite department, I had a run-in with one of the other workers in the department. It was the end of the regular work day, and I was in training, but my trainer had already left for the day. I still had a half-hour to go, and I was the only person in the room. As I glanced around the desks around me, I spotted a newspaper, which I picked up and began reading. This other co-worker entered the room and angrily confronted me for reading a newspaper on the job, chastising me for even having a newspaper, as magazines and newspapers were banned from the department. I protested that my trainer had left for the day, but the co-worker snapped at me, saying that I should then spend my time reading my training materials. I wrote a letter to my supervisors, stating that I would never work for this woman. It turns out I was wrong.

I went through a lot of ups and downs over the next 8 years, and I saw a lot of changes. That co-worker left the department, became a call manager, then became a supervisor over another small department. I saw how she ran her department with strictness. Meanwhile, my department went through a handful of supervisors. The company never really knew what to do with my department, and kept shifting it around the organizational tree. But, after 8 years, the VP finally put my department under the supervision of my one-time co-worker, the woman who had snapped at me for reading that newspaper.

I was alarmed as soon as I found out that she was taking over the department. I raised every protest that I could, but to no avail. Soon after she became supervisor, some people in another department went on the Internet and found my nude modeling profile. They were put on report. Then, a week later, I was put on report, on the tenuous grounds that I had supplied a link to my photographer's profile to a co-worker. When I pointed out I didn't even have a modeling profile at the time I sent the link, and my link was only to my photographer's profile, the company dropped the report against me. But, it became the habit of my supervisor to put people on report quickly, as soon as there was any hint that someone had done something that she didn't like, and she defended her actions vigorously against our protests.

I could go into detail, showing what I believe are severely distorted priorities in the company in general and in that department in particular, but I have decided to withhold this information for now. Instead, I will say that, despite my performance evaluations to the contrary, I was fired for "performance," having been put on written report several times over the last year for not complying with her work standards.

I know that people say that employers in Texas can fire for no reason at all, but incidents such as I've experienced make me think the law ought to be changed. What my employer did to us, and to me in particular, was not ethical or right. I could have had a good career, but my former employer was too obstinate, obtuse and short-sighted. The only reason it is still in business is that it is so big that it can afford to lose billions of dollars a year.

[Todd Lambert]

That sucks, I'm sorry to read your story.

I've had similar issues with lots of smaller companies in the past. I learned long ago that companies have no allegiance to their employees anymore. It is not like it was in the past. You can not plan on retirement with a company like you used to be able to. Companies see employees as a necessary evil and they will let you go whenever it is deemed necessary to them (hard times, profit, etc..)

Because of this, I have treated companies the same way that they treat me. (I am, by nature, very dedicated to my work and I often go the extra mile just because it is who I am).

My best consolatory advice to you would be to take it on the chin, and move on as quickly as possible. Believe that it happened for a purpose. You were not supposed to be there anymore. Your direction has been changed because it was meant to. There is another path that you need to go now and by all means go make that path happen.

Best wishes to you, as I know it is hard, especially after that long of a period of time (my longest employment has been about 6 years, with most jobs lasting about two years).

[Imagebuffet]

Thanks, Todd.

Being fired isn't so bad. I've spent the last few days out enjoying this beautiful weather, working on my garden and getting on with the rest of my life. Of course, problems are going to come up quickly if I don't find another source of income, soon. But, getting fired was a relief. I hated that job. That's the main thing that really irks me; those people made my life miserable for no good reason. All they do is screw up the company and make our lives miserable. My department was often made the scape-goat for other people's screw-ups. Do you think any other department had a standard set that after 5 mistakes, their personnel would be fired? None of the other departments was banned from using the Internet for any personal use. While my department was getting killed from non-stop work, the folks across the aisle from us were watching movies. And the pay! I was surprised to learn that the starting salary for a nude art model at Collin College (a 2-year college) is higher than my salary after 10 years with the company.

[CaptainTom]

Unemployment insurance can help pay some of the bills until you find new work.

[chrismg67]

Richard, I am sorry to hear about your situation.

Tom, unfortunately if you are FIRED from a job, you cannot collect unemployment.

[Truckman]

Originally Posted by chrismg67

Tom, unfortunately if you are FIRED from a job, you cannot collect unemployment.

I thought it was the other way around......Ben

[ChristopherCoy]

No offense, but only having your side of the story, and reading the few paragraphs above, I might have fired you too.

In the case of your trainer leaving you alone, it probably wasn't the best idea to read the newspaper, and instead your supervisor was right in my opinion; you should have been reading your training material. During our training, when we have downtime, it is our responsibility to read our PDO's and Personnel Manuals, and when an employee doesn't they can be written up for improper use of time.

Overall, it sounds like you held a grudge and 'protested' everything she did and anytime you had an opportunity, whether it was ethical or not. One thing that I've learned is that in this economy, you smile, knodd, and do as your told otherwise you end up exactly where you are.

As for the whole nude photography thing, personally I think that what you do on your own time should be your own business, but sadly that isn't how its seen in the working world. People are fired all the time for doing things that are 'unbecoming behavior and may tarnish the companies image.'

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by Imagebuffet

I was surprised to learn that the starting salary for a nude art model at Collin College (a 2-year college) is higher than my salary after 10 years with the company.

Since you like to be nude so much, have you checked out the colonies out west of here. Perhaps they are looking for grounds keepers and such...

Armadillo Resort - Home Page

There used to be another one called Vista Grande Ranch, but it seems the owners have passed away and the family didn't want no' mo' nekkid people.

[TxLerman]

Obviously you and your supervisor/co-worker did not get along. Regardless of who is at fault, going our separate ways is probably for the best. We've all worked with/for people that we don't get along with for a variety of reasons.

[Digigeek]

Originally Posted by chrismg67

Richard, I am sorry to hear about your situation.

Tom, unfortunately if you are FIRED from a job, you cannot collect unemployment.

If you quit, no UI.

If you're fired, it depends on the reason and how the employer documented it in the personnel file. Essentially, the employer has to have "good cause" for the firing.

If can get somewhat complicated, but I would file and see what happens. TWC is generally employee oriented.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Unemployment insurance can help pay some of the bills until you find new work.

I filed for UI the day I was fired. I have to start documenting my work search on Monday. I already had a profile on TXWF, because I expected to be fired in January, so I signed up.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

No offense, but only having your side of the story, and reading the few paragraphs above, I might have fired you too.

Yeah, I am leery of posting enough details for people to understand why what they did is wrong. OK, how about this:

I worked there for 10 years. All of my performance evaluations came back as fully satisfactory, meaning that I accomplished 100% of what was expected of me. All of my QC checks came back 90% to 100% perfect. In 9 years, I had never been put on report. Then, this new supervisor takes over the department, and in 1 year, I was put on report half a dozen times. But, even she signed off that my performance evaluation was fully satisfactory.

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

In the case of your trainer leaving you alone, it probably wasn't the best idea to read the newspaper, and instead your supervisor was right in my opinion; you should have been reading your training material. During our training, when we have downtime, it is our responsibility to read our PDO's and Personnel Manuals, and when an employee doesn't they can be written up for improper use of time.

That wasn't our corporate culture. Our employee handbook at the time specifically stated that, as long as our work was up to date, we were free to surf the Internet. Also, our "training manuals" were the notes that we had taken of what we were told, because no one had documented our procedures at that time. And, now with 8 years of hindsight, I can assure you that spending that extra half-hour studying my notes would not have made any practical difference to my performance.

The corporate world seems to be full of mind games that serve no function apart from being easy things for a supervisor to cite in a performance review.

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

Overall, it sounds like you held a grudge and 'protested' everything she did and anytime you had an opportunity, whether it was ethical or not.

I understand it sounds that way, even though that isn't the case. I worked with her just fine when she was in other departments, and we were cordial with each other. I was able to be civil, even courteous and friendly with her, for years, as she was with me. However, it was no secret to anyone that she is a "bulldog," and is highly demanding. I had no problem with her being in some other department, but there was no way that I wanted to work for her.

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

One thing that I've learned is that in this economy, you smile, knodd, and do as your told otherwise you end up exactly where you are.

That's just the problem; that supervisor's standards are so high, no one could meet them. That supervisor says it is only hear-say, but I know directly from the other people in the department that she put all the regular employees on report multiple times. I don't know if the VP intends to grind the department into non-existence (possible), but the head count has gone from 9 people a year ago, down to 4 people currently (most who are gone quit on their own).

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

As for the whole nude photography thing, personally I think that what you do on your own time should be your own business, but sadly that isn't how its seen in the working world. People are fired all the time for doing things that are 'unbecoming behavior and may tarnish the companies image.'

The reason I was put on report for the nude modeling (not the nude photography, but the nude modeling) was that management was concerned that by sending a link to a co-worker of me naked, I could be sexually harassing that person. The fact that I did not send such a link is the reason the report was reversed.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

Since you like to be nude so much, have you checked out the colonies out west of here. Perhaps they are looking for grounds keepers and such...

Armadillo Resort - Home Page

There used to be another one called Vista Grande Ranch, but it seems the owners have passed away and the family didn't want no' mo' nekkid people.

Thanks for the idea and the URL, but that would be quite a commute for me. I just bought this house late last year. If I leave within 3 years, I have to repay the tax incentive that I got for buying it.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by chrismg67

Richard, I am sorry to hear about your situation.

Tom, unfortunately if you are FIRED from a job, you cannot collect unemployment.

That is NOT CORRECT.

If you were fired for MISCONDUCT you will not be eligible.
If you QUIT you are likely not eligible but there are exceptions.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

That is NOT CORRECT.

If you were fired for MISCONDUCT you will not be eligible.
If you QUIT you are likely not eligible but there are exceptions.

The rumor I've heard is that the last person my department let go for performance was reported to the UI as a layoff, for UI purposes. I'm wondering if that is the direction that my termination will go? I understand that is fairly standard, unless the person whose employment is terminated raises a big stink or makes threats or spreads false information. The company is fairly tolerant, as long as it gets its way.