I was embarrassed and didn't want to talk about it but now I am...
A few weeks after being married we headed out on a family
vacation, I was worried about leaving my job again for a week and stressed
about it a lot but I also knew spending this time with my new family was really
important.
I spent the week prior finishing all my projects and
training the secretary on how to do the part of my job that she could. I worked
hard that week trying to finish all the paperwork for every single employee so
that we could finally get health benefits. I along with my coworker did over 20
interviews and found six solid new employees. I finished the design and orders
for the new apparel. I set up lunch for our 80+ employees. And I set up an
awesome system so that my coworkers would have an easier time getting through
all the resumes and interviews for the week I was gone. All the while making
sure to take down any absences, dealing with employee dissatisfaction and
having to fire some employees.
All in all I ROCKED it and left feeling good about what I did.
On my way back I called to check into work to find out they
had an awesome week finding new employees and getting stuff done while I was
gone, so I was excited to get and join them.
When I got to work the next morning one of my bosses called
me in to tell me that they were firing me, without explanation they told me to
sign a piece of paper and to pack up my office. On the paper I read I was being fired for
insubordination.
Like a criminal they sent in someone to watch me pack up my
stuff and make sure I wouldn’t steal anything. After almost a year of taking the company
credit card, buy gifts and gift cards for all our employees, never ONCE taking
anything for myself and they had to watch me pack up my office?
I begged for some sort of clarity and the boss said he had
overheard me complain about my work load and that I said I wouldn’t do my work.
Mind you he “overheard” and because of that he didn’t hear correctly and just
assumed that I meant I wouldn’t do my work.
I will admit that I had complained about my large work load
with little pay but I worked for a startup and couldn’t expect much more. My
understanding of insubordination would mean that I had blatantly had chosen to
not to do my work, but clearly I had done it all before I left and if that
truly was the issue they should have let me go before I left on vacation.
After weeks of anger and frustration at myself and
completely failing on my interviews do to a lack of confidence in myself I
received a phone call from my other boss checking in on me.
I couldn’t hold back my frustration and wondered why he was
calling when I left the company on such a bad note. He then apologized unaware
of the whole situation. Apparently their decision was solely based on the fact
that they were able to get all the things done without me. All the policies and
procedures I had put into place were working and it made sense to make a cut to
lower their bottom line.
It had nothing to do with me. I was supposed to be laid off,
not fired. Knowing the other boss well I concluded his reasoning for putting
that I was fired instead of laid off was to avoid any unemployment situations.
It is very easy to get unemployment when you have been laid off and then the
companies insurance goes up.
Still frustrated I applied for unemployment out of spite and
won. I only collected one week even though I was out for two months but I felt
like I was wrong for pushing for it out of spite and not total necessity.
Business is business and I get why I was let go. If they
could cut cost and still get the work done then I am fine with that. What I will never be o.k with was how I was
let go and how I was treated after I put my whole heart into the company. I
really do wish them the best of luck in the endeavors and hope they find
success.
As of a few weeks ago I decided to go back to substitute
teaching and I am loving it. Even though I am only in a class for a day or less
I feel like I have a chance to make a difference in some kids life and
hopefully excite them about education.
I may not officially be an Ironman Woman but I continue to
be tested in more ways then I ever dreamt of in my life and am becoming an
Ironman Woman mentally and hopefully physically. I am grateful for the
hardships that are shaping me into the woman I want to be and hopefully I will
actually learn from my mistakes, grow stronger, and be better.
Tune in next time for Part 2 of why I haven’t been blogging.
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