Well, I got Fired!

[Flamingo]

After reading your postings and the responses, you do have rights as an employee and I am not certain why you put up with all you have put up with over the years. Especially if you had several years with the employer and have a good resume lineup to get another good paying job. No one should have to put up with abuse of any kind on the job if they are a good employee and not abusing the work system by always beig late, missing work (like not coming in on Fridays or Mondays), etc. It sounds in your situation that you are/were a dedicated, loyal employee coming to work all the time and it sounds like you were asking for vacation time in advance over and above what you had accumulated. Just to keep this brief, if you were "fired" (I cannot determine if that actually occurred from your postings or just given the opportunity to leave), then you are entitled to unemployment. If you resigned as he asked you to do, you are not eligible for unemployment. In any event, I would contact the Dept. of Labor in your state, explain the situation, and see if you may have any recourse against your employer for what you state is "punishment" while other employees did not have hours docked from their pay. That is discrimination if they are showing favoritism. Secondly, if you were fired, you need to go file for unemployment immediately.

If you were at this employer for the length of time you state, you have some good things to put on a resume. You will need to prepare one and flood the job market with that resume and start networking - contacting those you know or have worked with in the past for job openings. There are jobs out there but the competition is fierce - you have to really sell yourself.

I am truly sorry to hear you had to put up with all that stuff over the years. Folks who really need their jobs and put up with stuff from bad/abusive employers just so they can have a job and continue working to support themselves and their families should not have to put up with all that they do, but it does go on. You should not be belittled on a job for anything. I would certainly talk to someone immediately at the Dept. of Labor about your situation.

As to the vacation time, if you are over sick or vacation time when you are fired or leave a position, they deduct those hours from your final paycheck. That is usually standard company policy for most businesses. They can deduct other things as would be stated in your employee manual and/or company policy given to you at hire.

As to moving, only you can decide that in this economy and job market. Some areas have lots of jobs available, some are so depressed it is not worth even considering moving there. You will need to figure out first as to what, if anything, you are going to do about your lost job and see what is available in your area before you consider looking for a job elswhere because relocating is expensive and unless a new employer pays for moving/relocating, it can be a tough decision.

Best of luck to you and it sounds like you have the will and determination to get through all this!

[One Half Full]

Thanks for the clarification on getting unemployment. What happened is he said "I have no other choice than to..." and I said before he said "fire you," "maybe I should resign. Would that look better on my resume?" I guess he's trying to avoid giving me unemployment insurance too. If they are going to deduct money from my paycheck, then I will tell him he is going to need to fire me, so I can get unemployment, if he refuses to fire me, I will tell him that I immediately went to everyone in the department and told exactly what went on in that meeting (which is true) Right now I am deliberately breaking the rules. He did have me sign a confidentiality memo, but it was under duress. I was forced to do it because I thought I would be fired. I did not agree with it. I signed it the same way a torture victim would sign a confession. Out of fear.
Getting rid of the fear though took only a few more pushes and I am in Full Rebellion mode.

He'll fire me the first time I miss work without calling (and it is strange, I have worked there 10 years and have never missed a day except when I had a broken leg). This is almost like people who have paid their bills on time for years but who get no pity when they miss for the first time.

These people created this situation. As I say, I work nights, I have no friends because I came from another state. The only friends I have in the world are the people from work. I came to the state and started working there shortly after. Now, he is telling me I am not allowed to talk about anything that goes on at work with my fellow employees, who are also my only friends and confidantes. He's telling me that I am not allowed to talk to anyone, and yet I don't get paid enough to hire a counselor. Talk about marginalizing and isolating a person for abuse. I understand that there are confidentiality issues, but frankly, what he and I have discussed in his office are not things that I consider "confidential." Once a person does something to me, it becomes part of my history, and I can take it anywhere I like. On the other hand, if it was about trade secrets, or someone's account, I would keep it confidential. What he wants me to do is to keep silent about the random punishment. I've been abused in this job before. Another manager followed me for 6 years, peeking in my window and jumped me once. I was too afraid to lose my job to say anything. But now this guy is banking that I am too afraid to lose my job to take this mental abuse. Punishing me has not made me more liable to conform to his crazy new policy, it has made it simply more liable that I get in continual trouble because I am not a submissive person. If a person pushes me, I push back. If a person treats me with dignity and respect, I do likewise. I do a job that takes years to train a person to do properly, and yet they are saying it requires no skill. Oh well-- just a rant, I guess. It does me good to get it off my chest.

[BKOnce]

The problem with "Blogs" nowadays that any boss/company can read any employee's thoughts about him/her/company, so won't it many any difference for a "forum" postings, especially FAMOUS & KNOWN at this TOUGH economy/time like BKForum.com, from any other so-called "blog"!??.. No real names required... just a "right" amount of information, a enough description of the problem and situation/environment around the postings... anyone familiar with it can see/read it later...

Just think about it... sooner or later... anyone can read anyone nowadays on the Internet age or Virtual World... ...My prediction will come true.


Btw, I hate "Google" or "Giggle"... its stock is near $600 per share, and EVERYONE (including a small child in elementary) ... KNOW how to use/communicate/inquire/search/explore... its extensive knowledge with experience!

[One Half Full]

'tis true. I wonder where to get the software to figure out who is lurking behind the name. Wouldn't the employee have to give someone that information?

[MajorMike]

Where the hell do you work??? You need to call the labor board on this arse!!

My manager did not say the words "fired," but that is what he did. I want to quit, badly. Since that &*)%# STARTED, I've wanted to leave. On his first day, he dragged me into the office and had me crying out of fear of losing my job. He's been singling me out for punishment for six years. When I see him, I want to vomit. Get ill, sick. weeping like a child while he stared impassively through those reptilian eyes. Yet I took it. The assistant manager is an alcoholic who sides with him out of gratitude for allowing him to leave to drink. going into work is humiliating. I am so happy. I am a bit afraid of what will come. I didn't want to lose the house, but frankly, easy come, easy go. With the BK I need to make only something like 1,500.00 per month. That's all to save the house. (this is a cheap part of the country so that is a lot of money).

[sillyme934]

Wow TXbluebonnet, your situation is almost like mine. 8 yrs ago hubby's job transferred him to texas, then after 2 yrs closed the business. Told him I missed my family so we came back to Michigan. Have been here 5 yrs don't get to see my mom because my brother and his wife live there and I cant stand her, plus I hate the weather here. Will be filing bk on Tuesday and after we save enough money are moving back to texas. I really miss it.

[Flamingo]

TXbluebonnet - The best thing for you to do is get yourself to the Dept. of Labor and tell them your story. They are the only folks right now that can actually do anything for you if you actually want to pursue doing anything. No one needs to work in an environment such as that and you need to protect yourself because you will have to use that place as a reference for future employment. Focus your energy on protecting yourself in this situation and report the idiot.

As to confidentiality agreements - when you sign one of those, you are not to discuss anything business related with anyone, including family, or anyone else in the office, discuss things on elevators in the public, etc. about business matters nor are you to send company business via email or other communications about the company without company permission. You should have been given a copy of that when you were hired and have to resign it each year or as changes are made.

[TX Bluebonnet]

Sillyme934: I visit my family every few years and a brief visit is all it takes to get rid of any crazy ideas about ever moving back. Texas is home now. Good luck with everything!

Flamingo: The dept of labor probably won't be interested in any of my stories.

[One Half Full]

As to confidentiality agreements - when you sign one of those, you are not to discuss anything business related with anyone, including family, or anyone else in the office, discuss things on elevators in the public, etc. about business matters nor are you to send company business via email or other communications about the company without company permission. You should have been given a copy of that when you were hired and have to resign it each year or as changes are made.

The confidentiality issue was only created in the department because of this. And, I personally do not want to work for a company that pays "McDonalds" wages and is abusive if they say that I cannot discuss the abuse with anyone. The only time I am ever brought in the office is to bully me.

Someone also stated that I should stay in the good graces of the company in order to get a good referral. The only referral this company gives is that I worked there. They will not say anything about my work record, good, or bad. So I really won't get any "good" reference from them.

[Flamingo]

Sillyme934:
Flamingo: The dept of labor probably won't be interested in any of my stories.

Whoops! You are right....I meant the OP - sorry!

[Flamingo]

The confidentiality issue was only created in the department because of this. And, I personally do not want to work for a company that pays "McDonalds" wages and is abusive if they say that I cannot discuss the abuse with anyone. The only time I am ever brought in the office is to bully me.

Someone also stated that I should stay in the good graces of the company in order to get a good referral. The only referral this company gives is that I worked there. They will not say anything about my work record, good, or bad. So I really won't get any "good" reference from them.

You can certainly discuss the "abuse" with the Dept. of Labor! It sounds like they are doing a lot in the hopes you will "quit" so they don't have to fire you to pay you unemployment. They are probably keeping a record of things about you to use against you in the event you do file suit against them. It's up to you how you want to pursue this if at all. If this company has treated employees like this in the past, the Dept. of Labor will know about it.

[sisterfunkhaus]

if you were "fired" (I cannot determine if that actually occurred from your postings or just given the opportunity to leave), then you are entitled to unemployment.

My husband was fired and was not able to receive unemployment. They (unemployment office) told him that his company objected b/c he was fired and that he could only receive it if he was laid off. We tried fighting it and had no recourse. He didn't even do anything either. It was a hearsay thing.

[One Half Full]

Well, I will lose my house either way, fired or laid off, I was laready behind and paying a month behind. Oh, this was not a good paying job, it was horrible, the average here is about 20-23$ per hour, and I made 12$ per hour. If I had known when I first began that I would only be making that amount after 10 years, I would never have taken the job. My life has been ruined. The pay was acceptable a while ago. We had plenty of overtime and a 100% retirement plan. We had holiday pay. I even got part time jobs occasionally because I got off work at a reasonable hour, now I get off work at 4 am and sleep most of the day. As far as I was concerned, they were paying for me to be there and do a mundane job. The big change was that they got rid of the night manager and made us make major decisions, without management status. They also allowed the support personale to have regular day time hours even though most of the work goes on at nights. We don't have IT or mechanics, and if a machine goes down it is my ass. I get sent home without pay for making the "wrong" management decisions, and I am not a manager. I am doing a job I am not getting paid for. I've been constantly punished because about 6 months ago I pressed the wrong button on a machine. All of this could have been avoided if we had a manager.

[JRScott]

A confidentiality agreement cannot remove your legal rights. Thus I highly suspect this one wouldn't hold up water, because they can't remove your legal right to file a claim with the labor department.

Honestly I'd go file one if I was you. Nothing may come of it, but you have no idea how many others there may also have filed such claims. It could help or help someone else down the road.

[One Half Full]

I just want to wash my hands of it. The fact that I am in the stages of a BK at this time in a way, makes it easy to just totally cut ties with this company. They have never done me any favor.