Very Bad Day
 

My step-grandfather passed away this morning at 4AM. He'd been ill and in hospice care, but I hadn't seen him before the decline that put him in hospice. My nanny and he are down in south Texas, and with school and work I can't make it down there. I found out about his passing right before going into work, so immediately went and told my manager and called in an employee to replace me. The replacement wouldn't be able to make it for two hours or so, so I was nice and stayed to help out. We get busy, I need extra help. So I go ask the only person that isn't dealing with customers to help. That's the dishwasher, V, we get along OK but it doesn't seem to matter how nice I try to be to him, he thinks I'm bossy and bitchy. He doesn't come help after the first time I ask him, and I'm not even sure he heard me the first time, so I go ask a second time a bit louder, and with a bit more desperation (we're really swamped). He comes up front starts helping, then stops to start griping me out about how I asked him for help, that I was rude blah blah blah. I know I had said please. I'm stuck where I'm at tryin to expo and keep track of all my tickets (and a few orders that had been messed up). I'm just tryin to tell him I hadn't yelled at him blah blah blah...I feel jumpy, cornered, and damn defensive by this point. The manager walks up to me, "What's wrong." I don't know why I did but I jumped and told him "He needs to leave me alone, I'll quit." The "quit" part might've been a yell...
I immediately realized I'd freaked, brought my tone down and mngr and I went to the office. I try to explain to mngr about the prob and previous probs (and this isn't my first complaint either), he tells me to go ahead and go and do what I need to do today. So I leave.
About 3, mom and I are on our way home from the funeral home and making arrangements, same mngr calls me. "Well I talked to the GM and we're going to go ahead and terminate you."
Motherfuckingcuntkickingbootlickingasswipes.

I'm so sorry about your step-grandfather. *HUG*

And I'm sure you'll be able to get another job soon. But 1st concentrate on being there for yourself and your family.

oh, MTP, what an awful day. I'm sorry to hear about your step-grandfather... and the situation at work certainly didn't help :( -big hugs- I hope things start looking up for you shortly!

MTP it's horrible to get rejection on top of loss.
I'm sure you know they're not a place worth working for, especially if they can effectively fire you over the phone during a period of grief.

Be angry and hurt, then put it behind you. You have more important things to focus on than a bunch of sods like that.

You will find work again soon, and the chances are it will be a better place, because their actions have proved what a bad place it was for you.

Go ahead. Have tourettes...let it go...Lemme help...

Those guys are major fucktards for terminating someone that had a death in the family.

I am now very hesitant about coming in to work at a restaraunt on Sunday. That's how petty people are all the time, at these kinds of places. hmmm...

This gives you plenty of time to find something better.

I'm so sorry about your step-grandpa. Ditto what everyone else said, they're not worth working for.

Many times I've found that terrible things do tend to pile one upon another, and always - almost always - there's a silver lining buried in there someplace. It may take a while to find it.

BTW I swore a LONG time ago I would never again work in food service. My DH was a restaurant cook for a long time, too. Blech.

Oh that Sucks bad , watch out from my experence this shit generly comes in 3's !!!!

Quoted for Truth.

You're right; that's a very bad day. Here's hoping your future days will all be better!

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, both your grandfather and your job. My sympathies to your loss. And as for your job, is it okay for the manager to just fire you like that? You didn't turn in any kinds of notices, and you had permission to leave.

Fuck them. They're assholes.

My condolences.

Aw, I'm sorry moar, that all sucks... :sniff:

terrible news

I feel for ya. Take care

Sure it's ok. The overwhelming majority of jobs in the US are "at will," which basically means you can be fired any time for any reason--or none at all. Quality employers will actually have procedures to follow, and may even offer a severance payment if you're terminated "without cause," but even then they rarely give up their right to fire when ready.

That's just awful, MTP. My condolences for your loss but, honey, as far as th job goes----be HAPPY. They sound like a bunch of losers and you need to move on. Change is good. Change is right. Embrace it and you will see how it helped you grow.

You're in my thoughts!!

When you quit you move on and get a new job. When you are terminated, you can go file for unemployment and coast for a couple months and then get a new job.

Congratulations, you're better off without the worthless bastards.

Sorry to hear about Step-Grampy.

Take care of yourself and your family first.

Forget about everything else.

It sounds like the job sucked, so take a deep breath and look for a better one. You might be able to take some comfort that if things are really that tight there and you were even moderately good at your job, firing you probably hurt them more that it did you. Training new hires takes time. A few weeks with a newbie will be good payback for your ex-manager.

You could always post the name of the place here, so if anyone ever Googles it, they can see what assholes they are.

My name is Barack Obama and I approve this message.

Very sorry to hear this, mtp. In 10 years, you will remember your step-grandpa, and you will hardly remember which crappy job you had at that time. Go apply for the unemployment check and start looking for the "next great thing".

Ya'll are completely right that I'm way better off without them. I am going to go to the district manager to discuss the issue, and I felt there was some harassment and sexism that needs to be addressed. The district manager is a female, she might be sympathetic, I don't want my job back or anything, but I still have friends who work there, they shouldn't have to go through what I did. For now I'm taking this week easy, mourning, doin homework ect. I have a job for next week, I'm filling in for my mom's assistant, I should be able to find a job with holiday season coming up and all, if not I do have some savings, maybe I qualify for unemployment. I'm already moving back into my parents in Dec, so I don't have to think too long term.

Good for you - You are young and that was not a "career job" anyway.
Keep your head up and do what you gotta do!

If you are going to the DM there are things you can do/say to get some satisfaction. How long were you there? Did you have any vacation time coming? Is there a policy for a death in the family, sometimes grandparents count. Did anyone witness any "inappropriate behavior by a superior? Do you know what they consider inappropriate? There are some things to think about and then action may be taken.

Like that scene in Repo Man where the other repo guys go to Otto's former boss's house and beat the crap out of him, I'm calling on all dwellars to stop at that restaurant and leave a top decker.

Worked there 3yrs.
No, no one would witnessed a superior being inappropriate, the employee who harassed me was the dishwasher. I had every right to ask him to come help up front, I'm his superior (associate trainer), and to be clear I did ask, he decided that since I had to come ask twice and the second time I raised my voice for his apparent faulty hearing, that I was being rude. He wouldn't acknowledge me when I asked the first time, so I tried a second time assuming he might not have heard properly. Then he does finally come up front and gripes me out for it. I know there were a few girls around, but its loud in there and I'm not really sure what they heard. The manager who finally came over didn't even hear anything I said properly except for the word, "quit." The dishwasher is the main source of sexism/harassment feelings (there had been an incident a few weeks before.) When I talked to the GM on the phone, he seemed to feel that the dishwasher "Being a grown man" shouldn't have to listen to a young girl ect. Oh, and I was also told to leave "my family troubles at home." Yeah, on the day my g-pa died.

Oh and yes I have some vacation hours, I'm planning on making sure I get my pay for them.

People suck. WTF is it with people anyway? No goddamn souls, most of 'em.

Condolences on gramps' passing. Use the newfound time to be there for everyone.

I still believe that you were fired without cause and are due AT LEAST 2 weeks pay plus any time accrued for vacation. Add to that another 2 weeks for mental duress and tell them you won't have to consult ANOTHER ATTORNEY. See what happens form there - At least that will buy you some time to find another position and not have to worry about money.

I am NOT an attorney nor do I pretend to be one on the cellar - I'm just sayin' what I think there is no legal basis for any of this that I can quote you. I do, however, believe I'm correct and fair in my assessment of due compensation.

That's not how the law works in Texas. She should be paid for unused vacation time, but you can be fired without cause at any time, no questions asked, and no compensation other than time already worked. The only time severence is required is when more than 50 people and/or 33% of the employees are laid off, as required by the WARN Act.

However, I agree she might have a case (or at least enough to threaten a case) for sexual discrimination/harassment, if she had previous issues with this particular coworker and the part about being a "grown man" taking orders from a "young girl" was a direct quote from the manager.

I had a part-timer and my manager was a bitch when my fiance died. She didn't want to give me time off for the funeral or to make any arrangements. She could see that I was dead-set on it, but clearly thought I was making it up to get out of work. I wasn't fired for it, but when I got back 2 days later I got a run down of every occurrence that happened because I wasn't there to cover my shifts. I was then put on "probation" and I would be watched. I should have quit when she sassed me just for the suggestion that I might need time off. I never should have taken such a stupid job in the first place. So I was begrieved and continued to work my ass off until I got something better, but she made my life hell the whole time. I was her special project. Thinking about everything that she put me through during that time makes me want to go find her and punch her in her mouth. She would tell me my money didn't add up to the tickets, and take the cash. Then take the cash that I "owed" to make the register add up. I was not allowed to count my own tickets as it would take time out of work. So she ripped me off on a daily basis. I was younger than I am now though...a lot younger.

My point? It was probably a good thing that you were let go. You sound like a great worker, but sometimes good workers are stubborn and can't give up. They released you from bondage. Enjoy. Find something better to do with better people. Everyone has options, you just have to make something better happen.

I wouldn't file charges. I would just silently watch the good old dishwasher go to jail for something worse. Because, that probably isn't the worst of that guy's problems. Go back and check in a year. :) Be a customer. See how well he isn't doing, then proceed to give them hell and make sure to let them know exactly how successful you have been. :) Of course I am vindictive so don't listen to me.....

Hmm...I have to go make some calls.......heh.:D

Most jobs, especially those in the service sector, are basically at the employer's pleasure. Unless you can prove systematic harassment or some other violation of specific human rights or employment law, you're fucked.

FTR - I lost my waitressing job when I was 15 because I went on an extended school trip to France. Funny, I always think about it in the Autumn (I was there 21 years ago now!). It was a big deal, only the best French students in the year got to go, we attended a French school and lived with a French family etc etc.

I tried to explain to the Manager, Simon, how long I would be gone. He brushed me off by telling me to write it on a napkin and put it in the weekly rota file (the usual deal with requests for time off). He wasn't interested in hearing that I would be gone for more than a week. So I wrote down the to and from dates and put it in.

Despite my best friend AND my sister working in the same restaurant (thanks girls!) I came back to find he'd put me down for shifts each and every weekend I was gone. Weeks and weeks, and as I hadn't turned up I was sacked.

About a month later he'd moved on and I was formally asked back by the new Manager (who'd trained under him and knew me). But by then I had a supermarket job which left my evenings free... and my first boyfriend with which to occupy them - nomnomnom.

I realise this is dangerously close to saying things happen for the best. I don't mean that, it's just an anecdote about jumped up restaurant managers who love to rule their little fiefdom. But then as Sheelagh Pugh states, Sometimes things don't go, after all, from bad to worse. And that at least I can sanction.

i hear this place is hiring:

Kinda update:
Next week I'm hoping to meet with the GM. I want to make him fully aware of V's past harassment and sexist actions. Also aware of how at least one of his own comments came off as sexist to me. I'm not an inflammatory, I don't go crying "Sexism! Rape!" but this is a case where I really do feel strongly about it. If GM doesn't seem to take it seriously I will talk to T, the District Manager. She needs to be aware of it in that case, and I will be sure to mention the GM's own part in it. My mom wants me to beg for my job back because I should "leave on my own terms," I told her I will not do that. I would rather starve on the street then lower me to that level.

I did go visit my old cafe (the one i transferred from) and GM there was very sympathetic. He really is nice and although I sincerely doubt he reads this: I owe him an apology, I have not given him due respect for his niceness. I have often claimed he is false, and in this respect I think I am wrong. All my old peeps were there too! I miss them like crazy and its so awesome to see then. My chick Patty is HUGE with a new baby! OK OK I digress.

Next week I have a temp job. Filling in for my mom's assistant, J, who is a very close family friend. Also giving her old dog Sally some midday attention since her boys will all be gone most of the day.

December I hope to get a job working at the company J's boys and husband work at. They have an opening then that will be awesome for me, full time, 6-2:30, $14-$16hr prob. So I'll still have time to take evening classes and web classes.

In between I'm workin on getting a retail job, I'm not too worried since its getting to be holiday season and I'm in the Dallas market. So hopefully I can get something with close to my old pay rate and ride out the rest of the year.

I feel great about it all.

My nanny is in town tonight, my grandpap's viewing is tomorrow night. I hate those things, but I will be there for my nanny. Friday is his funeral, I'm not sure if we're getting together after to celebrate his life with eating. I'm happy to get him settled though. I miss him, and more importantly I missed many opportunities to learn about him when he was alive. That hurts, but I'm sure he knew that I loved him, and maybe I'll get a second chance in the next life.
We've been working on remodeling nanny's house, and its in shambles, BUT it will be OK. We're gettin there. I like all the construction though I think its fun. Its a good opportunity for me to learn some "man skills," I've always been interested in carpentry and such. I think my dad likes it too, he's a workaholic though.

Anyway, thanks all for the uplifting comments and advice. :grouphug:

You're handling this in a well thought out and mature way.
Good for you - it's not easy when strong emotions are involved.

Hope everything goes as well as it can do with your Grandpop's viewing/ funeral.