I Think I'm About To Get Fired

[Princess_Aurora]

I guess I should start this post by saying I swear my boss is psycho. I know a lot of people probably think that about their bosses, but I think mine really is. About a week ago I was working in court filling in for the official court reporter. It all started with a simple misunderstanding. I was in the offical reporter's office working on some transcipts and I guess the staff didn't know I had already came back from lunch. The clerk called my boss to find out if I was there because they were about to start a hearing. After she called her, she found me in the office and told me I was needed in the courtroom. Well, after I was done for the day I had about 10 messages from my boss wondering where I was. Apparently she thought I never came back that day. Once I finally convinced her that I was actually there she seemed a little better. Then I asked her if I was needed in court for the next day. She told me she wasn't sure and to ask the clerk before I left. So I asked the clerk and she said they only had two things on the docket for the next day and the first one was at 9:30. My boss called me later that day to find out if I had to be in court and I told her that they would need me around 9.

Fast foward to the next day. I show up at 8:30...a good hour before the first thing on the docket. Well, apparently my boss had to be in the courtroom next door that day and she looked to see if I was in the courtroom on time. Obviously I wasn't there because there was nothing going on. But I guess the fact that there was absolutely no one in the court room didn't mean anything to her. I mean, what am I going to do? Write silence? I was back in the official's office working on my records again...no need in wasting extra time, right? So the 9:30 comes in and only needs about 5 minutes worth of stuff on the record. The next thing on the docket isn't until 1:30. So I go back to the office to print out some of my work and my boss calls me there. (I keep my phone turned off when I'm in court because they WILL fine you for that) The first thing out of her mouth was, "Why didn't you show up in court today? I had to take your docket this morning because you weren't there." I don't know what she was talking about because there was only the one thing on the docket for the morning and, like I said, it was at 9:30. I told her I was there at 8:30 and she said, "Don't lie to me. I looked in the courtroom and you weren't there." I told her I was back in the office and that I don't know what she could have taken from my docket since it was just the one thing and I took that before I left. This kind of left her a little speechless and then she tells me that I need to make sure I'm on time for court. I told her I was there by 8:30 and the clerk told me to just be there before 9. She was like, I don't care what the clerk says, you need to do what I say. Well, first of all she's the one that had to ask me if I needed to be there and she sure didn't say anything about a time, so how is she suppose to know what time I'm suppose to be there?

So now not only has she called me a liar, but for no reason at all she doesn't trust me now. We have a contract with this court for another 6 weeks because the offical just had a baby. So I guess to punish me she took the contract away from me after telling me I could have all 8 weeks and I've already done two.

As if that weren't bad enough, when she hired me she told me I could work from home on Wed, Thur and every other Friday. Not only has she never let me do that, she doesn't even ask me if I can come in. She calls and leaves messages and says stuff like, "I'll see you at 8 tomorrow morning." And whenever you actually talk to her on the phone, she doesn't give you a chance to say a word. She'll be like, "I'll see you tomorrow. Bye." and then hangs up immediatly.

So I got a call from her today after I was done in court. (She let me go back today because the girl that was filling in for me finally put her foot down and told her she wasn't coming in Friday. This girl only does overflow and she lives over 60 miles from this courthouse and she told her that she could only work Mon and Tues. She ended up twisting her arm and getting her to do Wed and Thur anyway after I had already volunteered to do those days.) So she calls me after court and she's like, I need you to come in tomorrow so I can talk to you. I was like, tomorrow's Saturday. She told me she couldn't talk to me on a week day because things are too hectic. So I'm going in to talk to her at 3 tomorrow to find out my fate. Honestly, I was about to quit anyway. I just can't work for someone who doesn't trust me and thinks I'm a liar. I have one transcript left to get out and I was going to get that done and quit. So I've already been looking for another job.

So I was just wondering...is it best to go in and just say I quit or wait to hear what she has to say and risk actually getting fired. I think either way isn't it going to look bad for me? I mean, it's not like I'm doing anything wrong. I just happen to be working for a psycho boss that thinks I'm a liar and doesn't trust me. Anyone have any advice??? I'm sorry this post is so long, but all this stuff has been going on for a while now. Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Serena]

First of all. You have done nothing wrong. I would go see what she had to say.
I mean if you want to quit anyway, being fired won't be such a big disappointment.
Keep an open mind. If you don't like what she has to say, then give your two weeks notice.

 

[chell]

If I were in your place I would take along my resignation just in case. If at the end of the conversation you haven't been fired and you still want to quit you will have everything you need.

 

[helenabear]

Originally posted by chell


If I were in your place I would take along my resignation just in case. If at the end of the conversation you haven't been fired and you still want to quit you will have everything you need.

ITA! I think if you planned to quit, now would be a very good time to get it all put together. That does not sound like a person I would want to work for at all, especially if they seem to not trust people at all.

Good luck

 

[we3luvdisney]

Just a thought --- you may want to bring a recorder with you.

 

[Dan Murphy]

My best, Aurora.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Man, that really ticks me off! Take your recorder for sure!

 

[mclori]

I'll be thinking of you, Aurora. Make sure you have your recorder. I agree with the others, that it would be wise to have all your ducks in a row with a resignation letter, if it comes down to that.

 

[faithinkarma]

I have no advice to offer that can improve on what the others have said. Just wanted to wish you good luck.

Do take your letter of resignation with you. You will feel better after you have written it. And having it with you will make you feel more powerful during the meeting.

 

[chager]

Hmmm...wondering if the boss I had many years ago has changed careers At first I was going to say be prepared to quit just in case. Then I got to wondering....can you get unemployment if she fires you? I also wondered...would it be possible to speak with HER boss? It would help if you had everything documented, but I would think there should be another person above her.
In my case I did find another job. When I gave my notice I also requested a meeting with HR and the company mediator. I presented both with "The List" which included dates, times, and incidences. I found out that another person went to the mediator a couple months later with a very similar list and complaint. The guy thought this person was me again because he made a comment that they had already discussed these issues. The poor girl had no idea what the guy was talking about and told him she had never been there before and she had only worked at that office for 3 months. The manager was investigated shortly after and moved to an unknown location. (I heard they shipped her out of state to a sister company. I felt sorry for the workers there. )

I do pray everything works out well for you. It sounds like you do need to find another job at any rate.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Chager,
I thought the same thing at first, she should just accept being fired and take the unemployment but then I looked at the bigger picture. I'm sure her boss documented these "absences" from the court room. When she files for unemployment the boss will simply say she wasn't doing her job!

 

[Dancind]

I thought you can't get unemployment if you QUIT, only if you're fired or laid off. It may not matter if you find another job right away. But this doesn't sound like it's worth the stress, for sure.

 

[tiggersmom2]

You can only get unempolyment if you're fired. But if you are fired for a GOOD reason (or so the boss says) you will be denied unempolyment. The most common reason is not doing your job. This could be being late to work, not being where you are suppose to be, talking on the phone, etc. etc.

 

[ripleysmom]

It depends on the state regs but you can collect unemployment for quitting. Some examples are if you quit due to a hostile work environment (boss cursing at you or being subjected to harassment).

If you want to quit, you should quit. Sit down and document thoroughly that your boss has created a hostile work environment (calling you a liar can definitely be considered as such) and a pattern of harassment (taking away your hours, not abiding by the original agreement of allowing you to work out of the house) and file for unemployment.

You will probably be denied initially. If so request an appeal.

If this woman is as unstable as she sounds she may even call you a liar in the documentation that she sends to the court which would corroborate your side of the incidents.

 

[RNMOM]

Isn't there some way to verify your presence in the hearing? You recorded the transcript and they SAW you didn't they? Can you ask any of them to verify your being at work on time those days. How about the Judge or whomever else is there. Certainly their word is stronger than hers.??

 

[shortbun]

I don't understand why there is no way to document your
whereabouts in a court situation. Surely someone knows
you are there! Take a recorder with you or another human
being that you are not related to. There is too much confusion
here for you not to have everything clearly documented. You
also need a statement of some sort from the person who made
the original mistake and called looking for you.

 

[Keli]

I really don't have any more advice than you have already received on this thread but I just wanted to say how sorry I am that this is happening. Is this your first job since you finished school? I remember when you finished and took some test and was so excited about it all. I was really happy for you and I'm sorry that things have worked out like this. I'm sure your next job will be much nicer (and minus a pyscho boss!)

 

[AllyandJack]

I agree with everyone who says to bring your resignation with you. I worked in an awful environment (as an attorney, ironically - maybe it's the legal profession?!?!). I stuck it out for over a year wishing and hoping things would change. Finally, when I started hoping for a car accident every morning just to get me out of having to go there, I decided it wasn't worth it.

Let me tell you about the amazing feeling of quitting! People who treat their employees like that are so arrogant that, when you quit, it is a massive slap in the face. I didn't have another job lined up (still don't, but I'm happier anyway!). This loser actually called me in the office to make the"generous offer" of allowing me to stay until I found another job. I practically laughed in his face! That is when I knew I won and they lost. These people were so desperate to keep me that they actually said I could stay until I found another job and then leave. They said it would benefit me because it would be "extra money" for me. If I needed the money, I wouldn't have quit. This jerk proceeded to tell me how I couldn't collect unemployment and the job market for attorneys is tough, so if I wanted to put myself out there, it was my loss. That was when I told him that my husband makes more money than he does and I didn't need what he called a "salary" to buy the packs of gum that the "salary" managed to buy me. This guy was so transparent, I knew exactly where to hit him hard. He's such a snob and the thought that anyone, let alone one of his employees, was better off than he was was like a kick in the you-know-whats.

I have to admit that this was not the first time I quit. They always managed to talk me back into the job, making promises that never came through. If you don't feel the absolute need to quit today, then don't, but there is a huge freedom in knowing that it is an option and you're not at their mercy. Keep looking for another job though...maybe your time there will be short.

Good luck!!!

 

[floridafam]

I was also going to suggest taking a recorder.

Why is she asking you to come in on a Saturday? Probably because she knows she's wrong and doesn't want to risk you telling anyone what just happened.

Could you have insisted this conversation take place on a weekday?

Good luck. Stay strong.

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

If you really need the money from either the job or unemployment, then I wouldn't quit. I would accept the discharge in the hopes that you can get unemployment. In my state if you quit at this time for those reasons you would not get unemployment. The tape recorder is not a bad idea and I would try to get a meeting with someone in H/R. You did a nice job of outlining where you were when and if you get a statement from co-workers documenting that you were where you say you were, the employer will have less credibility.

When approached for a reference, it does not sound as though they will give you a glowing one in either case.

If you don't need the money, then I would quit. Right now.