I Think I'm About To Get Fired

[C.Ann]

If you need the money while you're looking for another job, then let her fire you so you can collect unemployment.. I was terminated in Feb. for being out sick with pnuemonia and never bothered to file for unemployment until the beginning of March because I didn't think I qualified.. Turns out that I did and only would have been denied the claim if I had been fired for stealing or something of that nature.

If you don't need the money - and are sure you can find another job easily - then I would go with the satisfaction of quitting..

Either way, best of luck to you!

 

[Disney Doll]

If you can hang for a few weeks without the income, then quit. I had a boss liek that several years ago, and the feeling of quitting is very freeing, as AllyandJack said. If she starts in with a bunch of baloney about how you're late etc. I would hand her my letter and say "this will please both of us then".

 

[KaitlinsMom]

I am so sorry that you are going thru this! Let us know what happens today -

 

[MerryPoppins]

Sounds like you've gotten some good advice. Please let us know what happens. I'll be thinking of you.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Wow, that boils my blood. I wish you the best! If this job ends, I'm sure there is something better coming your way very soon.

 

[zurgswife]

good luck today...let us know what happens...

 

[Princess_Aurora]

Well, I'm getting ready to go see her...I'm really nervous though because I'm pretty sure I won't even get the chance to defend myself. I'm pretty sure she's just gonna walk in, say what she has to say and then walk out before I can even say a word.

Unfortunately, there's no one above her to listen to my complaints. She IS the boss since she's the owner of the firm. So there's nothing I can do about that. This was my first job right out of school and I had a feeling that I would end up in a bad situation like this...that's just my luck.

How do you go about writing a letter of resignation? I'm sure you just can't write, "I quit" and leave it at that. Anyone have tips on what I should put in there just in case I need to write one in the future? I don't need to be quiting my job now because I've got so many bills to pay. Plus I just started putting back money for a Disney World trip...a trip that I promised my husband I would totally pay for since he's always done the paying.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

in mass you cant get unemployment if you quit or resign without a hearing you have to prove it was a bad situation or you were forced to quit

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

If you write a resignation letter state the reasons why you feel the need to resign. Make sure you keep a copy of the letter too.

I've had to do it a couple of times - both to take other jobs that had more potential to advance my career. The last time I realized that my boss would never promote me. So when I found a better opportunity I just said in my letter that XYZ Bank had offered me an excellent opportunity and that I felt that there was no future for advancement in my present position.

In your case I'd make a laundry list of all of the reasons you've stated: she's called you a liar, unfairly accused you of not doing your job etc... but make sure that you also include your side of the story. If your thinking about trying for unemployment you may have to go through a hearing to get approved for it. If she denies you, you can present a copy of the letter as documentation of hostile work environment. Don't be intimidated by having to go through a hearing - it's usually nothing more than a 10 minute phone conference.

 

[ByTheSea]

Best of luck to you - ya never know, maybe this meeting is just to clear the air and clarify schedule/policies etc., but doesn't sound like it.

As far as recording the conversation, you need to be careful again as to what the State Laws are - in some states you cannot record a conversation without both parties being fully aware they are being recorded.

For a letter of resignation, esp. if it is the owner of the company you have a problem with, I think it's pointless to air your complaints. If you do choose to resign it's often better to cut your losses and not burn any bridges. Networking is the best way to find a new job, you never know who knows who, and who your former employers knows. I think it's preferable to simply state you are resigning from your position and offer two weeks notice. You are under no obligation to state the reason for your resignation. If pressed you can state that you feel it just isn't working out, the hours/days you were required to work were different than what you were hired to do.

Did I read correctly that you've only been there for a few weeks? If so then it's doubtful that you've been there long enough to be eligible for unemployment if you were not working elsewhere prior to this job, but as every state varies, it never hurts to file with the State unemployment office. Ya never know, you just might find a new job that way.

again, best of luck to you. There are good bosses, there are bad bosses, unless you are having trouble affording food and rent, life it to short to put up with that sort of disrespect. Hopefully the next boss will be much better.

 

[luv2nascar]

I wouldn't quit
I'd let her fire me so I could collect unemployment
while looking for new job

 

[Microcell]

If you get fired: Involving unemployment claims, and if you have documentation and witnesses that you were there, I would collect statements to have in hand for the unemployment people. Don't your initials or signature go on the court documents you do, like initials at the bottom of a letter? It woud seem those on file in a court would hold more weight than your bosses records marking you here or not here.

If you quit: You letter should not burn bridges like said before, she is the owner so she will give a bad referance for sure if you make her mad. I would phrase things like this (I have left many jobs I hated with a passion- this is hard to do but she may be likely to let bygones if you don't try to stick it to her):

Dear Psycho Boss, (Use her name dont slip and use this.. tee hee)

I intend to leave the employ of Doofus and Doofus court reporting effective April 5, 2004.

It has been quite an education working for this agency, my first job out of school.

Regards,

I am sooo much better than this stuff


It is soo pointless to complain, just get away clean. I have had people who I didn't particularly like quit in a professional way, so I usually did not rat them out unless they were really substandard, but my profession included caring for Mentally retarded people so if I thought the next place they were going to they would have access to people in thier care I could not recommend dangerous people, but mildly annoying, sure, go on. I had a woman try to get me fired and started a whole stink, and then put me down as a reference- I totally warned the next prospective boss not to hire.

 

[Microcell]

Also- the reason I said to mention that it was your first job out of school, you can say in an interview that you left them because it was a first job and because you were just out of school you didn't realize that particular firm was not exactly what you were looking for. DO not under any circumstances complain about that agency to a prospective employer- it will lead the new boss to think, gee what will she say about me?? If Pyscho boss gets a call about how long you worked there they may ask if they at psycho ville agree that it was your first job. Having it in the resignation letter will help Psycho boss remember that it was. They will ask also about what made them a bad fit. You will have to taylor it to your job but I would assume you could say things like the assignments were very spread out and you had to commute, just make sure that the prospective job does not have these pitfalls. If they ask what you didn't like I would try to avoid personal feelings altogether, have it be something innocuous like too long a commute, or not enough work, too much free time and you like to keep busy etc...

 

[dzneprincess]

Well, fingers crossed for you and the best of luck at your meeting.

 

[nativetxn]

I hope this all works out the way you are hoping and that you don't get fired. {{{HUGS}}}

 

[Princess_Aurora]

Well, I didn't get fired. I mostly just got a lecture on being on time and being more available for her to call me. Did I mention she calls me about ten times a day to tell me the same thing over and over? I mean, I answer the first time but I've learned that the next nine times she calls it's just to remind you of what she told you the first time. But she gets mad because she can't get ahold of me when she wants to. This is really mainly because I have a sucky cell phone with sucky service. The battery life lasts about 4 hours (and it's brand new!) and I'm always out of range and have no signal. Whenever I do finally step into an area with a signal is when I get my million voicemails from her.

But I did tell her what I didn't like and she said we would work on all this stuff and talk again in two weeks to see how it's going. I don't think I'm going to remain very hopefull though because she forgets things very easily and I'm sure things will go back to normal next week. I've fixed up my resume and have gotten some numbers of other reporting firms. I'm just to the point now where I think I can do so much better than her. She takes 40% of my paycheck so it's almost like she should be working for me! I know the only reason she wants to keep me on is because she gets that 40% from my paycheck and since she can't keep anyone hired there she does all she can to get her hands on my money. There's really only one other girl that works there and she's been there for nearly 10 years and she's related to the boss. I think I would just rather work for someone more professional. Can I say that in an interview??? Can I just say I didn't feel like my previous boss was professional enough and I want to work for a firm that will treat me with respect?

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by Princess_Aurora
I think I would just rather work for someone more professional. Can I say that in an interview??? Can I just say I didn't feel like my previous boss was professional enough and I want to work for a firm that will treat me with respect?

---------------------------------

I think it's always best not to "mean mouth" your former employer.. I would say something neutral like you're looking for more hours or something..

She's get 40% of your paycheck???? I would be SOOOOOOO out of there!!

At least you didn't get fired though, so you don't have to worry about that issue coming up in any future interviews!

 

[shortbun]

Don't say anything bad about your previous employer in an
interview, ever. It's the kiss of death. The only exception might
be if the interviewer knew you were coming from a company that
went out of business due to felony convictions and then you could
agree that it was hard on everyone there-nothing more.
Crazy isn't it? It's a great idea to brush up your resume and
begin looking for something else now that you have some experience. Best time to get a job is when you already have one.
Good luck.

 

[ByTheSea]

being too negative about your current/former employer is a red flag to prospective employers, they don't want an employee who may potentially bad-mouth them...

But you do seem unhappy there so I would encourage you to look, send out your resume, and use the "looking for a better opportunity" type line. This is a very small company right? If interviewing with a larger firm you can use that. If interviewing with someplace significantly closer to you, use that. If the job you are interviewing for is more hours (or less) use that....

Good luck to you. I take it your organization bills out for your work, do you get a regular salary or hourly rate when you are not billable? If so, I hope you are getting paid for those Saturday hours for the meeting you had to attend.

If you keep 40% of your billable rate but still get paid when not billable, that's not too bad a deal. You are just starting out. Long range if you are thinking about going independent, keep that in mind in all your interviews and in what you say about the place you leave. Networking and building your reputation is key to getting future business. Even if you don't think now that you will ever go independent, you really never know how you will feel 10 years from now.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Wow, I wonder if your boss's brother works in our office suite. He is so awful to his employees, and has had no less than 5 people in his "assistant" position in the 10 months I've worked there. He calls a million times a day, asks his assistant to do something a certain way, and then after it is done, screams at them for doing it all wrong and wants it be done a completely different way. He actually told the one woman who was there the longest that she should take the cordless phone with her to the ladies room so he could reach her "just in case". Just in case what? "Ok, boss, I'll stop mid-stream and get right on that"?

I am sooooo lucky and blessed to have an awesome boss. I guess the one good thing about seeing how he treats his employees is that it makes me appreciate her all the more.

Good luck with your situation. My guess is her actions and reactions to what she perceives your behavior to be is more a reflection on her own insecurities and fears rather than your performance. Hopefully there will be an improvement after this meeting.