Wallowing in self-pity...

[HillPete]

I lost my job yesterday. It was a silly, part-time retail job, nowhere near my area of expertise, but it paid for my kids' piano lessons and Hebrew tutor (and a bit towards the Podcast Cruise!). I'm not hugley upset about not working with those people any more. There was a big change in management and I didn't care for the way the new person ran the store. I'm mostly upset that it was their idea that I'm not working anymore. I've never been fired before and to be let go because 'my availability was incompatible with the needs of the business' was kind of a slap in the face. I gave them my availability before they hired me, so they had the opportunity to say no before I even started. They have fired all the people who ever worked for the previous manager, so I think it's just an excuse to clean house and hire all new people who will fall in line without asking questions. (no, I never argued with new procedures. It wasn't worth it. It's a soap store for cryin' out loud!)

Anyway, vent over! I just figured this was a good place to come for a virtual hug or two. Have a great day!

--Hillary

 

[daneenm]

So sorry. I find that during times that companies need to reduce workforce, they suddenly have 'an issue' with something that was agreed to be fine in the past. Do not take it personally (hard not to, I know), it is just they way they justify who they have chosen to reduced.

 

[Cherinva]

You're probably better off, now you can find another job that is suited for you. Best Wishes.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

That stinks! Whatever the reason, it never feels good to be let go. But I hope you will soon realize that they didn't deserve you I'm sure there are plenty of establishments who would welcome your help!

 

[Derby4me]

I am so sorry! Such a relief that it's not your primary source of income! I'm sure you'll find another gig...hopefully with better management! Good luck!

 

[wishspirit]

I am sorry to hear that! Hopefully you will find a new, better job soon!

 

[TXYankee]

Im sorry. That really stinks. It looks like new managment wanted to put their own people in place and went about it by finding "fault" with the existing employees. I hate when companys do that. It makes the ex-employee feel bad when they did nothing wrong!

I hope you find something that you enjoy doing with people who appreciate you.

 

[FireDancer]

I'm sorry to hear about that. Look at it as an opportunity as opposed to a set back. The only job I ever lost was for similar reasons. When I went back to college I was working for G.E. Capital. They weren't willing to work with my school schedule so I had to leave. I ended up taking a job a different company that came with a pretty big pay cut but had very flexible hours.

I worked there for the whole 3 years I was at school and when I graduated they offered me my first-post degree job. It was a great opportunity right out of school and was in the field I wanted to get into, I.T. In the end the setback led to my career.

I hope you have a similar experience.

 

[dalt01]

as a rule the only time someone is let go in retail is because they do not retail enough product to suit management. sometimes the sales quotas are unreasonable and sometimes new managment is put in because ownership thinks there is more there. either way someone always has to fall on the sword.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

Sorry to hear - I'm sure you'll be able to find something else in a BETTER company.

 

[BriarRosie]

Wow, that sounds a lot like my experience working at the Disney store in the 1990s!

I was hired as an original opening team member for a new Disney Store close to where I live. The original manager left a year after it opened, right after we all received our merit reviews. The new manager they hired was not one of the 3 existing assistant managers, but a person they pulled in who worked at The Gap, who got 6 months of "intensive" Disney training and then thrown into our store.

From the very first shift I worked with the new manager, nothing I did seemed to be right. She told me I was too slow at the register, that she was timing how long I took with each guest. Stuff that really does not boost morale. Many of the original cast members started quitting. I went on vacation (to WDW, I might add) to come back to find 6 cast members gave their resignation notice the week I was gone.

And yet the District Manager had no problems with the store manager. I thought she was a horrible manager but I stuck with it. Finally, a month after the vacation, the store manager and district manager tried to write me up for some bogus infraction. I let them know in no uncertain terms that they were losing some really good people, myself included. I refused to sign the write up paper, and I walked out of the office and the store, quitting on the spot in the middle of my shift.

The 4-8 hours a week I was getting were more stressful than the 40 hours I put in with my full time employment, and I told them so. (I used to get 3-4 shifts under the old management instead of 1-2.)

That was the only time I've ever quit a job on the spur of the moment like that, and I've never been let go. The full time job I had back then is still the same employer I have today. I've been here 19 years in June, and my boss here was open-mouthed incredulous when I told her the crap I had to endure from the Disney Store management team.

The sad part is that they had a gem of an assistant manager who was more competent in her pinkie than the joke they hired. She ended up leaving the store and moving to Florida. Where did she end up? Future World - Epcot Retail Manager. She totally deserved that responsibility.

So yes, I probably know how you're feeling, if they treated you the way our management replacements treated us.

 

[katscradle]

Never mind wallowing in self pity. It's a waste for a job that did not appreciate you. I know it payed for the extras!!!
However on the upside of things this allows you the time to find something that is better for you. I hope this helps!

 

[lugnut33]

Just leaves you more time to surf the Dis!!

 

[HillPete]

Just leaves you more time to surf the Dis!!

This is where I've been for the last day and a half!!

Thanks for the kind words. I'm mostly ok now. It was a huge shock, however, and that was the part that was most difficult. I think I'll be fine to go get my last paycheck next week without an armed guard . I also found out that I've been accumulating vacation hours that I didn't know about. I'll get paid for those in 2 weeks! That's Podcast Cruise $$$!!!

--H