Weird Work Question

[theycallmered]

I recently started a new job and while I have been in the work force for quite some time now, getting use to a new office and their culture always takes some time.

So here's the deal...

On of my coworkers is on a fixed term contract. She always expressed to me that she was afraid that they were not going to renew her contract come December, when it was up. Well, she was right...sort of. They decided to end her contract 6 months early. Her last day will be this Friday.

What I think is weird is that they made her work her last 30 days. Is that normal for a fixed term contract position?

What is especially weird is that we are having a 'party' in honor of her last day.

If someone is fired/contract ended early is it normal to throw a going away party? From my experiences parties are thrown on someone's last day only when they have chosen to leave their job because they have found something better, not because they've been fired.

I feel bad for my soon to be former coworker, yet a part of me thinks that she should have seen it coming. She had applied for my position however the hiring committee refused to accept her application stating that she was not qualified (position recently changed that college degree is required). That was back in September 2009.

So, if you knew you were not qualified to work at your current job and if you knew that you were on a fixed term contract, wouldn't you start to explore other job options?

It's been a long (nearly) 30 days of her complaining about being fired, not having money for rent, not having insurance, having to pay child support. She simply sits at her desk all day, complains, texts, and surfs the net.

In short, this entire situation is bizarre (in my opinion). I feel like I could be on an episode of The Office. Throwing a party for someone you've fired seems like something Micheal Scott would do.

What are your opinions? Normal? Bizarre? Wacky? Mundane?

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

You don't fire contractors, you end their contract or failt to renew it. Long term contractors are often given parties if they were close members of the team. Most leave on very good terms.

As for making them work out their last 30 days, happens 100% of the time with my last two companies - though that may not be typical. Not sure.

 

[theycallmered]

You don't fire contractors, you end their contract or failt to renew it. Long term contractors are often given parties if they were close members of the team. Most leave on very good terms.

As for making them work out their last 30 days, happens 100% of the time with my last two companies - though that may not be typical. Not sure.

What is weird with this situation is that they have ended her contract early. It was suppose to end in December not June. So it is not an issue of failing to renew it is an issue of 'you're fired'.

 

[Scurvy]

What is weird with this situation is that they have ended her contract early. It was suppose to end in December not June. So it is not an issue of failing to renew it is an issue of 'you're fired'.

I think part of it depends on why the contract ended early. Many companies in my area have had to eliminate contractor positions due to budget cuts. The people themselves were great, but their positions were eliminated. It makes sense to me that they would have a party in a case like that. In a case when someone is being let go early because they are not a good employee, I would find it bizarre if the company threw them a party. All the contractors I know who were let go early did work their final 30 days.

 

[Ceila]

Why would it be weird for the company to have the employee work until the end (albeit early) of the contract? The company is choosing to end her contract in June, so she works until the end of June. That's normal, not weird.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I think part of it depends on why the contract ended early. Many companies in my area have had to eliminate contractor positions due to budget cuts. The people themselves were great, but their positions were eliminated. It makes sense to me that they would have a party in a case like that. In a case when someone is being let go early because they are not a good employee, I would find it bizarre if the company threw them a party. All the contractors I know who were let go early did work their final 30 days.

Agree