spookie Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 After thinking more about the less-than-charming answers I'd given HR during our convo on Monday, I almost started believing I'd get fired. You guys were telling. My dad was telling. It wasn't fair, but it would have made sense. So I know I seemed suspicious and alarmed when Jack called me in on Wednesday to give me something: an envelope with my name on it. "This is from me," he said, looking me in the eye, "but also from (his boss' boss)." So this is it, I thought - the end. How will I pay off the new car I just bought? "You did a really great job on the (project I am on) and we just wanted to show our appreciation." It was a handwritten card from the both of them, attached to a free lunch pass. The next day, I waltzed in stoned at my usual 9:30 to find a meeting invite from Jack, for half an hour ago. "I have some good news," he said when I found him. "Let's go find somewhere private." Even though I wasn't supposed to be eligible for it since I'd just got one in December, I was getting a raise and promotion. I had to laugh at the irony. "And another thing," he said. "__ said he couldn't transfer you. That if he was going to make rearrangements, it would be for the whole business, not just one person." I nodded. "Yah, HR told me." "I wanted to make sure you were ok." "I'm ok," I said. "I think we have a really good working relationship, and I want to keep it that way. But I also want to make sure that you're comfortable, and you'll be ok working here." I nodded again, afraid I was going to cry. So it doesn't end happily ever after all, I thought. And I had refused to believe it. A really good working relationship, and I want to keep it that way... I played the words over in my mind a few times, my mind balking at my hurtful little rejection, after all these months of hopes. But it was freeing. So he's never going to be my boyfriend. I know that now. But it doens't mean I have to resent him, or he has to dislike me. We're going to have a good relationship, I know it. I'm just going to have to learn to enjoy it.
GorillaTheater Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 The next day, I waltzed in stoned at my usual 9:30 That certainly bodes well for your employment future.
Author spookie Posted February 27, 2009 Author Posted February 27, 2009 That certainly bodes well for your employment future. It's clearly working for me. And the best part about my new position is that I can work whenever I want, for however long it takes for me to finish everything.
Author spookie Posted February 27, 2009 Author Posted February 27, 2009 Wait... what's ending? The love affair in my head. I feel like he's given me a clear enough answer now, and I will be able to move on.
Touche Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 Sorry about Jack, spook. But I'm thrilled about your job. So much for the know-it-all HR "professionals" and their gloom and doom predictions.
GorillaTheater Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 Sorry about Jack, spook. But I'm thrilled about your job. So much for the know-it-all HR "professionals" and their gloom and doom predictions. Although if I remember correctly, someone suggested that the company, if smart, would promote her and start documenting "problems". It's a slick way to short-circuit a sexual harrassment suit.
Touche Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 Although if I remember correctly, someone suggested that the company, if smart, would promote her and start documenting "problems". It's a slick way to short-circuit a sexual harrassment suit. Totally ridiculous. Just as the other suggestions and conspiracy theories were. Of course they'll still insist they were right and that this is what they're up to.
wuggle Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 Although if I remember correctly, someone suggested that the company, if smart, would promote her and start documenting "problems". It's a slick way to short-circuit a sexual harrassment suit. This sounds totally feasable to me. Spookie, now that you can see that the relationship with Jack isn't going to happen, why don't you try to play them at thier own game. Quit the weed and absolutely work your toes off and make sure you really surprise them and rise to the new job (or even exceed it), that would pull the rug from under them if they are planning to get rid of you in the 'restructure' in May\June. good luck.
Author spookie Posted February 27, 2009 Author Posted February 27, 2009 Although if I remember correctly, someone suggested that the company, if smart, would promote her and start documenting "problems". It's a slick way to short-circuit a sexual harrassment suit. I was willing to accept the possibility that they'd fire me, but that they promoted me in ORDER to fire me is beyond ridiculous.
Trialbyfire Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 I'm curious spookie, have you learned anything from this experience?
Author spookie Posted February 27, 2009 Author Posted February 27, 2009 This sounds totally feasable to me. Spookie, now that you can see that the relationship with Jack isn't going to happen, why don't you try to play them at thier own game. Quit the weed and absolutely work your toes off and make sure you really surprise them and rise to the new job (or even exceed it), that would pull the rug from under them if they are planning to get rid of you in the 'restructure' in May\June. good luck. Meh. The weed is helping me concentrate. There are good reasons I should quit, but it's not affecting my work performance negatively. I'm already working my toes off. The one thing I'm not doing, however, which I should be and which Jack actually seemed concerned about today, is studying for exams...
wuggle Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 Does anyone at work know you're on the weed ? does Jack ? Just something to consider, could or would they use that as a reason to get rd of you ? also I know you might think it is making you work a lot better but sometimes it can delude you.
GorillaTheater Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 I was willing to accept the possibility that they'd fire me, but that they promoted me in ORDER to fire me is beyond ridiculous. Maybe, but part of my gig is advising supervisors on employment issues (from a legal as opposed to an HR perspective). Now, this is a tactic that never occurred to me before, but it really would be rather clever. As it stands, it wouldn't take too much fact-twisting for you to craft a sexual harrassment suit. Jack knows this, thus it would be truly awkward for him to fire you at this point. So, instead he promotes you (no retaliation here, your honor!), and starts to make book. Not saying this is what's happening, but it's an interesting scenario. Besides, you lost me with the coming in late and stoned thing.
Author spookie Posted February 27, 2009 Author Posted February 27, 2009 Meh. If this is going to turn into a thread about what an evil drug addict I am, I'm out. I don't understand why it's so hard for some people to wrap their minds around the fact that it's possible I'm actually good at my job, and that they appreciate that and want to keep me.
wuggle Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 Meh. If this is going to turn into a thread about what an evil drug addict I am, I'm out. I don't understand why it's so hard for some people to wrap their minds around the fact that it's possible I'm actually good at my job, and that they appreciate that and want to keep me. Please dont misunderstand me, I have no problems with you having a smoke, That's none of my business and I'm not judging you on that (pot and kettle and all...). All I am trying to do is point out that if your employer does want rid of you they might use this as an excuse. If I was in your shoes and wanted to keep the job , I would probably just indulge at weekends or when not working.
Author spookie Posted February 27, 2009 Author Posted February 27, 2009 Please dont misunderstand me, I have no problems with you having a smoke, That's none of my business and I'm not judging you on that (pot and kettle and all...). All I am trying to do is point out that if your employer does want rid of you they might use this as an excuse. If I was in your shoes and wanted to keep the job , I would probably just indulge at weekends or when not working. Fair enough. Thank you. I am positive it is not apparent when I smoke before work as I've been doing it for months and the only difference is that I am less talkative but more productive on those days.
GorillaTheater Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 Please dont misunderstand me, I have no problems with you having a smoke, That's none of my business and I'm not judging you on that (pot and kettle and all...). All I am trying to do is point out that if your employer does want rid of you they might use this as an excuse. If I was in your shoes and wanted to keep the job , I would probably just indulge at weekends or when not working. Exactly my thoughts. I don't care what my people do on their own time. But I'd sure have a problem with them coming in late and stoned. I'm biased that way. And were I you, I'd be protecting myself instead of thinking that everything's peachy.
whichwayisup Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 The next day, I waltzed in stoned at my usual 9:30 to find a meeting invite from Jack, for half an hour ago. I don't understand why it's so hard for some people to wrap their minds around the fact that it's possible I'm actually good at my job, and that they appreciate that and want to keep me. I'm not bashing you, but going to work stoned isn't going to help you in the long run. People DO get suspended and/or fired for that stuff.. I'm sure you're good at your job..Just don't mess it up by being stoned, that's all. Again, no bashing here, or judgements..
Trialbyfire Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 I'm curious spookie, have you learned anything from this experience? I'm bumping this question because it has nothing to do with being an evil weed addict.
Author spookie Posted February 27, 2009 Author Posted February 27, 2009 I'm bumping this question because it has nothing to do with being an evil weed addict. I don't think I learned anything. I'm not even sure what the lesson was, and usually I keep my eyes peeled for that stuff. I'm tempted to say that maybe the lesson is that honesty pays off; that, or hard work. Except, I don't really FEEL that's what happened. I feel like I managed to cheat at life again, unintentionally, by confusing the fcvk out of everyone around me and then collecting on my good luck. I know I should be proud of myself or at least happy, but all I feel is ever more jaded.
Trialbyfire Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 I don't think I learned anything. I'm not even sure what the lesson was, and usually I keep my eyes peeled for that stuff. I'm tempted to say that maybe the lesson is that honesty pays off; that, or hard work. Except, I don't really FEEL that's what happened. I feel like I managed to cheat at life again, unintentionally, by confusing the fcvk out of everyone around me and then collecting on my good luck. I know I should be proud of myself or at least happy, but all I feel is ever more jaded. Did you need the stress and drama or would your life be better without it?
Author spookie Posted February 27, 2009 Author Posted February 27, 2009 Did you need the stress and drama or would your life be better without it? What do you mean? My life is better having told him. That would have been true regardless of what had happened. It's a load off my chest. I think my life will be better when I have more healthy drama.
Trialbyfire Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 What do you mean? My life is better having told him. That would have been true regardless of what had happened. It's a load off my chest. I think my life will be better when I have more healthy drama. You know what I meant based on the comment about healthy drama. There were a number of different decisions that could have been taken in the first place, in order to avoid the unhealthy work environment drama. I'm not one of the believers that you would have been fired. I do know for certain that this drama is now in your file. That your employer chose to take a humane route, proves that they're a good firm to work for. What this humane route is, no one knows for certain, since no one has access to your file. When you said that part about working whatever hours you wanted, in what way? What kind of promotion is it? Perhaps you can expand on that component.
Author spookie Posted February 27, 2009 Author Posted February 27, 2009 You know what I meant based on the comment about healthy drama. There were a number of different decisions that could have been taken in the first place, in order to avoid the unhealthy work environment drama. I'm not one of the believers that you would have been fired. I do know for certain that this drama is now in your file. That your employer chose to take a humane route, proves that they're a good firm to work for. What this humane route is, no one knows for certain, since no one has access to your file. When you said that part about working whatever hours you wanted, in what way? What kind of promotion is it? Perhaps you can expand on that component. When you consider this in conjunction with the fact that they chose to believe in me by hiring me from a strip club, and that they let me stay on for full-time, and gave me benefits, before I had graduated college, and that everyone's taken me so seriously despite the fact that I am 22 and have displayed more than my fair share of red flags... yes, it's safe to say they're a good firm to work for. I really like the company culture. Part of the promotion was going from hourly, eligible for overtime, to salaried, "expected to work for however long it takes to finish tasks" (or something like that) with the freedom to show up or leave when I want without having to track that. I guess that's not equivalent to being able to show up whenever I want. And it's not like I'm going to take advantage of these facts (I regularly work late weeknights and weekends). But it's nice to know I'm not expected to show up at the same time each day.
Recommended Posts