Anyone ever written up at work? Need advice.

[Digit]

I have had two writeups so far and refused to sign the third one I just received.
Largly, they are made up, exaggerations of silly things, or things I should have received a warning about instead of a writeup.
The most "serious" was working off the clock.
Not having ever received a writeup before, I just disagreed, but signed on the dotted line anyway.

Alittle too late, I realized by signing these, I was agreeing to them as written.

This last one was making me sound like some kind of monster. One infraction was warning my fellow employee who just so happened to have a customer come in the door as he opened, continue to help the customer before he signed in. I advised him that he could get in trouble for that and he should sign in. WELL, I am told he went to the mgr all freaked out and confessed to his sins. I was expected to report him to the mgr for doing it. I did not, all I was doing was giving him an FYI.
Then there is other bull about on the same scale, including that I am being so negative, I am affecting his sales.

I have never been late, never taken a sick day, I am also the top performer in the store.

It comes down to jealousy (I think) because I have the highest sales and my co-worker is extremely competitive. That is why he feels he needs to rat on me for the simplist of things.

No, I cannot transfer stores as I have too many writeups.
I have requested to speak with someone higher about this as I have had about as much of this crap as I can stand. I want someone to know what my co-worker and manager are up to, and I need to be able to defend my actions and tell the truth about what was said and done.

[harmonicon]

1. what you need is a better job

Unfortunately, I'm guessing where ever you live, like most places, there aren't any jobs. Employers don't help those who are actually good at the tasks required for a job, they help those who will put up with the bullshit all of the time and not ask questions or rock the boat. I can't imagine working at a place that had "write ups". I worked retail for a little while at a big chain, and I hated it. If I hadn't desperately needed money, I would have walked out in the first week or two, but instead I stayed until I'd saved enough money to quit - though I doubt you're in a position to do that either. I really doubt that there's any reason in going to any higher up - they became a higher up by playing this same bullshit game. You've just got to take the rough with the smooth, go home, watch a zombie movie and drink your brains out everyday until you get laid off and can collect unemployment.

[cbayer]

2. You need to submit a response

I am pretty sure you have the right to do that. You need to build your own case.

[Digit]

3. I will...although I might lose my job in the process, I cannot stand to see my character assasinated

I always received awards, etc, so this is a new area for me.

[LeftyMom]

4. It sounds like they're covering thier asses in an attempt to get you fired.

I've only had to deal with that kind of BS once (also in a retail sales job, I was assistant managing an electronics shop for a big national chain) and I chose to say fuck it and quit, so I don't really know how to fight back. In my case, it didn't really seem possible to do so. Signing the write-ups was agreeing to their biased statement of the facts, and not signing them made me look uncooperative, insubordinate and, heaven forbid, "not a team player," which was a shortcut to the unemployment office as far as I could see.

In my case, the problem was that I was assigned to work opening shifts, to receive and send shipments, and to do a lot of inventory and paperwork, then I was written up for having lower sales than the sales-only staff, who I was supposed to give first crack at the customers when I was on the floor since more of their pay was based on sales. I'm still not sure how I was supposed to spend 20 hours a week on the sales floor, during slow hours, letting the salespeople go first with customers, and meet a quota based on 40 hours of near-exclusive sales. But pointing out the problem with that, or that my pay was structured differently from the salespeople precisely because I wasn't a salesperson apparently wasn't the correct answer.

[lligrd]

5. Guessing You Don't Have A Union

because this is just the kind of garbage they are so good at stopping and why everyone should support them.

Signing a write up does not mean you agree to it just that you received it but I still wouldn't sign it. Do you have any evidence that others have committed the same infractions and not recieved infractions? Also, if the HR policy is that you need to recieve warnings first you can fight it based on not getting them.

In the meantime start doing all correspondence in writing, if possible. Fight everything and start applying for other jobs.

[DUlover2909]

6. They write you up so they can fire you and not pay unemployment.

Signing the write-up only indicates that you saw the document, not that you agree with it. If you actually violated the company's policies then you are actually at fault. If the policies are stupid then you should be able to submit a grievance. You grievances, in writing, would help you to obtain unemployment benefits after termination or they could be helpful in litigation. Your performance and attendance record will be very powerful assets to you later on in case you are terminated.

In the meantime, fight back. Follow the policies, even if they are stupid. Try to catch these other people violating them and either report them or document them. Purchase a simple recording device. If you are brought in to be terminated, record the event, without their knowledge, and ask why you are being fired. If any of the reasons are illegal or unfounded you will be able to attack them with your evidence.

Look for another job too. It sounds like you may be working for Republicans.

[Connonym]

8. hey, if the president can put signing statements on laws employees ought to be allowed to do it

when they get written up don't you think? I really wish we'd see a resurgence of union jobs in this country. The worker needs to regain some of the power in the workplace situation.

[zanne]

9. I thought you could always get unemployment if you're fired. nt

[pokerfan]

10. Not necessarily

When You Are Entitled to Unemployment Compensation

[zanne]

11. Thanks for the link, pokerfan.

Interesting. Disheartening, but interesting.

[pokerfan]

12. Check the laws in your state of course

and start looking for a better job cause it looks like they are building a case.

[elleng]

7. Do you have their

'rules,' in writing? If so, reread and let us know. If not, why not, and get them. Keep in touch with us.

[meegbear]

13. Tell them you will not sign it and you want 'arbitration' ...

or whatever the proper word is to discuss the issue and have it resolved.

Use phrases like the italicized ones to show you are standing your ground and want to work this out in a friendly manner.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

14. The person writing the writeups has the home court advantage.

The best advice I can offer is look for a new job, unless you can find an attorney and like long expensive battles.

I once had a manager...in a moment of anger...tell me "YOU NEED TO FIND A NEW JOB."

I said "Great...when?"

She said "60 days."

And then she immediately went to H.R. and attempted to back-fill the written warning she was REQUIRED to give me before telling me I had 60 days to find a new job.

I was fed up with her and fed up with the company. We got a new CEO and she "knew" she would be promoted to V.P., reporting directly to him. Instead, she remained a director and reported to the V.P. who managed Facilities, among other departments. That's when she started making everyone's life a living hell.

You have no idea what's being said about you behind closed doors while those writeups are being turned in to H.R. The author is covering THEIR ass, and painting a big, bright bulls-eye on YOURS.

Good luck.

[grace0418]

15. I'm sorry to hear that. It sounds truly fucked up.

:hug: