I just got fired

[Canuckistanian]

I was working away quietly at my job today when I was called into the office of the President of the company (It's a small company).

Then, they unleashed the bombshell. They were going to have to let me go. Why? "Not productive enough".
"You're not catching on as fast as we'd hoped" (I've been working there since January - On Probation, of course).

On my way out the door, I spoke to a few co-workers, from techincians to engineers to managers. They invariably expressed surprise. One of them exclaimed, "what the fuck is wrong with this company?".

I'm an experienced electronics professional with 20 years expereince. And I had NO CLUE that this was coming. I had a MAJOR learning curve with this job and was confident that I was "fitting in".

In fact, I had just scored a major advantage for the company in getting TWO new electronic intsruments worth $17,000 each out the door just in time for the company's year-end (a major deadline for fiscal reasons).

I thought the meeting with the president was to congratulate me.

Thanks for letting me vent. This sucks, big-time.

[LynzM]

1. Oh dude, that sucks ass

Holy crap... I cannot imagine the shock... that's so awful of them to not give you any warning. :hug: I hope you find a job someplace that appreciates your skills.

[Canuckistanian]

3. Shock is right

And yes, you're right. No verbal warning, no letter of warning.

In fact, I got compliments from some of my co-workers because of my depth of knowlege.

This is straight out of left field.

[NMDemDist2]

2. oh geez!

I had that happen once, it totally shocked me

:hug:

[Canuckistanian]

4. Did you find out the real reason?

I mean, a person usually knows the real reson for a firing, deep-down. Often, it's not their own fault, but some nasty office politics.

What's your story?

[NMDemDist2]

9. it was a personality conflict

aren't they always?

:shrug:

I threatened the gal who WAS doing the job, but was really a master of the other side of the business, but she didn't like that I took over the office chores quickly. She had mad skills the Manager didn't want to lose, so it was easier to dump me and get a stupid office drone instead who wouldn't threaten the other gal.

[lizziegrace]

5. I'm so sorry...

it's a kick in the gut, isn't it?

:hug:

[Canuckistanian]

10. Totally baffled

And I guesss it hasn't reallty sunk in yet.

Thanks.
:hug:

[MichiganVote]

23. I got a lay off notice this week. It sucks.

[hedgehog]

6. You won't believe this until you're working again elsewhere, but

you just ducked a bullet. Something IS wrong at that company, and you just escaped getting sucked in. I was laid off and not recalled after 6 years at a company, and it's taken me almost 6 years to recover from working there in the first place!

[Canuckistanian]

11. That's what I'm thinking

The company isn't doing so hot. We were called into a meeting last month and told that THIS year-end would be crucial. We had to get as much out the door as possible before midnight, Apr. 30th.

You know, I would have accepted that reason - that they were cash-strapped and needed to down-size.

But the president made a point of telling me that it was my performance, and didn't even MENTION the company's finances.

[Parche]

7. That Is Always Sad

Keep your spirits up, you will find something soon.....

:hug:

:hi:

[Canuckistanian]

13. Thanks.

But I'm getting old and grey now. I was unemployed most of last year.

I'm not saying this is the end of my career, but it ain't looking too rosy any more.

But I'm not down and out. Not yet.

[Critters2]

8. Wo, Canuck, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how you must feel.

What a blow. Just so sorry. It does sound like a dysfunctional place, but that doesn't make this any less difficult for you. Wish there were more I could do, but here's this: :hug:

[Canuckistanian]

12. I would call it a weird place, but not dysfunctional.

The company is a rarity, in fact. Esatblished in 1959, it's one of the oldest high-tech companies in existence, certainly the oldest in Canada.

They have employees who have been there for almost 40 years.

[China_cat]

14. You did something really good.

You deserved a raise. They couldn't let you remind them of that...and the fact that they were seriously underpaying you to begin with.

I've known a lot of companies to do this. Take advantage of experience and expertise during a 'probabtion' period and then shove you out the door just before that period ends and they would have had to provide merit raises (and benefits?)

They get the benefits, you get the shaft.

[flvegan]

15. Wow, that SUCKS!

Especially after meeting a big deadline. I hope you find something better, soon.

[Cant trust em]

16. Don't they legally owe you a formal warning or something?

I'm not up on all of the labor laws, but something smells fishy here.

You should PM Omaha Steve. He posts in the labor forum all the time and might know.

[Canuckistanian]

27. Unfortunately, I was on on probation

And that probation was supposed to last 6 months.

I lasted 4 months.

But apparently, I was NOT such a huge fuck-up to be refused dental and drug insurance.

I just got my coverage about 2 weeks ago.

[lost-in-nj]

17. oh hon

i am sorry

sounds like they try to save money and hire every few months...


:hug:



lost

[bigwillq]

18. That does suck.

I am sorry for you. I am sending out my best vibes that you get hired somewhere soon. :hug:

[Canuckistanian]

28. Thanks

Although I'm hoping against hope that this was all a big mistake.

[MzNov]

19. I'm so sorry.

It really really sucks.

I'm sure they want to replace you as an experienced professional with a 20-yr-old cheaper employee.

:puke:

[Faygo Kid]

20. Hang in there. That's a tough break. Been there.

I was unemployed as I turned 50 for 2 1/2 years, and thought it was over for me, but then out of the blue, I landed a great job and have been in it for more than four years. Six figures, and I expect to retire from it. It's just a question of finding the right match. A friend just happened to know a neighbor who was looking for someone just like me. Take a break, and let people know you're looking - friends, neighbors, whoever you run into. I really think that's the secret.

Best wishes.

[fizzgig]

21. i am really sorry

that sucks, i know. i got fired a couple of months ago and it came completely out of left field

good luck to you

[MichiganVote]

22. Sounds to me as tho' the company either has $ problems or want to hire the favorite nephew

[applegrove]

24. Sorry.

[Canuckistanian]

30. Thanks, applegrove

This means a lot coming from you.

I once had you on ignore.

[applegrove]

56. I never noticed I was on ignore. What did I do? Probably I had sympathy

for Joe Lieberman or something. I do no longer.

[Haole Girl]

25. Hope you find a better place to work...

I hate companies that blindside people like that. Hang in there! :hug:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

26. that sucks. sorry to read this. What a crock!!

:hug:

[Generic Brad]

29. I am so sorry to hear about this

No one should ever be caught off guard when they are terminated. They should always see it coming and it should never be a surprise. What a horrible way to be treated.

[leeroysphitz]

31. This clearly blows. n/t

[Kat45]

32. I got fired similarly twice last year.

The woman I talked to at unemployment said that's what companies are doing now: they give a new employee about a month or so, then make their decision about whether they think the person is "a good fit" or not. She said a she'd seen a number of people filing for unemployment who had been fired quickly like that. My firings were after 3 weeks and after about 6 weeks. Welcome to today's corporate America.

[GreenPartyVoter]

33. That sucks HARD! I am so sorry *hugs* You gonna be ok??

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

34. You were suckered.

Doesn't sound like they ever intended to keep you on beyond your probation- they'll probably hire another unsuspecting hopeful then do the same thing to them. They may already even have 'em on tap.

Either that or someone has a relative just out of school....

You were screwn, big time.

[Canuckistanian]

36. This was NOT a giant corporation

It's a small company in a small town that does world-class work in the area of metrology and electronic laboratory standards.

25 employees, max.

And they've been around since the time I was born.

My co-workers (some with 20yrs experience) expressed shock at my sudden firing.

Also, it's the FIRST time I've ever been fired from a job. Laid-off, check. Not rehired for a contract job, check.

Fired. And for reasons that STILL elude me, even 7 hours later.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

39. I've worked for some VERY devious small companies in my time.

Wouldn't happen to be family-owned, would it? They're the worst when it comes to such things...

[OhioChick]

35. I'm Sorry, Canuckistanian.

I hope you find something better soon. :hug:

[Canuckistanian]

38. I will.

And I'll make them sorry they ever fired me. With envy and regret, of course.

Thanks.
:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

37. Oh, this is so wrong!

Am so sorry these fuckers got it bass-ackward :hug:

[snailly]

40. That truly sucks. I'm so sorry.

I wish I could give you a big fat hug.

[Connonym]

41. How horrible

:hug: With no advanced warning? That just seems wrong. I'm really sorry.

[ellie]

42. I'm sorry.

I hope you find something else quickly. When bad things happen my mom always says, "Things happen for a reason." It may not be apparent right now, but it will in time.

[ThomCat]

43. I am very, very sorry.

:(

One thing I always have hated about small companies is that they are usually run based on the warped perceptions of one or two people rather than by any real business evaluations. x(

I'll bet they screwed up something in their numbers from the top, and instead of admitting that they need to let someone go to make the numbers work they're choosing to blame you for having to be let go. It's totally irrational the way so many bosses feel the need to blame employees for anything they choose to do to those employees.

I hope you find a better, more stable job very soon. :hug:

[Canuckistanian]

44. Thanks, ThomCat

Oh, and Happy Birthday.

:party:

[ThomCat]

45. Thank you very much!

:)

:toast:
First round is on me. Let's drink to good things that are going to happen!

[NanceGreggs]

46. I am SO sorry to read this, Can ...

... and the best advice I can offer has already been stated up-thread. Sometimes these 'glitches' in life turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Move on, find something better, and live WELL - it's the BEST revenge!

:hi:

[Canuckistanian]

49. Thanks, Nance

Maybe I should move back home to good ol' TO.

Ottawa hasn't been that good to me.

[OmahaBlueDog]

47. First, this sucks, and I'm sorry

You've been there for four months, so I'm guessing you have a resume up to date at least as of 4 months ago.

Try to do something that gets your mind off things for the weekend. On Monday, you can start figuring out what your next adventure in moneymaking will be.

[kentauros]

48. Yeah, that does suck, especially the unexpected type

Take the advice offered here so far if you intend to attempt to do anything about it. Still, you have to move on and try to forget them. Agonizing over why they did it just makes it that much harder to find a new position elsewhere.

At least it wasn't George Carlin that got you fired! :P
(long-story-short: wife sent a joke to me at work, at the beginning of Iraq war where Carlin analyzed it as nothing more than a pissing-match, only with the use of the word "penis". Company interpreted my public posting on the right-wing pro-war section of the email server as "porn" and fired me at the end of the day.)
(I know, stupid mistake, though I learned later that they were laying people off left and right, just a few months after I was gone, due to "over-hiring".)

[Canuckistanian]

50. At least if I was fired by George Carlin

I'd understand WHY.

Thanks.

[kentauros]

51. You're welcome :)

I do have to sometimes look back on that incident and laugh, mostly at my own stupidity.

I currently work at a small company, too, and though I've had bad experiences with some of the really small ones, I still prefer that size of a company. The good ones, like where I'm at now, can be wonderful longterm jobs and really good on the resume later, if you don't stay with them.

Is there a home-business somewhere in you? :)

[Robeson]

52. That's a pisser. Sorry you got the shaft...

...:-(

[orleans]

53. sorry about that. what a royal fucking drag. n/t

[donheld]

54. Aw Canuckistanian I'm so very sorry

:hug:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

55. That stinks.

One of those things that is just going to suck no matter what way you look at it.

But it happens to the best and the brightest of us, including yours truly. Your situation sounds way too familiar, in fact.

But you pick up the pieces and move on, just because you have to. I'm sure things will work out for the best when the dust settles.

[Midlodemocrat]

57. I'm so very sorry, Canuckistanian.

That is absolutely terrible.

[raccoon]

58. Sorry that happened to you.

I also think they didn't tell you the real reason.

Do something fun this weekend.

[BarenakedLady]

59. Gawd. I'm sorry.

That sucks.

I hope you find something better soon.

[Scout]

60. i've been there, it totally sucks, you are correct

:hug:

[Erva]

61. I am really sorry!

I hope you don't let this feed any self doubt. When you walked out the door you left their crap right there with them. Don't take it with you. I really am sorry. I know this is gonna cause all kinds of headaches for you, but something better is on the way. Hang in there.

[Orrin_73]

62. Sorry to hear that Canuckistanian

I Hope you find a new job soon!

[CTyankee]

63. You are not alone. I was victim to a purge of all female employees over the age of 60.

Within just a couple of years, we were all one by one gone. We were all probably making "too much" money because we were older.

In my case they actually attacked my strongest points. What you described looked like that. Altho they had to give me a warning period and I worked very hard it was a predetermined outcome. I saw what they were doing and carefully made plans to announce my retirement, loudly, to everyone (I told the boss first, tho). I did this 7 months in advance of my departure date, thereby making it diffiuclt for them to just shove me out the door. It would have looked terrible for them to fire me right before I was retiring. Hell, if they had only offered me a package deal to leave I probably would have taken it, but they were stupid. It took them a year to hire my replacement. She was 35 years younger than me and they changed the job description around so she didn't have the unrealistic expectations they laid on me.

Living well is the best revenge. You are better off but it's hard to accept. I'm sorry this happened to you but I am sadly no surprised to hear it. Age discrimination has not gone away. Comfort yourself with the thought that your tormentors will one day face the same bias you faced. Karma, you know...

[bertha katzenengel]

64. I am so sorry.

So very sorry.

[chemenger]

65. Happened to me back in October, 2005

It came as a complete shock to me. I was told that I didn't have the level of experience that they were led to believe I had. I was pretty angry at first but then I decided to postpone looking for another position until after the holidays and use the off-time to do some personal re-evaluation. During that time I realized that my firing was very likely politically motivated (as I was located in a satellite office and butted heads with a major league ass-wipe in the main office who had the president's and vice president's ears). And as for the lack of experience, I realized what bullshit that was since I successfully completed the technical aspects for two major projects for a client. The client's problems began only after I was gone.

I also realized that I was underselling myself. I started asking for substantially more in terms of annual salary and getting it.

Which only proved something my wife often said ... "He who shits on you is not necessarily your enemy."

So, to hell with the president of the company. Use your co-workers (technicians, engineers and managers) as references and ask for more money. You might be surprised.

[AngryOldDem]

66. Wow. I'm so sorry.

Why didn't they come to you sooner if they were having issues with your work, especially if you had a learning curve to master?

That just sucks.

[guitar man]

67. been there

pretty much the same situation...it sucks :(

keep your chin up and good luck to you :)