To Be Named Later

Many of my friends know that I am a hard worker. I go above and beyond what is expected of me in any work environment. Not because I want or need or crave the attention but because it is the right thing to do. Getting a paycheck for just standing around isn't fulfilling to me. Going home tired and aching gives me a sense of accomplishment that only raising children can compare to.

I got a telephone call from my friend and ex-coworker today that broke my heart and confirmed my fears about my previous employment. I was told that my District Manager missed me and wished me well at my new job. That sentiment alone meant so much to me. With as many employees and tasks that he is responsible for on a daily basis the fact that he took the time to remember me brought tears to my eyes. He wanted my friend to relay a message to me. He said that he fought for me tooth and nail. That was all he was allowed to say. That's all I needed to hear.

I now knew the reason I was terminated so quickly. With a company that is HR (human resource) driven it takes a lot to get fired let alone taken completely out of their system as quickly as I was. Eradicated, terminated, erased, deleted and forgotten on the very same day I quit. Apparently I stepped on someone’s ego and he would not be forgiving. I can't go into detail due to new laws set up to protect employees from blog bashing so I will summarize as briefly as possible.

I left my former job on an extremely negative note. My position was given away to another employee that I was supposed to train and yet I was still expected to work under. Wow did I have a problem with that arrangement. A few incidents later I started looking for another job. As I explained to my DM, I accidentally found a new job. He wanted me to explain how that happens to a person. I grinned and said I saw a now taking applications sign, went in, filled out the app, got sent over to lady in charge who immediately interviewed me, a week later I was hired. See, accidentally. Just like I said. He proceeded to tell me how much of a valued employee I was and that I would be greatly missed. And that my job, position, title and pay would be waiting for me if gardening didn't pan out. Gardening! Ha!

Onto the negative note. I wasn't sure if the new job would give me enough hours to survive with three kids, two car payments, high gas prices and a mortgage. I explained to job #1 that if possible I would like to work both places for a week or two in order to give me a chance to change my mind if necessary. No problem they said. Until the schedules conflicted. Then there was a problem. I was told that I either show up or it would be considered a call-off. It took a few seconds to register what it is that she actually said to me. I can count on one hand the times I have called-off in over three years at that job and still have a couple of fingers to wiggle. That was unacceptable! Needless to say I was very angry. I told the manager lady that I guess I needed to make a decision. She agreed. I went home. Sat and thought a bit. Called back and talked to the bruised ego manager. He proceeded to give me a line of bullshit so thick and foul that a sewer rat would faint of the stink from his lies.

He told me that if I wanted to stay and take a new position I was welcome. BUT I needed to open up my availability to nights and weekends. I hadn't been working nights or weekends in months due to a failed attempt at quitting in the previous fall of 2007. I told him I couldn't do that biologically. I was still nursing my son and wouldn't alter his habits for any job. I then brought up my conversation with the DM and explained that he said I could work what I wanted to and still keep my pay. Bruised Ego manager said that he just got off the phone with the DM (*cough Liar*) and he said to open up your availability. I said no thanks...I think Thursday was my last day. CLICK.

He obviously didn't want me there anymore because he showed no remorse at my leaving or as much as can be expected to show over the telephone. But that's where the hurt comes from. He reported my leaving the company as job abandonment. That I had walked out in the middle of my shift. This is very funny if you knew my schedule. I didn't have an actual schedule. I was rarely if ever on the actual schedule. I just came in M-F 9-5ish did what I needed to do and left. All I can do now is post this here on Vox to try and aleve this ache in the center of my chest. I took pride in my job. I was told countless times that if everyone worked like me that the whole store would be 100% all the time. I would reply every time if everyone would just work it would look like this all the time.

I guess what bothers me the most is what is being said about me now, in the store, when people ask about me. I cringe when I think what the managers there are saying to the other employees who were just getting to know me before I left. I know I shouldn't let it bother me but it does all the same. There is one thing my Mother always told me when I was a young adult. Be wary...what goes around…comes around. From what I heard on the telephone today it came around like a bull out of the pen and the bull is one pissed off DM.