I Got Fired!

[SamH]

With all due respect but would you fire an employee without summoning him up to give him a chance to explain whatever some “helpful” person told him on the phone? And would you use accusations like “spreading malicious lies” lightly?

What the employer did, basing on our information, was attribute a wrongful action to the OP without any sort of proper procedure.

If a person called my office and told me a bunch of confidential corporate information that was specifically known by only a few people and then stated they heard this information from one of those people - yeah they’re out the door as fast it swings. Given the fact that the OP admits she did divulge this information it’s hardly a point worth trying to make.

 

[faithfully]

HR did an investigation because the person reporting used the word “uncomfortable” to describe how I was feeling and it was a “hostile work environment.” (My supervisor, in front of several of us, called me “eye candy” and called a co-worker a “man whore” and asked him to strip for her. Among other things.) All involved denied everything.

Ok… so, your “friend” called HR, and reported that you said you were uncomfy… and that you think you’re in a hostile work environment… Your supervisor sexually harassed you by calling you “eye candy”, and degraded and sexually harassed a coworker by calling him a man whore and asked him to strip… Everyone but you denied this…

So either 1) you lied and made this up… or 2) this was done, and you are being retaliated against for having issues with it. Issues that you chose NOT to share with HR, but with a friend… and now your company is punishing you for this because…

Later, people are saying out loud they have to watch what they say??? Why would that be, if they never said anything wrong?? So obviously, they KNOW they have said things that need to be watched…

Well, in the end it sounds like you’re happy to be out of there… I still have a feeling you have a case. But sounds like you don’t want to pursue it. If however, YOU ARE telling the truth,let it be known they will continue to treat staff this way. Perhaps you can be avail. for testimony when someone else can’t take it…

Best of luck!

 

[grasscutter]

Thank you guys!!

(Thanks esp. CthulhuBryan!)

HR did an investigation because the person reporting used the word “uncomfortable” to describe how I was feeling and it was a “hostile work environment.” (My supervisor, in front of several of us, called me “eye candy” and called a co-worker a “man whore” and asked him to strip for her. Among other things.) All involved denied everything.

Everyone, including my priest, is continuing to tell me they’re all glad I’m out of that place. I’m excited; I get to be home with our 4 kiddos and our new baby this school year. I get to simply be a wife and mom–the best jobs in the world! Money will be tight, and I don’t like how this went down, but this is really wonderful. I got to go with my daughter to her freshman orientation and I’m home to make play dough with the kids and play basketball with them. It sure is taking the sting out!

And… I’m free to do the fall RCIA class now. And go to my knitting group.

I’m lying awake at night worried about money but this little voice in my head keeps telling me, “God is going to see to it you’re all fine.” I remember hearing in a church once a line about God knowing the hairs on my head and how I’m greater to Him than a sparrow. Am I crazy, or is that a real verse? I think it’s Old Testament.

Again, thanks!!
Cara

Good for you! Your faith and attitude are inspiring to me! I wish you all the best and will keep you in my prayers. Big hug to you and your family! :grouphug:

 

[PrayerShark]

Is there anybody on this forum that is a lawyer and might be able to help Cara? Given the large number of CAF members, someone has to be.

 

[joanofarc2008]

Is there anybody on this forum that is a lawyer and might be able to help Cara? Given the large number of CAF members, someone has to be.

Check at your parish ScareBear - especially among your Knights of Columbus group - if they don’t have one - they probably know one. I got my divorce lawyer through a group at Church that I was a part of and I would not have traded him for anything.

 

[maryjk]

Later, people are saying out loud they have to watch what they say??? Why would that be, if they never said anything wrong?? So obviously, they KNOW they have said things that need to be watched…

Or they are afraid that anything they say will be misunderstood.

My MIL turns everything I say around. So I have to watch what I say when I am around her. I have never said anything out of line, but she claims I have.

 

[faithfully]

Or they are afraid that anything they say will be misunderstood.

My MIL turns everything I say around. So I have to watch what I say when I am around her. I have never said anything out of line, but she claims I have.

Oh, I’m familiar with this sort of thing… I have the same MIL… I don’t think “eye candy”, and “male whore” can be construed in a different fashion… but that’s my opinion…

 

[maryjk]

Oh, I’m familiar with this sort of thing… I have the same MIL… I don’t think “eye candy”, and “male whore” can be construed in a different fashion… but that’s my opinion…

I think most people would see saying “eye candy” and “male whore” as wrong. But when it was said was the time to follow up. And to keep following up until you are satisfied that it has been taken care of. Not after you lose your job.

It seems that the OP was fired for talking about confidential information. She admits that she did it. That is the end of the story.

 

[ScareBear]

I did not disclose any confidential information. I was venting to a friend who’s worked for years in our profession. “What do you think the best way to handle…” and “Would it be worth it to…” “What kind of documentation should I do?” My friend would tell me about her job and how her boss and would ask for suggestions on how to handle things and to get a shoulder to cry on proverbially when her department head would ask unprofessionally. All of this was said in private and never when we were out shopping or at lunch.

My co-workers were violating patient confidentiality and such. I was newish there and had decided to lay low and not rock the boat. I never, never broke HIPPA or such talking to my friend.

 

[chevalier]

If a person called my office and told me a bunch of confidential corporate information that was specifically known by only a few people and then stated they heard this information from one of those people - yeah they’re out the door as fast it swings. Given the fact that the OP admits she did divulge this information it’s hardly a point worth trying to make.

Too fast IMHO, there always needs to be some verification and an opportunity for the alleged violator to speak. At least if stated reasons for firing are to reflect the issue. And remember the issue was not divulging confidential information but spreading malicious lies, which has nothing to do with it, anyway.

Is there anybody on this forum that is a lawyer and might be able to help Cara? Given the large number of CAF members, someone has to be.

Unfortunately I’m from a different country and a different legal system, so can’t help out with the details, as much as it’d be sheer guilty pleasure nailing them.

 

[Arizona_Fat_Gir]

I can’t see why a co worker would tell anyone to get an abortion. That is out of line.

Anyway a few things I have found out: You don’t have to tell a potential employer you were fired. When you go on an interview, be calm and rational, and just simply say that you left the job because you felt you wanted a change, and you and your employer both agreed that maybe it was time to move on to something else. And in light of the fact that you expect a new baby soon, you had things to do to get ready for it. (How long will you be able to take off work with the new baby coming? Isn’t it kind of hard to take care of a baby and work, too, especially with a newborn? They keep you up at night, and you don’t get any sleep.) Maybe you could collect compensation.

It’s not a lie; you wanted a change (in your co worker’s treatment of you). Your employer told you move on if you felt that way. It was sort of mutual

Telling anyone you were fired is the kiss of death. They don’t want to hear all the office scuttlebutt.

(I did that once myself; I told the unemployment compensation board that I had been laid off. It wasn’t a lie since my boss told me I would have to leave by June 1 because they needed my desk.)

 

[SamH]

Telling anyone you were fired is the kiss of death. They don’t want to hear all the office scuttlebutt.

(I did that once myself; I told the unemployment compensation board that I had been laid off. It wasn’t a lie since my boss told me I would have to leave by June 1 because they needed my desk.)

Another zombie thread springs to life.

What do you think the potential employer thinks when they call to verify previous employment and they learn you were not laid off? Maybe you don’t say you were fired - but you would be wise to divulge there was a conflict and you left. Don’t try to pass it off as if you were laid off due to a reduction in force if it wasn’t. I just fired someone a couple weeks ago for not being truthful on her application.

 

[Arizona_Fat_Gir]

Considering the date on this thread, Cara must have resolved the job issue by now. It could not be still going on. Or could it?

First of all, a worker like Cara would not be lying if she said she felt she wanted a change, and that her boss agreed, that she should have a change. (That is not a lie.) What happened afterward could be expanded upon, if needed.

Secondly, I was informed by a boss that when someone is fired, a company usually doesn’t give that information out freely. They just say either yes, the employee did work here from such and such a time or no, she didn’t work here. I suppose that if the reason were serious, like embezzlement or something, maybe they wouldn’t have to say anything because the person would probably be in jail and not looking for work.

I know sometimes a company may want to blackball someone so they can’t find work, but what do they have to gain except revenge? That could backfire and the employee can turn around and say the employer slandered him. If a person was fired for something not her fault, this slander could ruin her life.

Now, a jail term must be told… If the form asks if the person was ever arrested then they should tell the truth about that. That kind of thing could be found out anyway.

 

[Bklynguy]

Yikes! Long story short: Former friend was angry with me and called our corporate office to tell them every juicy detail of how I vented to her. She and I had talked (privately) about our jobs (we’re both in human services). She got angry with me (she’s crazy) because she couldn’t control me and she wanted me to get an abortion (okay; demanded). She felt since she was trying IVF, Clomid, etc. and couldn’t get pregant it’s not good we’re having our fifth. So… I got fired for “going out into the community and spreading malicious lies and gossip” about the agency.

I know this is for the best. I went straightaway to my priest and cried/talked to him for a bit. This is scary. We’re down to one income now and things are tight. We’re going to do fine but I’m humiliated, etc. My co-workers were like family to me! Grrrr… My supervisor cried while she was firing me.

I’m so sad.

But… I’m relieved strangely and very, very happy to be home with our dumplings and our soon-to-be baby. I was going to quit after the first of the year/birth but now it’s forced on me. Yikes.

Thanks for “listening” to me! It is appreciated.

Cara

I am very sorry that this has happened to you. You are in my prayers.