2006=2005, redux? (Don't think that).
Sorry for the very long lag in posting, Barbara, but Happy New Year!
How were your holidays?
Did you get an XBox?
I hope you had a good one.
My holidays were like something out of Kafka!
A very Kafka Khristmas, that's what I had.
It all started on Tuesday December 20th, when, after walking to work from Brooklyn during the first day of the transit strike (about an hour and a half), I was called into HR and summarily FIRED! For what? Absences. I had 5, 3 for my brother's wedding, and 2 from a respiratory infection. One one of those sick days, my boss even sent me home from work. And I'd notified her about Alex's wedding during my interview. But HR didn't wanna hear that. The smiling HR lady just kept repeating that I was on a 90 day at-will probation pending full-time employment, and they have the right to fire me for any reason. Or none. It was a heavy scene, man. I did not make a scene, but there were tears. It actually came down to this kind of dialogue:
Me: But those absences were authorized! And had I known this would be the result, I wouldn't've taken any at all--
HR lady: It doesn't matter now.
Me: But it doesn't say anythign about no absences allowed in my orientation packet!
HR lady: Well, technically we don't need a reason.
Me: What about if I get a doctor's note?
HR lady: No.
Me: But what about--
HR lady: Nuh-uh.
So I left my boss a message when I got back from my firing imbroglio, and hoped against hope that I would hear something from her along the lines of "WHAT!? HR can't just fire my assistant out from under me! I authorized those absences! I'm calling University Fucking President Bob Fucking Kerrey!" I also called the admissions office, having just gotten into the BA program, and was panicked because no job equals no free tuition and hence no BA program, and they told me to sit tight, maybe it was a screwup and to wait to hear from my boss after the University re-opened after the New Year, and also I called my Teamster rep, who told me sadly that the 90-day at-will clause means AT WILL, and that until my Teamster status was cemented after that 90 day period I'm at HR's mercy.
The walk home to Brooklyn on the 20th was pretty bad. As were the next few days, hoping I'd hear that it was all a mistake. And being back in Texas for Christmas was both awesome and, you know, FRAUGHT WITH TERROR. I've been going over it and over it in my mind, the whole dilemma, since 4 pm on the 20th. Like this: ...why, but my boss gave me a TOTE BAG on the 19th when she left, and said "see you on the 5th!" Surely she wouldn't've given permission for me to go to Texas for the wedding if she'd known it would impinge on my employment! I wonder why she hasn't gotten in touch. Probably she's engaged in PASSIONATE ARGUMENT IN MY DEFENSE RIGHT THIS MINUTE! Please, God, let me the enter the writing program like surely You intended. I can't even collect UI. I have seventeen dollars in my bank account. Am I gonna end up homeless?
And I didn't hear anything further official til today, just a few hours ago, when I called my boss on her first day back from the holidays. And it would seem it's out of her hands. HR rules the world. I guess at least I'm not in limbo about that anymore.
School has yet to be resolved, I'm gonna meet with admissions, and with financial aid, and my parents have offered to help. I so badly want to go to school. I guess we'll see what happens.
Anyhow, happy new year, Barbara.
Wish me luck.
How were your holidays?
Did you get an XBox?
I hope you had a good one.
My holidays were like something out of Kafka!
A very Kafka Khristmas, that's what I had.
It all started on Tuesday December 20th, when, after walking to work from Brooklyn during the first day of the transit strike (about an hour and a half), I was called into HR and summarily FIRED! For what? Absences. I had 5, 3 for my brother's wedding, and 2 from a respiratory infection. One one of those sick days, my boss even sent me home from work. And I'd notified her about Alex's wedding during my interview. But HR didn't wanna hear that. The smiling HR lady just kept repeating that I was on a 90 day at-will probation pending full-time employment, and they have the right to fire me for any reason. Or none. It was a heavy scene, man. I did not make a scene, but there were tears. It actually came down to this kind of dialogue:
Me: But those absences were authorized! And had I known this would be the result, I wouldn't've taken any at all--
HR lady: It doesn't matter now.
Me: But it doesn't say anythign about no absences allowed in my orientation packet!
HR lady: Well, technically we don't need a reason.
Me: What about if I get a doctor's note?
HR lady: No.
Me: But what about--
HR lady: Nuh-uh.
So I left my boss a message when I got back from my firing imbroglio, and hoped against hope that I would hear something from her along the lines of "WHAT!? HR can't just fire my assistant out from under me! I authorized those absences! I'm calling University Fucking President Bob Fucking Kerrey!" I also called the admissions office, having just gotten into the BA program, and was panicked because no job equals no free tuition and hence no BA program, and they told me to sit tight, maybe it was a screwup and to wait to hear from my boss after the University re-opened after the New Year, and also I called my Teamster rep, who told me sadly that the 90-day at-will clause means AT WILL, and that until my Teamster status was cemented after that 90 day period I'm at HR's mercy.
The walk home to Brooklyn on the 20th was pretty bad. As were the next few days, hoping I'd hear that it was all a mistake. And being back in Texas for Christmas was both awesome and, you know, FRAUGHT WITH TERROR. I've been going over it and over it in my mind, the whole dilemma, since 4 pm on the 20th. Like this: ...why, but my boss gave me a TOTE BAG on the 19th when she left, and said "see you on the 5th!" Surely she wouldn't've given permission for me to go to Texas for the wedding if she'd known it would impinge on my employment! I wonder why she hasn't gotten in touch. Probably she's engaged in PASSIONATE ARGUMENT IN MY DEFENSE RIGHT THIS MINUTE! Please, God, let me the enter the writing program like surely You intended. I can't even collect UI. I have seventeen dollars in my bank account. Am I gonna end up homeless?
And I didn't hear anything further official til today, just a few hours ago, when I called my boss on her first day back from the holidays. And it would seem it's out of her hands. HR rules the world. I guess at least I'm not in limbo about that anymore.
School has yet to be resolved, I'm gonna meet with admissions, and with financial aid, and my parents have offered to help. I so badly want to go to school. I guess we'll see what happens.
Anyhow, happy new year, Barbara.
Wish me luck.
posted by sarahfisch at
10:16 AM
11 Comments
