"I don't feel safe having you in this office...I am calling security to escort you out..."
I got fired on-the-spot last week.
Or as my mom keeps saying, "This could ONLY happen to you, Golightly. ONLY YOU!"
I worked for a theatre company.
Whenever they would be holding interviews for open positions, the girls would always get excited at the prospect of straight males interviewing, since we had NONE.
Two girls saw there were three guys coming in on Tuesday and told me to let them know their story.
One guy, I am pretty sure, was gay.
I shot them a one-liner, "He's cute, but don't get too excited...I think he's gay." (my exact words)
The second guy was filling out his forms for about five hours, and I really didn't get what was taking him so long, then I realized that he was blind in one eye and I felt AWFUL so I said, "I just realized his left eye is shut...I feel horrible for saying something, I shouldn't have said anything!" in my next email.
The next day, HR and her assistant called me in and said, "We are letting you go."
Me: Why?
HR: Because yesterday, a candidate came in for a job and you went on their PRIVATE Facebook and passed around PERSONAL information about them to your coworkers.
Me: (I absolutely DID NOT DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT, so at first I was quite calm) No...I didn't.
HR: We can TELL if you are lying. So tell the truth NOW.
Me: I have absolutely NO IDEA what you are talking about.
She sent me back to my desk so she could "investigate." I went through my "sentmail" and saw NOTHING like that, so I was feeling better and was convinced it was a mistake.
She called me back in and while she had absolutely NO proof about the Facebook stuff (which never ever happened) she DID have those two emails. She read them to me. She told me how disappointed she was in me.
I didn't deny sending those emails. I didn't understand the big deal. Warn me...don't FIRE me!
Yup.
I got FIRED for those emails.
FIRED!
I didn't even include these guys' NAMES in the emails, and it's not like I said anything out loud and they heard me. It's NYC theatre. MOST OF THE GUYS ARE GAY! AND THEY'RE OKAY IF YOU CALL THEM THAT!
CAN YOU FREAKING BELIEVE THIS?!
It's RIDICULOUS.
I was to join the Union as of 11/19, so the timing is JUST a bit suspect.
I pretty much lost my cool because I was SO ANGRY and flipping out, and the HR's assistant told me she didn't feel safe with me in the building and that I had to be escorted out by security.
I told her not to waste her time and that I didn't want to be there any more than she wanted me there.
I just grabbed my coat and got into the elevator and kinda burst into tears and this terribly nice lady that I had never had a conversation with before shielded me and took me into her office and talked to me for a while, then walked me to the train station and basically told me that this place can be pretty messed-up and the HR head and her little flying monkey assistant are complete BITCHES and every so often they just decide to go after somebody. She even said, "They're probably jealous because you're pretty".
Anyway, it is INSANE. It's apparently caused a big scandel at the office, and this one older guy who I know me flipped out and DEMANDED the truth (because these women aren't telling them it) and now everybody is totally on edge and afraid to breathe. I sent them all a detailed account about what happened.
I have nothing to hide.
I SWEAR that is the complete story, I know how weird it sounds, and I don't think I'd believe it either because it is RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!
I know in a couple of weeks, it will be nothing but a very funny chapter of my memoir, but for now, I still want to go over to that office and throw chairs out the windows.
I am a college grad with a great resume, and I was being wasted at this front desk anyway. All I did was stare at the door and sign for everybody's Chinese food and Fed-Ex packages. I can do better. I've been getting so many supportive phone calls and messages from my coworkers and I know EVERYBODY Is on my side, I just really want to know why they were just dying for a reason to off-me.
Crazy, huh?
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
Comments
I'd fire you for gossiping too.
This was harmless gossip. I once sent and email by mistake saying that I wanted to have sex with a gorgeous tech support guy (and I put the name in it!) and it ended in my boss`s mail and I just got a warning.
Yeah that is sad. I could be wrong but they have the right to fire anyone for a reason like that. Its harmless and they should just give you a warning...but they don't have to. They chose to fire you instead of just letting it go. The only thing you can really do is just learn from your mistake. If you want a professional job then act professional. Gossiping is an easy way to ruin your own reputation.
I am so sorry this happened to you but you are right, you were totally wasted at that job. I'm betting you will find one that is more suited to your education. I have been in the business world for many years and I've learned the hard way to never, never, never gossip about anyone at the office, no matter how tempting it may be. Never say anything to a co-worker that you wouldn't say to the boss or the CEO. Same goes for emails. Be pleasant but neutral.