3 Glorious Days in Paris
I had been working for a large brokerage firm for at least five years. From the time I had entered the securities business the markets were crazy and reaching new highs everyday. This was great for the brokers and triple the work for their assistants (that's not really a complaint - I loved it). During the year 2000 I ran out of time and did not use all of my alotted vacation days -- being the kind of employee I was, there was never a good time.
The industry came to a screeching halt on 9/11. I was affected emotionally by the events that were unfolding on that awful day (as many were). Not too mention, my marriage was unravelling....for weeks I would sit and cry glued to the TV. How can I live more and appreciate life -- it's too precious - life's too short - The whole deal.
Business was SLOW the world and financial markets were shocked, NOTHING WAS GOING ON. A friend of mine calls me on a saturday morning mid October. She says she has got a really good deal to Paris and wants me to go. WOW! for less than $200 we could be in Paris. I called my manager and my broker both on their cell phones -- couldn't get either one of them. I was debating - should I go or not? She had her ticket and I told her that If everything worked out I'd meet her at the airport. I kept thinking to myself...I'm not gonna be old and gray telling my grandkids how great the office was. I packed and went to the office to put everything in order, make sure there was nothing critical. Called a few fellow co-workers who were supportive and had them cover anything thing that could possibly arise. Things fell into place and off we went.
We spent 3 fabulous days bumming around Paris and called the office just as soon as I landed at the Atlanta Airport. I spoke with my broker (smuck) who was happy to hear from me and wanted to make sure that I had a good time - he said the office was quiet nothing happened...blah blah blah. We were only gone Monday through Wednesday, reporting back first thing on Thursday.
I wasn't even home an hour when I got a phone call from my manager saying that I violated the vacation policy and was terminated. My broker made them call HR and find out under what grounds I could be terminated. Yes! the same man I had just had a nice conversation with -- that ended with see you tomorrow. I had worked there for over five years without so much as a sick day and because I did not have this vacation request pre approved I was terminated. It was just that simple, no write ups, other violations, tardiness. I had been chosen to travel and train others, and had glowing reviews in my file. I was blind-sided and they didn't even let me come clean out my desk of 5 years. They mailed the contents to me......JEESH!
Maybe not the most responsible decision. Management has told me they felt bad about doing it and the broker insisted. I wouldn't trade it. I agree life is too short and too many people have forgotten how to live a little. I wouldn't change those 3 days in Paris for anything.
Kicker -- I went to file for unemployment and was refused because my termination was due to violation of a company policy. My firing was not classified "no fault of my own" . Honestly, who actually gets fired (not layed off) that didn't screw up or have it spun to be there fault. No unemployment for me.
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