So Apparently I'm Getting Fired

onefootinthebayou

I'm also sorry to hear that you are going through this.  Lots of PPs have good advice.  You have the slight advantage right now of your boss not knowing that you have this information.  When things are tough for me at work, I tend to put my head down and go into overdrive while others (for example, your gossipy co-worker) behave unprofessionally. 

My advice:

- Don't quit.

- Do go into overdrive for the next couple of weeks and try for outstanding performance.  This is your "Hail Mary" pass.  

- Hard as it is, try not to let this knowledge hanging over your head demotivate you.  I'm not saying go into denial about it, but keep this knowledge separate from your workplace behavior and do your best.

- Do proactively approach your boss when he/she arrives back with some ideas on how to make some process improvements or create some efficiency gains (again, if boss has no idea you are suspecting you're getting sacked, this gesture could go a long way).  

- This is going to sound silly and I'm just throwing it out there, but maybe bring something special to the office for your coworkers (cupcakes, etc.).  It's OK to try to ingratiate yourself as much as possible in the coming weeks to perhaps cause a shift in perception of your commitment to the job.  Maybe cupcakes aren't the solution, but you get the idea.  

- Do get your resume up to date

- Do start a relationship with several recruiters (they're all over Linked-in)

- Do use Linked-In/Monster/Whatever job boards there are in your field

- Do not let this discourage you from pursuing another job in this field.  I certainly hope this is salvageable and you will not be let go.  In the worse case, if you are, sometimes an office (esp a small one) is just not a good fit and you could be much happier somewhere else (and perhaps be treated better and paid more) if you do find that fit.  

I know this is very stressful before the wedding but try not to get too tied up in knots about it until something really happens.  I hope things work out for you, the wedding will go on, and then you can continue to focus on your career.

I was laid off from my last job.  It was the best thing that ever happened to me - I celebrate 6 years with this company next week.  At the time, I felt like a bird who flew up against a window and dropped to the ground.  I suspect you feel the same way.  I believe things will work out for you.  Good luck.  

TrixieJess

@loveislouder I work in HR in ON. IF they fire you and you have been there for more than 3 months, they have to prove that there is cause to fire you (i.e. written proof). As well, you may be entitled to severance. Do not quit. It will screw with EI if you need to file.

If you need to ask any questions re: HR, let me know.

loveislouder

Thanks guys I'm a little hungover today so I will start my job search this afternoon and go from there Bossman still isn't answering my e-mails for texts, but he is answering everyone else.

thespeshulestsnowflake

loveislouder said:

Thanks guys I'm a little hungover today so I will start my job search this afternoon and go from there Bossman still isn't answering my e-mails for texts, but he is answering everyone else.

This is so immature and unprofessional of him. You need out of there regardless of being fired or not. Take this as a blessing in disguise since you aren't being blindsided by it. Keep your head down, do your work as normal, and find something better!

ETA: words

climbingsingle

Yeah, your boss sounds like a dickhead. 

plainjane0415

loveislouder said:

Thanks guys I'm a little hungover today so I will start my job search this afternoon and go from there Bossman still isn't answering my e-mails for texts, but he is answering everyone else.

That's so passive aggressive and I hate that. Good luck on the search and hope you find something soon!

theartistformerlyknownas

Wait how much are you contacting him on vacation??

sarahufl

Do you frequently go to work hungover? Is this perhaps part of the problem?

levioosa

Regarding the boss on vacation thing: My boss takes "vacations" during which she works the entire time.  She recently went on a vacation for her 30th anniversary and worked the during the whole thing.  I would be getting texts at 5 am asking for updates on customers, etc (I don't even start work until 7).  If you don't respond within minutes, she's furious. But there have been times when she gets pissed at certain employees, and won't answer them back.  God forbid they stop including her on emails/texts though.  So, I get why love would be sending emails/texts, and I get how frustrating it is to not get answers back.  It's super passive aggressive. 

I do agree that going in hungover was not the best game plan.  Girl, get yourself some greasy food, drink a ton of water, pop an advil, and work like hell.  Tonight finish that resume and send it out. 

loveislouder

sarahufl said:

Do you frequently go to work hungover? Is this perhaps part of the problem?

Lol no. I rarely, if ever drink. Like literally maybe 5 drinks over the course of a year. Stress induced bad decision last night.

loveislouder

levioosa said:

Regarding the boss on vacation thing: My boss takes "vacations" during which she works the entire time.  She recently went on a vacation for her 30th anniversary and worked the during the whole thing.  I would be getting texts at 5 am asking for updates on customers, etc (I don't even start work until 7).  If you don't respond within minutes, she's furious. But there have been times when she gets pissed at certain employees, and won't answer them back.  God forbid they stop including her on emails/texts though.  So, I get why love would be sending emails/texts, and I get how frustrating it is to not get answers back.  It's super passive aggressive. 

I do agree that going in hungover was not the best game plan.  Girl, get yourself some greasy food, drink a ton of water, pop an advil, and work like hell.  Tonight finish that resume and send it out. 

Agreed 100%. Advil is my best friend. Resume is done, just needs to get out

LD1970

I'm oddly, sadly, all too qualified to advise on this (except that I'm in the States & you're in Canada, so I don't know anything about unemployment pay).

I was a lawyer for almost 20 years.  I'm now a paralegal, by choice - I'm making the same $, but working 8 hours/day, 5 days/week instead of 7 days a week 'til 3 a.m.

Anyway, what it boils down to is:  Most lawyers are douchebags.  Not all, but most.  And I speak from the perspective of a former longtime lawyer (who was both an employee and an employer - I had my own practice for several years), and as a paralegal for the past 3 years.  I actually went solo because I was job-hopping so much trying to find a "home" that just didn't exist for me.

Back when I was lawyering, I also got fired from my firm 2 months before my wedding.  It was a really bad time, because we still had a lot of payments, but it was too close to the wedding to cancel or downgrade anything.  Also, it would be a terrible time to start a job hunt, as we were going on our honeymoon immediately after the wedding for 10 days.

So based on my experience, here's my advice:

Start sending resumes now, it can't hurt.  

Don't call your boss while he's away.

Understand that unfortunately with a lot of lawyers, even when it's their fault, it's your fault.

Don't give up on finding a home base where you'll be happy.  Maybe change the focus of the type of law, but don't get out of law.  My first paralegal job was actually in my knowledge base - primarily divorce/domestic violence/custody - and it sucked ass.  Now I've been at a complex litigation firm since October, for the very first time in my life, and I'm finally, after all these years, HAPPY.

Don't blame yourself or be down on yourself.  Dust yourself off, and start looking for the right place for you.

Try to relax.  You'll be OK.