Wedding Woes

This is some total bull$h!t

Remember the nonsense with the lunch table, and how no one said that I said anything but HR chick was "concerned" for my reputation eating lunch with someone who allegedly called her boss a "wimp" while not in my presence?  They fired her last week--Wednesday or Thursday, I think. 

Friday, I told my boss I was pregnant and was expecting to take maternity leave beginning around the second week of October.  I wanted to give us about six months to prepare for my leave.  Okay, congratulations, please see HR for all of your form-related needs.

Monday morning, I was pulled in to HR again and told that unfortunately, there was "no longer a role" for me at my company.  HR was all over the place:  "this is not a termination, it's an involuntary separation," but when I told them I didn't understand how that could be the case, HR said that it was related to the investigation of QA girl.  But then she went on to say that it wasn't disciplinary, it wasn't a termination, and fell back on not having a place for me there. Confusing--it's like she couldn't keep her story straight.

I have no idea what, if anything, went on behind the scenes.  But I have a lot of questions about the timing.  I had an excellent work history there--I was there two years, after the first year I got a 10% raise and they started assigning me direct reports:  one last April, two more in June, and another as recently as January.  Got a nice bonus every quarter.  No reason to believe that anyone was unhappy with my job performance, certainly no disciplinary actions.   Then suddenly, less than one full business day after I announced I was pregnant, they suddenly don't have any work for me? Questionable.

I've been recuperating at home since Monday.  Applied for several jobs, started clearing out the guest bedroom to convert it to a nursery.  Contacted an employment lawyer, just to see.  I'm not litigious, but this doesn't pass the smell test. We'll see what a professional thinks. In the mean time, I'm lucky: DH has a good job, we can certainly live on his income alone for as long as it takes. Unfortunately, it looks like we're going to have to cancel the Alaska trip. That makes me madder than anything else, even though it's probably the least important. That trip was our family celebration: our anniversary, DH's and DD's birthdays. We were going to take her to see whales. She loves whales.

Total bullisht.

Re: This is some total bull$h!t

  • That is beyond fishy.
  • 6fsn6fsn member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its Name Dropper
    Oh.my.gosh.  Bullsh!t is not the word for it.  I'm so sorry.  I'm not normally a lawyery type, but this smells shady.
  • fmbyofmbyo member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its
    wtf? That definitely sounds fishy, and I'm glad you contacted a lawyer. I hope you find a new job soon. Can you ask for a letter of recommendation?
  • total bullsh!t.


  • Wow. Heffa, I'm so sorry.

    Man, I thought that HR thing was some sort of warning.  I didn't say anything, b/c I couldn't put my finger on what or why.  And it does sound fishy after the pregnancy announcement.

    Hey, if your rights were violated, seek an attorney.  Period.  "Type" doesn't matter, law is law and it's meant for protection.
  • Wow - lots of red flags in this situation.  I'm glad you have contacted a lawyer.  I'm sorry you are going through this.
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  • WzzWzz member
    2500 Comments 250 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    what the hell. i'm sorry that happened.

    all over someone having a personal conversation with someone else in the lunchroom? that is so bizzarre.
  • Wow. That is crazy. Definitely talk to the lawyer- if anything they can maybe compel the company to give clear meaning to what happened.
  • None of this makes any sense at all.  I'm glad you got a lawyer.
    Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
  • *gets pitchforks ready*

    That's crazy, Heffa.
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_this-is-some-total-bullht?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:a11b4f31-3b02-4888-a3e8-1dbde40d444bPost:783d7260-2fdb-4493-a84a-e32306ed9f9e">Re: This is some total bull$h!t</a>:
    [QUOTE]what the hell. i'm sorry that happened. all over someone having a personal conversation with someone else in the lunchroom? that is so bizzarre.
    Posted by Wzz[/QUOTE]

    Everything about it is so bizarre and out of left field.  The law firm is investigating as possible pregnancy discrimination and wrongful termination.  SC is an at will state, so I know they can fire you for any reason (or no reason).  But the timing of my announcement vs. theirs is highly suspicious, especially for someone with no prior disciplinary issues of any kind--quite the opposite.  And I know pregnancy is exempt from the "any reason" thing. 

    At any rate, I'm making the best of it.  When I'm not applying for jobs, I have time to do all kinds of things I've been trying to get to.  And now I have time to go to the Wooz's Field Day tomorrow, and volunteer to read to her class, and stuff like that. I pick her up from school at 4:00 now, which I could never do when I was working, and she's in hog heaven.
  • You should still be able to file for unemployment.  Just b/c they terminated you, doesn't mean you don't get unemployment.  Unless your attorney advised you not to.
  • Yes, that does sound like some bs.
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  • OMG!  WTF?!  That's insane.   Totally fishy.

    I hope the lawyer finds a damn good reason to go after them.  This is crazytown. 
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_this-is-some-total-bullht?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:a11b4f31-3b02-4888-a3e8-1dbde40d444bPost:5e225c62-1476-4434-93e6-8066317f94c5">Re: This is some total bull$h!t</a>:
    [QUOTE]You should still be able to file for unemployment.  Just b/c they terminated you, doesn't mean you don't get unemployment.  Unless your attorney advised you not to.
    Posted by VarunaTT[/QUOTE]

    Yeah, I'm eligible for unemployment, fortunately.  I don't think SC is particularly generous, but it should at least cover the Wooz's tuition.  Or will--they say on their website that it takes them 6-8 weeks to review and approve claims.  Good thing we don't actually need that money to, you know, eat or anything.  It's illuminating.  If I were a single mom, or if DH's job didn't pay well, we'd be sort of screwed right now. 
  • GBCKGBCK member
    Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its Name Dropper
    feckers.
    I'm sorry.
  • WzzWzz member
    2500 Comments 250 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    6-8 weeks? wow.

    i'm still stuck on HR actually saying this was due to QA girl's investigation. i'm glad you have a lawyer.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_this-is-some-total-bullht?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:a11b4f31-3b02-4888-a3e8-1dbde40d444bPost:32c4e087-ee6e-4abb-8745-f5b4c5427849">Re: This is some total bull$h!t</a>:
    [QUOTE] <strong>Hey, if your rights were violated, seek an attorney.  Period.  "Type" doesn't matter, law is law and it's meant for protection.</strong>
    Posted by VarunaTT[/QUOTE]

    Agreed.

    I'm so sorry this is happening.
  • 6-8 WEEKS?  That's insane.  
  • so sorry this is happening!  My SIL was a VP at a bank 20+ years ago and her boss "didn't think women belonged in the working corporate world and told her so as she announced her second pregnancy.  He kept up that  behavior and she documented everything.  She's not allowed to discuss the settlement she got but I know they paid their house off and paid cash for their boys to become engineers in college.

    I know you don't have the luxury of being able to document things, but at least you have the wierd lunchtime thing and then having them terminate you within days of announcing your pregnancy.  I hope this goes well in your favor.  So wrong on all levels.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_this-is-some-total-bullht?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:a11b4f31-3b02-4888-a3e8-1dbde40d444bPost:32295cba-be40-408b-a3ae-280e69885770">Re: This is some total bull$h!t</a>:
    [QUOTE]6-8 weeks? wow. i'm still stuck on HR actually saying this was due to QA girl's investigation. i'm glad you have a lawyer.
    Posted by Wzz[/QUOTE]

    It was weird, though--first it was that BS about not having a role, then she threw out the thing about the QA girl investigation, then when I questioned that, she fell back on how it wasn't disciplinary or anything like that, they just no longer had a place for me there.  Huh?  The attorney (well, paralegal, probably) had a lot of questions about that part of the conversation.  Join the club.
  • That sucks on so many different levels.  I hope the lawyers are able to help you get to the bottom of the situation.  Good luck with the job search!
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  • That sucks on so many different levels.  I hope the lawyers are able to help you get to the bottom of the situation.  Good luck with the job search!
    photo composite_14153800476219.jpg
  • WHOA!!!!   Glad you are okay right now and talking to a lawyer.
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    I just a friendly gal looking for options.

    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • I am of the opinion that there is a time and place for a lawyer. My mom getting one for her workers comp issues was one, this is totally another. Something smells fishy. And Oregon told my bil the 68 week window as well and I believe out only took 2 out so weeks for his unemployment to come through.
  • after all of the crap that New Guy has pulled, how could they get rid of you? do you think he was involved?

    6-8 weeks is insane. PA took ~3-4 for the first payment to come through. They may have taken closer to 6 when we moved to TX and we filed for DK, but it was because we needed to do a F/U and justify that he left his PA company to move to TX for my job. 

    They'll base it on your average salary for the last few quarters, but they max out at a certain amount -so if you make above a specific threshhold, you won't get very much. however, even a few hundred dollars/week will help to pay bills/basic expenses. 

    glad you contacted a lawyer and are already working to find something new. 
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