Guy sitting in cubicle next to me just got fired!

FlexinMike · 11-06-2009, 01:11 PM

I feel like crap. A guy I have sat next to the last year and a half just got canned. He just bought his first house using the goverment rebate and his wife is pregnant with their second kid. He and our supervisor have been bumping heads for a year. The supervisor and HR just stood at his cubicle while he packed up his stuff.

Atropa · 11-06-2009, 01:23 PM

Ouch, here is to hopping he finds a new job quick

Minotaur · 11-06-2009, 01:26 PM

I feel for the guy, having been on the business end of the firing pistol myself years ago, but this is not the climate to be standing on your principles and rousting the bosses. The best thing to do is go to twork, do your job the best you can, keep your mouth shut, and document every occurrence of what you think is harassment. Then you might have a case for wrongful termination. But since most states are at-will employment, usually we're ****ed.

Thuirwyne · 11-06-2009, 01:29 PM

That is a weird feeling; when I used to work at corporate it was at a time when they were laying off about 10% of the company. Every once in awhile I'd come out and see a security guard "escorting" someone out with a box of their stuff.

Eesh.

An old supervisor had just received the company watch for 20 years service and was let go the next month. Her husband had severe diabetes and she was the only one working. A bit later in the year the woman next to my office who had been there for 17 years got the can, and she had a small child and was pregnant.

This was well over 5 years ago though, and some came back.

But your guy was fired? And in this economy. Eesh.

ImBunky · 11-06-2009, 01:43 PM

I watched that sort of thing go on for almost two years, until it was finally my turn. And yeah, I knew it was coming since I had pretty much spent the last year training my replacement.

FlexinMike · 11-06-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minotaur

I feel for the guy, having been on the business end of the firing pistol myself years ago, but this is not the climate to be standing on your principles and rousting the bosses. The best thing to do is go to twork, do your job the best you can, keep your mouth shut, and document every occurrence of what you think is harassment. Then you might have a case for wrongful termination. But since most states are at-will employment, usually we're ****ed.

Yeah I guess your right. The hardest part is that he was so excited about being a first time home buyer and at the same time expecting his second child. We used to joke back and forth which lightened up the atmosphere a little.

snorkelman · 11-06-2009, 03:24 PM

I am an employment attorney who represents only employers. I get calls all the time where employers run scenarios by me asking if it is okay to fire someone under that set of facts. I also get calls after the fact when the employer already fired someone where they shouldn't have.

Without all the facts, we don't really know whether this guy may have deserved to get fired. Sorry that you lost a next-door-cubical friend.

Iceman1800 · 11-06-2009, 03:29 PM

Makes me happy to be a union member. Sorry to hear that kind of stuff. Contrary to what the media puts out and what rumors people pass on as fact, people in unions get fired too. employers just have to have a valid reason. One of my coworkers got caught stealing copper to sell to a scrap yard. He's fired and won't be back.

dbx · 11-06-2009, 03:51 PM

Look on the bright side; In light of the current trend, he may be back to give everyone a real show here in a few days after he's sulked about it.

*ducks and runs*

ntrllftr · 11-06-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlexinMike

He and our supervisor have been bumping heads for a year.

Exactly why I go to work, do what is asked of me. Nothing more; nothing less. Then leave for the day.
A chick in my department "bumped heads" with someone for a while. She is no longer there.

It's not hard to figure out really if you ask me.

.

JoeyDoyle2 · 11-06-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlexinMike

I feel like crap. A guy I have sat next to the last year and a half just got canned. He just bought his first house using the goverment rebate and his wife is pregnant with their second kid. He and our supervisor have been bumping heads for a year. The supervisor and HR just stood at his cubicle while he packed up his stuff.

wow

....thats bad

Whatanejit · 11-06-2009, 04:29 PM

Darn shame.

I hope he gets something else soon.

runswithscissor · 11-06-2009, 04:36 PM

Hope he finds something soon given the current employment climate. WOrked at a company for 14 years that got sold and then closed...4 suicides, a bunch of divorces...never any winners in that situation. Glad I work for a great small company now where principles are still treated as principles.

FlexinMike · 11-06-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorkelman

I am an employment attorney who represents only employers. I get calls all the time where employers run scenarios by me asking if it is okay to fire someone under that set of facts. I also get calls after the fact when the employer already fired someone where they shouldn't have.

Without all the facts, we don't really know whether this guy may have deserved to get fired. Sorry that you lost a next-door-cubical friend.

I know he had asked to be transferred to another dept since he and her(supervisor) were not getting along. She had been saying he is stupid to other employees and that he looked like a goat with his goatee. He would say good morning as he walked past her office each morning and was always ignored.She also provided IT a new passford "loser" for his pc when he was out on vacation once. He has been underachieving since he asked for a transfer which was denied.

djflex · 11-06-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlexinMike

I know he had asked to be transferred to another dept since he and her(supervisor) were not getting along. She had been saying he is stupid to other employees and that he looked like a goat with his goatee. He would say good morning as he walked past her office each morning and was always ignored.She also provided IT a new passford "loser" for his pc when he was out on vacation once. He has been underachieving since he asked for a transfer which was denied.

oh ,that is horrible...hope he lands on his feet...seems like sometimes bad things happen to good people

pmartel · 11-06-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minotaur

I feel for the guy, having been on the business end of the firing pistol myself years ago, but this is not the climate to be standing on your principles and rousting the bosses. The best thing to do is go to twork, do your job the best you can, keep your mouth shut, and document every occurrence of what you think is harassment. Then you might have a case for wrongful termination. But since most states are at-will employment, usually we're ****ed.

That really bites.

In my company after being there almost TEN YEARS, I get a THREE DAY SUSPENSION, because my #'s apparently didn't add up. Needless to say I was ANGRY.

They claim that this is classed as a 'customer mistreat' policy. I filed a grievance with my union as as far as I'm concerned with the policies my company has taken on lately, this IS outright harrasment and we as employees appear to have NO rights anymore.

It is truly amazing how my company has changed in 10 years, the epitome of corporate and really amazes me how those that have been there for VERY LITTLE time seem to get projects and climb the corporate ladder.

Any wonder we here of things like this latest episode on the news??

I really feel for the guy, it's time for things to change.

Sorry for the rant, but that DOES bite!!

GentleG · 11-06-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlexinMike

I feel like crap. A guy I have sat next to the last year and a half just got canned. He just bought his first house using the goverment rebate and his wife is pregnant with their second kid. He and our supervisor have been bumping heads for a year. The supervisor and HR just stood at his cubicle while he packed up his stuff.

fckn slavemasters...

gun-G · 11-06-2009, 05:16 PM

Given the circumstances, maybe you shouldn't be typing this as this goes on in work? You never know if they're looking to chop off one more head.

paolo59 · 11-06-2009, 05:26 PM

Very rough situation. Sorry to hear of anyone losing their job! Even more so with this individual's circumstances with the excitement of purchasing a home and a new little one soon to arrive. I trust he can quickly find new employment.

mlandis · 11-06-2009, 05:47 PM

What did he get fired for? Misc'ing at work?

I work in the IT field, it seems like every 2 years companies decide to thin the IT staff and heads roll. Within a year they have hired back just as many, if not more, people that they fired.

Bando · 11-06-2009, 06:08 PM

Might be an opportunity to find something better. I can't imagine he was happy working with that supervisor every day.

I remember being under a supervisor I hated and constantly looking for another job, terrible situation, very unhappy. One day we sat down to discuss impending "changes." I fully expected to be cleaning out my desk, when he told me they eliminated his position but I was staying on, I almost wept with joy.

FlexinMike · 11-06-2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gun-G

Given the circumstances, maybe you shouldn't be typing this as this goes on in work? You never know if they're looking to chop off one more head.

It definitely makes you sharper and puts the dept on edge.

3DHouseOfBeef · 11-06-2009, 06:29 PM

A few months ago we cut 860+ IT people. As I was sitting on the call, listening to the announcements about the layoffs, I was doing it over the sobs of the lady who sat next to me, as she packed her things. In one more week she would have been there 20 years.

It's weak when you do what you're told, get moved around by management into different roles, then one day they say, "That role we moved you into, where you did exactly what you were told to do, we no longer need that function, you're fired". No chance I could move back into the job I was hired for before you played latest-management-book-bestseller experiment with my job? No... of course not.

On one hand you see cuts based on budgets, outsourcing, management changes, management philosophy changes, etc. On the other hand you get to see money just pissed away on projects that achieve nothing, or next to nothing. Seems like they take a limited set of bandages, and let the wrong wounds keep bleeding.

Hard to feel bad for a manager who is complaining that they didn't get their expected bonus in a year where they sent hundreds of people home to tell their families that mom/dad isn't working any more, won't be getting that retirement, and the family no longer has health care.

beachguy498 · 11-06-2009, 06:32 PM

If you work in a toxic work environment, the best thing they can do sometimes is to let you go. I'm in a semi-toxic work place now. But I have loads of seniority and a great severance package.

I started at another facility 4 years ago when we merged with another company. One afternoon I heard the sound of a desk being cleaned out, it was one of the incumbents in the new office and he was on his way out. It was a grudge thing in his case, he alienated someone too far up the food chain with his inconsiderate smoking habits. It was still weird as I had been there only 2 months and was learning the ropes from this guy. Again, I had loads more seniority and a couple of college degrees up on him.

I can take the early retirement package in 3 months and 8 days, I'll have to get a read out before I decide what to do.

BG

beachguy498 · 11-06-2009, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bando

Might be an opportunity to find something better. I can't imagine he was happy working with that supervisor every day.

I remember being under a supervisor I hated and constantly looking for another job, terrible situation, very unhappy. One day we sat down to discuss impending "changes." I fully expected to be cleaning out my desk, when he told me they eliminated his position but I was staying on, I almost wept with joy.

That was the score of scores. Sometimes the working-for-a-living gods smile upon you. When pricks in my job got the axe, it was responded to with great joy.

BG

pmartel · 11-06-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachguy498

That was the score of scores. Sometimes the working-for-a-living gods smile upon you. When pricks in my job got the axe, it was responded to with great joy.

BG

Funny, when I was on my 3 day suspension, I was actually quite relaxed. While I was still annoyed AND ANGRY over why they did it and minus 3 days pay, I actually was quite realxed and took one day and went on a photo shoot!!

Go figure

Bando · 11-06-2009, 06:53 PM

People spend so much time at work they think it defines their life. Honestly, the world doesn't revolve around that one job, I know, insurance, retirement company car or whatever seems important. But your own ability is what's really important. Don't be dependent on your employer, make them dependent on you.

TooSlow · 11-06-2009, 11:28 PM

No doubt it sucks to see someone you like get let go. Generally, involuntary terminations are not done with a knee-jerk reaction so I'm sure there's more to the story. As an employee, we have a responsibility to do the best job we can for the time we put in. As an employer, we have a responsibility to make sure the company continues to stay afloat to provide livelihoods for everyone involved.

RipgutCannibal · 11-06-2009, 11:55 PM

I thought by cubicle you meant toilet next to you. I thought it was gonna be a joke about the guy next to you dropping a bomb. I think you call them stalls over there.

SeaBuptor · 11-07-2009, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bando

Might be an opportunity to find something better. I can't imagine he was happy working with that supervisor every day.

I remember being under a supervisor I hated and constantly looking for another job, terrible situation, very unhappy. One day we sat down to discuss impending "changes." I fully expected to be cleaning out my desk, when he told me they eliminated his position but I was staying on, I almost wept with joy.

I was in the same situation, except it was me that got fired. Came in one morning a found a "You're fired, get out now" letter sitting on my chair. I wasn't happy about it at the time, but in retrospect getting out of that company and that profession (software development) was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Now I work in a university library, and I love my job.