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I got fired
14 years ago
I was fired on Wednesday.
I knew it was coming before I was directly told because I received an ominous call from the General Manager the day before telling me I had to come in for a meeting. Also, when I attempted to check my work email my password would not work.
As you can imagine I am very upset about what happened.
When I was brought into the meeting I had a computer screenshot printout thrown in front of me. It was the picture of one of our work computer desktops. Overlayed over one of the icons was a hoverbox that said "Get fucking wasted as you navigate the [name dedacted] Property Management System". I was confused at first why I was being shown this. The GM said that a female employee complained about the icon and that it had been determined that I was the one that added the profanity.
I told him I did not do it. Then the Head of Security came in the room and sat next to me as a "witness".
I asked why this was going directly to being fired instead of written warning or something. The GM told me that due to the "severity" of the transgression that I was being let go because it falls under the Harassment policy. I asked them when it occured at they could not give me a specific date. They were very vague about the date and time it occurred.
I again stated that they were mistaken and that I didn't do it. The GM turns to the Head of Security and says "you witness him stating for the record that he does not admit fault and we will mark that on the form".
I began to question how they came to the determination that I was the one responsible for the icon. The GM said that the IT Department for the company records everything and that they recorded what time the file was changed. They used this time to pull up video on a security camera that is above my head.
I was shown the video, but it was impossible to make out details on the computer screen of what I was doing. They pointed out that there was another person in the room at the time. This person should not have been in the room at the time they claimed I made the change.
I asked them if the icon in question was still intact so it could be re-examined. The GM told me that the icon had been deleted.
The Head of Security said to the GM "even without this we can still get him with the other things". I don't understand what business a "witness" had piping up like that.
I told them I wanted to appeal the decision. I was told I could do that and to speak to the HR Director. I said I would do that. Head of Security confiscated my employee ID and electronic key.
From that point on I was escorted around by another security officer as I collected my personal items.
I told that security officer that I was going over to HR to appeal like they told me I could. He asked me if I had a gun and was I going to shoot up the place. Of course not.
So he followed me over to the corporate building across the street.
I asked to speak to the HR Director and she refused to speak with me. Her assistant took my phone number. They all acted like I was going to shoot up the place. It was very embarassing.
On the car ride home I started thinking to myself. Is it possible I could have done it and not remembered doing it. Maybe 6 years of near isolation at my job had fried my brain so I don't even remember doing things. I was certain I had not done it, but anyone in their right mind would consider the possibility they were right, right?
Over the past few days I have questioned their motives for doing this to me. I have also become even more certain I did not do it.
For example:
1. I set up my Windows login to disable desktop icons on that computer. It has been that way for 2 years. This is because it offers performance benefits to a computer that uses an integrated graphics adapter. Therefore, the icon in question would not have been visible to me. Yes, it can be worked around, but why would I do this shortly before getting off shift? I have matured significantly since I began working there. Using profanity goes against my work standards.
2. I have great respect for computer systems and software. I have OCD tendancies when it comes to people changing computer settings. Example: If someone changes "Internet Explorer to "internet" it makes me uncomfortable, because the original icon was essentially lost. I am also a frequent bug reporter and make suggestions on how things should be set up on the computer. The IT Department can attest to this with my massive list of Help Desk tickets I have filed over the years.
3. I'm not the first person to be fired from my company. In fact my company is notorious for being very rigid and petty when it comes to firing people. They beat anyone they can over the head with "we're an 'at-will employer' and can fire anyone for whatever we want". They already had me fired before I even walked in the door. There was no chance to contest/dispute the evidence against me. There was very little point in even having the meeting except to rub it in my face that I was fired and confiscate my key and ID.
The HR assistant called me back two days later. She said that the Director would never be available to talk to me and I should just speak with her (the assistant). As I am laying out all this to her she begins to ramble off all the same things the GM did. That what I did was "severe harassment". I explained to her that even if I had done it that it wasn't directed at anyone and that harassment only covered things protected by law. Such as sex, age, religion, race, etc. So apparently they must have recently added alcoholics to the list.
She said she would get back with me on Tuesday or Wednesday.
I knew it was coming before I was directly told because I received an ominous call from the General Manager the day before telling me I had to come in for a meeting. Also, when I attempted to check my work email my password would not work.
As you can imagine I am very upset about what happened.
When I was brought into the meeting I had a computer screenshot printout thrown in front of me. It was the picture of one of our work computer desktops. Overlayed over one of the icons was a hoverbox that said "Get fucking wasted as you navigate the [name dedacted] Property Management System". I was confused at first why I was being shown this. The GM said that a female employee complained about the icon and that it had been determined that I was the one that added the profanity.
I told him I did not do it. Then the Head of Security came in the room and sat next to me as a "witness".
I asked why this was going directly to being fired instead of written warning or something. The GM told me that due to the "severity" of the transgression that I was being let go because it falls under the Harassment policy. I asked them when it occured at they could not give me a specific date. They were very vague about the date and time it occurred.
I again stated that they were mistaken and that I didn't do it. The GM turns to the Head of Security and says "you witness him stating for the record that he does not admit fault and we will mark that on the form".
I began to question how they came to the determination that I was the one responsible for the icon. The GM said that the IT Department for the company records everything and that they recorded what time the file was changed. They used this time to pull up video on a security camera that is above my head.
I was shown the video, but it was impossible to make out details on the computer screen of what I was doing. They pointed out that there was another person in the room at the time. This person should not have been in the room at the time they claimed I made the change.
I asked them if the icon in question was still intact so it could be re-examined. The GM told me that the icon had been deleted.
The Head of Security said to the GM "even without this we can still get him with the other things". I don't understand what business a "witness" had piping up like that.
I told them I wanted to appeal the decision. I was told I could do that and to speak to the HR Director. I said I would do that. Head of Security confiscated my employee ID and electronic key.
From that point on I was escorted around by another security officer as I collected my personal items.
I told that security officer that I was going over to HR to appeal like they told me I could. He asked me if I had a gun and was I going to shoot up the place. Of course not.
So he followed me over to the corporate building across the street.
I asked to speak to the HR Director and she refused to speak with me. Her assistant took my phone number. They all acted like I was going to shoot up the place. It was very embarassing.
On the car ride home I started thinking to myself. Is it possible I could have done it and not remembered doing it. Maybe 6 years of near isolation at my job had fried my brain so I don't even remember doing things. I was certain I had not done it, but anyone in their right mind would consider the possibility they were right, right?
Over the past few days I have questioned their motives for doing this to me. I have also become even more certain I did not do it.
For example:
1. I set up my Windows login to disable desktop icons on that computer. It has been that way for 2 years. This is because it offers performance benefits to a computer that uses an integrated graphics adapter. Therefore, the icon in question would not have been visible to me. Yes, it can be worked around, but why would I do this shortly before getting off shift? I have matured significantly since I began working there. Using profanity goes against my work standards.
2. I have great respect for computer systems and software. I have OCD tendancies when it comes to people changing computer settings. Example: If someone changes "Internet Explorer to "internet" it makes me uncomfortable, because the original icon was essentially lost. I am also a frequent bug reporter and make suggestions on how things should be set up on the computer. The IT Department can attest to this with my massive list of Help Desk tickets I have filed over the years.
3. I'm not the first person to be fired from my company. In fact my company is notorious for being very rigid and petty when it comes to firing people. They beat anyone they can over the head with "we're an 'at-will employer' and can fire anyone for whatever we want". They already had me fired before I even walked in the door. There was no chance to contest/dispute the evidence against me. There was very little point in even having the meeting except to rub it in my face that I was fired and confiscate my key and ID.
The HR assistant called me back two days later. She said that the Director would never be available to talk to me and I should just speak with her (the assistant). As I am laying out all this to her she begins to ramble off all the same things the GM did. That what I did was "severe harassment". I explained to her that even if I had done it that it wasn't directed at anyone and that harassment only covered things protected by law. Such as sex, age, religion, race, etc. So apparently they must have recently added alcoholics to the list.
She said she would get back with me on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Also, read your journal from the other day and...balls. Now I'm on FM.com too.