Just got sacked!

[bluexin99]

I got sacked for the first time today. I am a full time university student and got a casual position at my university issuing student identification cards. The job pays really well (higher than average customer services job rates) and we get what we work for as the work load is crazy during peak hours.

 

Anyways, the supervisor called me up to the office today and told me that I have not been "following instructions" and that apparently I asked customers to fill in forms for their travel discounts when they were not entitled to it. I have not done this - never - and I told her that. I recall a colleague of mine doing it just this morning (she is somewhat clumsy) but I did not tell them that because I don't want her to feel as crappy as how I'm feeling.

 

Also, I was told that I was rude to a customer (i.e. a student). I recall asking that particular student if he was issued with a student card to which he said no. When I printed it out, it turned out that he had one and I asked him why he did not tell me beforehand as it could have saved him a lot of time. That was all I said - and I definitely did not sound like I blamed him. However, my supervisor's interpretation was that I did in fact blame him for it. Her interpretation stunned me. What the? She called me rude and immature, gave me a lecture about how I will never be employed to work with them "ever again" and I was asked to leave immediately. In fact, I am known for being polite and respectful by my previous employees.

 

What stuns me is that the supervisors had no way of knowing that incident unless if one of my colleagues reported. But it is a casual position and it ends next week. Who would put in the effort to do that? It is scary that certain people are so lovely and nice on the outside but you could never anticipate what they are really like.

 

I feel mistreated and misunderstood but oh wells, that's that.

 

Have you guys ever been in a similar situation where you were unfairly treated at work?

[thejigsup]

Not on that scale of things, no. I would be fuming!

[BeatrixKiddo]

 

Also, I was told that I was rude to a customer (i.e. a student). I recall asking that particular student if he was issued with a student card to which he said no. When I printed it out, it turned out that he had one and I asked him why he did not tell me beforehand as it could have saved him a lot of time.

 

Wow, if something like that merits getting fired, then I should have been fired at least 50 times in my customer-service job! Not to mention the times when I *did* say something that could be misconstrued as rude by overly sensitive people, but my bosses knew I didn't mean it however the customers interpreted it (yeah, I'm one of those people. Oops. Lol). I hate to say it, but maybe she was looking for an excuse to let you go (at not fault of yours). I've seen it happen.

[doiiiieeezie]

I have been treated like this without explanation and I can tell you this, when they want you gone they will find a way. There's really no justification for it.

[EgoJoe]

Go above your supervisors head and if they don't humor you. Tell them you're going to call a lawyer.

[Crazyaboutdogs]

If you feel you were fired without just cause, then you could write a letter to this person's superior. If you did not do what she claims you did, then perhaps it is worth defending yourself and your reputation. Sometimes an employer takes a disliking to someone for whatever reason and they just let the person go with "trumped up charges". I had that happen to me. They read me my bogus performance review which totally trashed my character and performance ability. They expected me to sign off on it which I didn't. The company was known for firing people. The first day I had arrived on the job someone was fired. It was a regular occurrence for the 6 months I worked there, until it was my turn. You might also want to find out through the grapevine if this woman has a history of firing people. It won't do you any good regarding the job, but it might help you re-frame this experience if you know that it is about her, not about you. Being fired can leave a very bad taste in the mouth but don't let it colour your future job experiences. There are rotten people in the workplace who will look for ways to get you out.

[SarahRose]

Yes, I was fired one day out of the blue. It really has to do with politics. B kissing is a skill that is necessary these days almost as much as any real skill.

 

Just realize you know you didn't do anything wrong. I didn't see that at the time and my confidence was shaken for a while. Only after I analysed the situation did I realize I was set up and the director was good at just dismissing people suddenly for no reason. Now I am glad to be out of that whacked place of dysfunctional misfits.

[YabbaDabba]

Yeah...I think there's this assumption that a lot of people make wherein managers, and the workplace, are fairly balanced and full of logic. Alas, that's NOT TRUE in many (most?) cases. To me, it sounds like your manager is: a) friends with someone who didn't like you, or; b) just a rude person who was more interested in belittling you than anything else.

 

What stands out to me is the fact that this all came about a week before the job was set to end. I mean, really? That's just craziness, to me. I've BEEN that person who, knowing someone else is about to permanently leave the workplace, just bit my tongue and re-did whatever they'd done wrong. Given, I'm talking about paperwork, but even if it was customer service type stuff, I don't understand why any decent manager wouldn't sit you down--after the FIRST complaint--and say, hey, here's what's up. Fix it. Then, if you didn't shape up, they could show you the door without any of this out of the blue nonsense.

 

Anyway. I think you're better off.