Got fired today

-jt · Dec 12, 2002

They stepped on her ego and may have also violated a law and owe her the salary she is missing by no longer working there. You dont get unemployment checks if you were fired for 'just- cause', so if the unemployment board decides shes entitled to get unemployment checks, thats even more proof that she should not have been fired. And that gives her an even stronger case for getting back the rest of her salary. Id do all of what you suggest, look at the window opening, enjoy the time off, etc, but ALSO get a lawyer to go after the salary I still had coming from that place - while I went off to my new adventures. Yes youre a great nurse & this firing may be a blessing in disguise that you can use to your best advantage - but why should they get away with legal violations & not paying you what they owe? This may very well be a situation where you can have your cake & eat it too --- piece of mind, less stress, a new direction, PLUS the rest of your salary free & clear to cushion your new found time off.

Good luck.

-jt · Dec 12, 2002

Contact your state nurses association government relations/legislative dept. They are already lobbying for the issues youre interested in & would be able to direct you. There may even be something they are already involved in with those issues that you might be interested in helping with. The state nurses assocs also have professional lobbyists at the state capitol. Your state nurses assoc can put you in contact with yours & youll receive of wealth of information, direction, and advice on how to achieve your goal.

Good luck.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Dec 12, 2002

Once again, thanks to all of you for your suggestions, and especially all the love & concern you've shown. You are truly friends in need, and friends indeed!:kiss

I've already gotten past the worst of the hurt, and while it still stings the ego a bit, Youda was right---I've wanted out of that job for a long time, it's caused me nothing but grief and lost sleep. Sure the money was good (although I never got paid for all the OT I put in because I was a salaried employee), but it wasn't worth my sanity!!

I hear all of you when you say it was a blessing. I've only been looking around for a job for 2 days, and have already run across two or three interesting positions I would never have known about if I weren't having to look. I'd really like to find a job right away so I don't worry so much about money while I take my involuntary sabbatical; I've decided that even if I were to find a job tomorrow, I'm not going to start until after the holidays. It's been 2 1/2 years since I've had more than 4 consecutive days off, and I do need this time to regroup and recharge the batteries for a new leap into life.

Also---thanx for the excellent advice as to getting involved on a political level. I may very well explore the options available, even though I'd planned to go into it a little later down the road.

God bless you all!

Marla:D

abrenrn · Dec 12, 2002

Marla -

I can't help myself, I always have to put my two cents in.

jt is right, we do let them get away with it. I've let lots of places "get away" with the same thing - I've never even gotten unemployment. I do take a stand on what I insist upon, that I have always gotten. I worry about the price I will pay if I go to unemployment (yes, at least once, I resigned - but since it was impossible to do my job - I would have qualified). I chose not to, I wanted good references - which I get. I did threaten with unemployment to get what I insisted on - one more month of medical and reinstatement of vacation days that weren't.

Yes, I know I'm wrong. But I can only fight so hard alone. So far, nursing does not come together enough so that we can support each other in our battles. We all fight the same battle, in our own way, alone.

Occassionally I see hope. So far not enough for me to go off my sabbattical.

I know how much I can afford. Alone I am quite limitted.

abrenrn · Dec 12, 2002

Addendum:

If you choose one of the jobs you're interested in and they say they can't wait until after the holidays, don't take the job. If they can't wait a few weeks now, they don't want you that much.

mattsmom81 · Dec 12, 2002

(((HUGS)))) Marla ...can't add to the excellent posts already here...but I am thinking of you and wishing you all the best!

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Dec 12, 2002

(((MJ))) As the old saying goes, don't let the b------- get you down. And, their lack of management and staffing doesn't constitute your emergency. If I were you right now, I'd be singing "Happy Trails" all the way to the Unemployment Office, for their loss is your gain. Kick back for a few weeks, enjoy Christmas and your family, then start off the New Year RIGHT with a new prospect...say Case Management? After having my body and soul burnt to a crisp after 30 years of clinical, I rolled the dice and started working for an insurance company two years ago as a nurse case manager. NO weekends, NO holidays and NO impossible shifts. Try it...I GUARANTEE you'll LIKE it!

Teshiee · Dec 13, 2002

Anytime you work for someone you know they are ungrateful, thankless and uncaring. Look at it as a blessing in disguise!!!! It really is a positive thing because now you can move on and do what you want. I sware these employers think they are doing us a favor when they employ us to work for them. They think by firing you they take something away which is so far from the truth it is giving you back the power to do what you want not feeling obligated.

You take care of yourself things will work in your favor in the long run.

moonchild20002000 · Dec 14, 2002

I agree with jt,I think you should talk to an attorney.

Fired for medical problems?? That is discrimination!!!!!!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Dec 14, 2002

Thanks, you guys, but maybe I need to clarify something. I wasn't fired, exactly, for having medical problems; these people are smarter than that. What they said was, I would be rehireable if and when I got my medical (and the implication included psychological) problems under control. I've been run-down for a long time because of GYN issues, stress, burnout, etc. and my depression has gotten increasingly worse despite medication. So they were right when they said I was unable to perform the requirements of the job. (It obviously did not matter that the requirements of the job were constantly expanding along with the case load, or that it would've taken 80-hour work weeks to accomplish everything they wanted.)

If I were in a better position emotionally and financially, I probably would talk to our family lawyer about this, but I figure I'll just cut my losses and count myself lucky to be out of there. I've already got one agency that's very interested in talking to me, and there are several other prospects out there that sound good as well. So don't worry, I'm going to be OK.

(((((HUGS))))) to all of you!

sphinx, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2002

Marla,

I am happy for you that you are able to see the positve side of this, and are able to move forward, and trying to affect positive change in your life. That job was contributing to your stress and depression, and you likely will recover more quickly now that you are out of there! When I was fired from my job several years ago, it was also because of my depression......I was so severely depressed that I had several absences, and even though my manager was aware of my situation, he fired me anyway (did not even recomend EAP, and I was too down to stand up for myself). I was fired based on the missed days which made me fired for "incompetence" (which is true, I wasn't competent to work) but also made it so I could not get unemployment. It may not seem "right" to have been fired, but by making you "rehireable" thay have done you a favor. I understand why you aren't going to pursue a lawyer, I didn't either. But unlke you, in my case, despite the fact that I had become miserable and anxious about my job, I was still devastated, and my depression just went downhill to where I never left the home, and attempted suicide, leaving me as a pt in the psych ward. I don't see that happening to you. You are a strong woman. You've been given a blessing, however ego-bruising a package it may have come in. And you are smart enough to see it as what it is.

As for the hysterectomy, I imagine that will help too, as pain contributes greatly to depression. The short time I was feeling "myself" was the few months after my own hysterectomy this year. It was so wonderful to be without the severe pain and heavy bleeding, I felt like a new person, and my mood went accordingly.

I hope the adjustment in antisepressant helps too. I can't remember what you take? But with the changes in your life, and your positive outlook, maybe the tweak is just what you need!

(((HUGS)))!!!!!

-jt · Dec 15, 2002

>

Same difference - and its illegal to fire someone for that. They could have used Family medical leave and EAP to give you time to heal. But you have to do for yourself what you feel most comfortable with. It just kills me to see yet another RN have to go thru something like this when there are laws to protect from this kind of thing. It keeps happening to us because we have to cut our losses & move on in order to keep our sanity & build our strength back up. Maybe when youre feeling better you can have someone go get what is owed to you. In the meantime, take care of yourself. Good luck & good health.