Anyone ever had that happen? I know many have. I never expected to have it happen to me. I started a new job not even 2 months ago, and when they let me go, they didn’t even give me specific reasons besides “not a good fit”. They mentioned the whole 90 day period thing most employers have, but they didn’t even give me a full 90 days.
What bothers me is that they must have known ALL DAY and chose to tell me 20 minutes before close. To me that is rude. I worked there all day alongside them, being out of the loop to the knowledge that they already planned to “let me go” at the end of the day.
I could also tell the past week or so one of the providers acts very cold towards me. How am I supposed to improve or know what I need to work on if no one communicates? I tried my best to communicate and do what I needed to do but I don’t feel that communication was reciprocated. And as nurses we all know how integral communication is in our field. I’d try to be friendly. I didn’t get that back. The provider would literally talk to everyone but me...it was kind of awkward but I decided to pay no mind to it and just do my job. But he was very rude and now the vibes I got have come into full play, since he obviously wanted to let me go.
I worked for a smaller private clinic so you basically worked with the same 2 or 3 people all the time. The main provider I worked with seems to have held all the “power” in the decision , which I don’t find fair. It’s as if I didn’t jive with this provider well enough, and he just didn’t like me. I got along fine with all the other providers... no one else made me nervous but I can look back now and see that I felt nervous around that particular one.
I’m kind of crushed and I don’t think this was fair. I feel like it would’ve gone down a lot different were it not a private small clinic. I suppose just one or two people hold all the power in smaller places.
anyways, just looking for encouragement. Obviously at the moment at least, my confidence is temporarily shot.
I had a similar experience at a private practice -- I had one of the majority owners decide they didn't like me almost immediately and they fired me with no explanation (similar BS of "you're not a great fit") after 3 months in the position.
I'm now pretty wary of private practices as a result-- I don't want to ever work somewhere without an HR department, at the very least. For what it's worth, I was only unemployed for about 3 weeks and was able to gracefully explain the situation to prospective employers. Pound that pavement and keep looking! You deserve a better work atmosphere than this one where you were treated so poorly.
@T__BSN_AGNP21 I’m glad to know i’m not alone. Thanks for the encouragement!
@Davey Do oh my goodness I didn’t mean to come across like that ? I figured you meant in a long time span - my reaction was more geared toward how awesome it is that you persevered on 3 separate occasions, I wasn’t judging you at all! Sorry if it came across like that. ?
@Workitinurfava I hear ya!! It blows my mind how people can be so cliquey and talk behind people’s backs. I try to make a point not to participate. I know it happens everywhere but it seems small clinics/private practices are breeding grounds for it!
@brandy1017 yes I’m the same way!!! I’m friendly and easy to get along with but am not a social butterfly at work, either! I agree with you - I’d also prefer to go in, do my job, have an arms length relationship with the providers and go home! I suppose at this clinic if you weren’t on a personable liking basis, a good working professional relationship didn’t matter.
@Bloop41 thanks so much for sharing! Glad it worked out fine for you. I agree about being wary of working for a place without a solid or involved HR- they act as checks and balances for staff I feel like. Well, lesson learned. I’ll be extremely weary of working in a small practice again. It’s not worth it to me to take a chance and *see* if I fit in or not. I’ll be looking for a bigger staffed facility with other nurses I can work alongnside instead of being rudely isolated by the one and only provider on a daily basis.
I thank you all for sharing! It feels better to know that this can be a common trend among small practices - being let go over mystery reasons or simply not being liked by someone. I appreciate all your comments and am looking forward to a better working environment to come!
Yep, been there too. My first nursing job, actually, meaning I’d had my license two weeks when they hired me. It was a horrible situation and I was going to get my “one year experience” that is mandated for any job and then leave. Well, 6 weeks into it I got the call that I was needed in the manager’s office, and my coworker told me to bring my stuff with me. Apparently, she knew I was being fired and once you’re terminated you’re escorted off the property and can’t return, so she at least saved me from having MY combination lock cut off my locker and the contents mailed to me a week later. I was given the “not a good fit” speech and was walked to my car at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon. The real kicker is it was the day before my son’s birthday party and I was a single mom. At least I’d prepaid for the party!
Bigger and better things are awaiting you, places where you’ll be appreciated and your skills and knowledge will be valued. Good luck!
@T-Bird78 thanks for sharing!! Look at that - what’s up with the weekend trend of letting people go from their jobs at the end of the day?! I’m sure you’ve come a long way since then. I appreciate your words of encouragement.
My parents can’t wrap their head around the fact that I was simply given the reason “not a good fit”. And that I was “let go” by a tech. They said they can’t legally let someone go without a specific reason - however, many of you said when you got the boot you were told something similar or that very same classic line. It can be so frustrating trying to explain things to family! I know it’s just because they are angry for me, but unfortunately places can and do just get away with letting people go without giving them much explanation.
It sounds like you were done a favor. I would want to have a good working relationship with the people in the clinic that I work with. I have worked in a clinic before and it was very, us against you, and on our side or on the other side. I was even recruited (gang) and told, "we don't talk to her because of XYX". I personally thought the person was doing a good job and I could not see what they were seeing. It will be okay.
I don't know why people act this way, Maybe Ddoo can tell us the rationales that are possible.
A hundred years ago I was a cashier in a small grocery store, I was told by another cashier that the head cashier/office worker didn't like me and to watch out. I was fired to allowing a bag of potatoes go through without charging. We always had to check the carts to make sure someone didn't accidentally go through with pop, dogfood or potatoes on the bottom. I was told some potatoes went through, but did they really? I never saw any, no one brought it to my attention and no customer came back. Soooo. I always wondered when this happened and how it was discovered. Was it the head cashier? A few months after that they were having problems finding dependable employees, the manager ran into me one day and told me. He said he told the owner, " You should have kept that one." And the owner agreed. That really made me feel good.
They said they can’t legally let someone go without a specific reason - however, many of you said when you got the boot you were told something similar or that very same classic line.
They don't need a reason in my state. They just do it when and how they want. If they want to play mean they can. Lack of ethics.
I don't know why people act this way, Maybe Ddoo can tell us the rationales that are possible.
A hundred years ago I was a cashier in a small grocery store, I was told by another cashier that the head cashier/office worker didn't like me and to watch out. I was fired to allowing a bag of potatoes go through without charging. We always had to check the carts to make sure someone didn't accidentally go through with pop, dogfood or potatoes on the bottom. I was told some potatoes went through, but did they really? I never saw any, no one brought it to my attention and no customer came back. Soooo. I always wondered when this happened and how it was discovered. Was it the head cashier? A few months after that they were having problems finding dependable employees, the manager ran into me one day and told me. He said he told the owner, " You should have kept that one." And the owner agreed. That really made me feel good.
So ridiculous!! All over potatoes? ? supposedly... some people are just in positions of power who shouldn’t be.
So sorry this happened to you. I am sure it was probably not your nursing care of why you were let go. I recently worked in a place where there was an individual that controlled every little aspect of care and the staff was unhappy. I literally worked there for 2 days and decided it wasn't for me, so I resigned. Did not want to work with unfriendly and seemingly uncaring, micro-managed staff. So maybe these people did you a favor and you avoided more misery down the road. I am sure you will find something better.
So ridiculous!! All over potatoes? ? supposedly... some people are just in positions of power who shouldn’t be.
I used to work retail many moons ago, like many, but also served in middle management for a time. It is not uncommon to let employees go over small value mistakes.
Few reasons;
1) Employee turnover is relative inexpensive in retail since training is generally short.
2) Margins are generally extremely thin, especially in grocery stores where 1-3% is not uncommon. This means shrink (any loss of product) has a major impact upon the financial health of the business. Small errors (to us) are seen as big errors to them.
3) The compensation is too small to attract leaders so you end up with managers who tend to be task oriented instead of actual leaders.
I should have known something was going on when I’d signed up to bring macaroni and cheese to the potluck we were having the next week and someone crossed my name off the list and put theirs instead. I just thought they didn’t like me (which was true) and didn’t want to sample my mac. Their loss, really, as I use Paula Deene’s recipe with 6 kinds of cheese in it. . .
Anyway, if your state is an at will or right to work, no reason is required especially in the first 90 day probation period. Still sucks because you don’t know what to improve for next time.
I should have known something was going on when I’d signed up to bring macaroni and cheese to the potluck we were having the next week and someone crossed my name off the list and put theirs instead. I just thought they didn’t like me (which was true) and didn’t want to sample my mac. Their loss, really, as I use Paula Deene’s recipe with 6 kinds of cheese in it. . .
Anyway, if your state is an at will or right to work, no reason is required especially in the first 90 day probation period. Still sucks because you don’t know what to improve for next time.
FYI, "at will" and "right to work" are completely different things. I believe the "at will" premise applies in this case...
Bloop41, BSN, RN
44 Posts
I had a similar experience at a private practice -- I had one of the majority owners decide they didn't like me almost immediately and they fired me with no explanation (similar BS of "you're not a great fit") after 3 months in the position.
I'm now pretty wary of private practices as a result-- I don't want to ever work somewhere without an HR department, at the very least. For what it's worth, I was only unemployed for about 3 weeks and was able to gracefully explain the situation to prospective employers. Pound that pavement and keep looking! You deserve a better work atmosphere than this one where you were treated so poorly.