ok i dont really know where to start so i will try to make this short and sweet. i was terminated after nine years on the job on thursday due to "excessive absenteeism". mind you i have not called off work since october of 2007.
when all of this started i was pulled into the managers office and given a paper to sign that basically said that if i called in again i was terminated. she just happened to skip the offical protocol and i was never given a verbal or written warning.
i signed it and went on about my business. i asked her SEVERAL times for a copy and was never given one. that is just how she is, will tell you what you want to hear and then never give you what you asked for.
in january (i had been off for a while due to surgery) i was called into her office again. she and her "asst" basically bereated me and accused me of refusing to discharge a patient, among other things. she used the "f" word several times screaming in my face telling me she wished she could fire me then, and that all of my co-workers hated me. i ended up in the hospital for chest pain and svt that night. i was to work the next day and i used my "personal" (safe) day for that.
after that i reported her to our hr department and had written about 14 pages in response to her one. i had had enough of her and a few others bullying ways, constant comments about me personally, heavy assignments, etc.
after that i just put it all behind me. went to work my two days and shut my mouth. after a while things seemed to be going ok......
about a month ago she told me she wanted me to do our facilitys program which had to do with extra education and things to get a pay raise, and also to be on the unit leadership committee and pain resource nurse. i really felt that things were looking up and getting better. she also wanted me to take the pccn exam also. when she approached me with this i asked her about the absenteeism issues and if they would hold me back from doing the ladder program (you cannot be in any disiplinary probation to do it). she flat at looked at me and told me NO that that was over with and i was out of that. about two weeks ago i asked her for copies of those dates that i had missed. she said again that I DIDNT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
well, this week i got very sick very suddenly. tonsils the size of golf balls, fever of 102. would you go to work? this was wednesday that i called off.
on thursday at 3pm i got a call from her and she said sorry to tell you this but i have to terminate you. heres the number to hr if you have any questions.
i point blank asked her why she told me i had nothing to worry about and she FLAT OUT DENIED
This kind of thing happens in many places, not just in nursing. It sounds like this job was making you sick. I have worked in hostile environments before with bad health effects for my trouble. I remember a meeting with a manager where I was told at the time that since I was a young woman with no children I didn't need a raise. I don't think I can describe how angry I felt, and I hope I never have to encounter another idiot like that again. I really hope that you find a normal, friendly and fair place to work. Huggs:icon_hug:
and i was wondering about some others talking of getting another job, did they miss the point were she had tried, and she found out she had been given a bad reference?
I've been through this. I didn't get another job until I had been through rejection after rejection after rejection. You don't get another job by giving up after the first time you find out that you're getting bad references. You get a job by being proactive. If it takes getting a lawyer involved, then do it. If it takes warning prospective employers that "so and so" is giving you a bad reference, then do it. If it takes getting written references from people who know you do good work, then do it. You take steps to make things more in your favor. And you keep trying. Until, someone finally hires you.
When I thought people were giving me bad references, I would call the company, put on a different accent, and say I was checking references on Kylee. I always asked "Would you rehire her?" I was always told yes.
It really stinks to be fired. Been there, done that. Don't wanna do it again.
I think it's interesting that these types always seem to make it into management. We just got rid of a horrible manager who thankfully took a job with the same for profit LTC closer to where she lives. The one they hired to replace sounds good so far, but I think sometimes it is difficult to manage a facility the way that you want when the higher ups dictate how you are to treat staff, ie limit OT, absenteeism (with paid sick days), and wages. I think sometimes the for profit industry is just that way, but I've seen it in non for profit too.
frankly, i found hopeful's first post somewhat offensive myself.....she ASSUMED that the op had been excessively absent, and went on from there, not particularly helpful.....perhaps not to the point of NASTY, but not helpful.......and i was wondering about some others talking of getting another job, did they miss the point were she had tried, and she found out she had been given a bad reference?
I suggest you go back and re-read...I SPECIFICALLY STATED that I WAS NOT saying that her previous absences were not valid.
I work w/a part-time nurse who works 2 days/week. Management is unhappy b/c she calls in or requests to be off about 50% of the time- it seems she frequently has things to do on her scheduled days- they have started giving her the day off if there is low census & she is upset now that she can't always work her 2 days. This has been going on since she was first hired, b/c of that she gained the reputation of being unreliable & we pretty much expect her to have an excuse to not be there on one of her two days, thus making the workload heavier for the rest of us. It's pretty obvious that management 'has it in for her' and we know it's only a matter of time b/f they bully her into leaving or she quits-- that's how management seems to work these days- no warnings, no probation- I'm not saying it's fair, nor am I saying this is how it is in your case- there seems to be a lot of incompetent managers out there today w/no people skills.
As far as references, I would put down some co-workers that liked you & know your work ethic- or maybe a letter of reference from a doctor- if you were there 9 yrs you most likely know a few people that'd be happy to do that for you. Good luck!
Things may really have been getting better but someone up the chain of command may have forced her actions. It sounds like you and she were establishing a good professional working relationship based on trust and respect rather than threats and intimidation. I would be willing to bet her superior- someone with no knowledge of your value to the unit or your current relationship-insisted she take action or face action herself. Getting rid of senior nurses who are developing health problems is a great way to save on a hospitals wage and benifit costs. New grads are cheaper by the hour and healthier, with fewer dependents and less concern for long term options like pensions, 401K, LTD insurance.
I think it's interesting that these types always seem to make it into management. We just got rid of a horrible manager who thankfully took a job with the same for profit LTC closer to where she lives. The one they hired to replace sounds good so far, but I think sometimes it is difficult to manage a facility the way that you want when the higher ups dictate how you are to treat staff, ie limit OT, absenteeism (with paid sick days), and wages. I think sometimes the for profit industry is just that way, but I've seen it in non for profit too.
When I thought people were giving me bad references, I would call the company, put on a different accent, and say I was checking references on Kylee. I always asked "Would you rehire her?" I was always told yes.
It really stinks to be fired. Been there, done that. Don't wanna do it again.
Just curious- do you have to give your name when calling for references? I mean could you be accused of impersonating someone from another hospital? I just wonder if HR would be suspicious? I've always been afraid to do this!
I believe that your employer is not allowed by law to give you a bad reference. I think they can only say that you did work there from date to date and whether or not you are rehirable, if asked.
Being that you worked there for 9 years implies that there was not a problem with your job performance or they wouldn't have kept you that long. Perspective employers know that. Best of Luck. I know you're down, I know it's not easy but remember God does not close a door without opening a window. A better job is ahead.
HR should have any information that you requested from your manager and did not recieve. All of my former places of employment hr had copies of everything. My advice would be to only give HR's telephone number when applying to a new job. In many states a new employer is limited to the information that they can ask from prev employers, but this does include wether or not you are in hireable or non- hireable status, and if am not not mistake they can report on your absentee record. All the best wishes for you in your journey to find a job.
PurpleMyst
146 Posts
This kind of thing happens in many places, not just in nursing. It sounds like this job was making you sick. I have worked in hostile environments before with bad health effects for my trouble. I remember a meeting with a manager where I was told at the time that since I was a young woman with no children I didn't need a raise. I don't think I can describe how angry I felt, and I hope I never have to encounter another idiot like that again. I really hope that you find a normal, friendly and fair place to work. Huggs:icon_hug: