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Author Topic: The Bad, the Good, and the Ugly
philocinemas
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The Bad:
I was terminated yesterday, but not by a cyborg from the future - I was "let go".
In my profession, there are certain privacy laws that have very fine parameters. Another clinician at my company informed me of some inappropriate behavior between my client and her client. By asking my client about this behavior, I inadvertantly crossed a boundary I should not have crossed. My client then informed the other that I knew about this, and my company interpreted this as a human rights violation, even though I was apparently the only one in the dark about any of this.

The Good:
I had been asked Thursday afternoon to "come in" the next morning. This is often the code word for "you screwed up royally, and we are going to fire your a**!" Therefore I began putting feelers out to previous employers.
The next morning I defended my position with as much dignity I could muster, apologetic but resolute in my defence, and they allowed me to "resign". Within an hour I had three possible job offers, two firm.

The Ugly:
I will not be making as much money at any of these other places, but there will most likely be less paperwork. Regardless, I am really down...


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BenM
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Major bummer. I can only suppose that if there is a silver lining, it's that you're not alone in this predicament - it would seem to me this is a common enough issue that there should be some sort of support network.

I am rather obsessive about dotting my i's and crossing my t's at work, but (different industry) we have thousands of clients and a lot of of dollars riding on every software change I release. Maybe it's the stress of some of these jobs that makes us choose writing as a release?


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Kathleen Dalton Woodbury
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I can't help but wonder what happened to the clinician who broke confidence in the first place by telling you about the inappropriate behavior. And what was her purpose in doing so?

The dynamics of this kind of thing would be fascinating (and surely grist for a writer's mill) if they weren't so troubling and didn't cause so much pain and frustration to real people, like you, philocinemas.

Please accept my sympathy, and my congratulations on being able to make a change so quickly.

I know it's trite, but considering how you seem to have been knocked into a pit that appears to have been dug for you, perhaps you were better out of that work situation. Here's to less paperwork, anyway.


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philocinemas
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There was more to the whole situation, but what I described was essentially why I was terminated. The entire situation was very complicated and would require more explanation than I feel comfortable discussing. I will sum it up in that the other clinician was upset over her client's involvement with my client, and I had recently supervised an outing between the two of them without knowing any of this. This was something I and others had done other times over the last year without incident.
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LDWriter2
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quote:

The Bad:
I was terminated yesterday, but not by a cyborg from the future - I was "let go".
In my profession, there are certain privacy laws that have very fine parameters. Another clinician at my company informed me of some inappropriate behavior between my client and her client. By asking my client about this behavior, I inadvertantly crossed a boundary I should not have crossed. My client then informed the other that I knew about this, and my company interpreted this as a human rights violation, even though I was apparently the only one in the dark about any of this.
The Good:
I had been asked Thursday afternoon to "come in" the next morning. This is often the code word for "you screwed up royally, and we are going to fire your a**!" Therefore I began putting feelers out to previous employers.
The next morning I defended my position with as much dignity I could muster, apologetic but resolute in my defence, and they allowed me to "resign". Within an hour I had three possible job offers, two firm.

The Ugly:
I will not be making as much money at any of these other places, but there will most likely be less paperwork. Regardless, I am really down...


My sympathies also. Hopefully the next job will not only by less paperwork but less very strict rules.

Sounds like some of the same extreme political correct stuff other people have been tripping over lately.


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Kathleen Dalton Woodbury
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quote:
I had recently supervised an outing between the two of them without knowing any of this.

So it was a communications problem in more ways than one, I guess?

Too bad.

Again, best wishes with your new situation.


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Crystal Stevens
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I'm so sorry to hear this, my friend, but you are so fortunately to be able to move on to another job. Not many are that fortunate. I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown when my husband lost his job--not of his own making--about 3 years ago. We're both blue collar workers with few other skills, and my husband's health was against him. After unsuccessfully of searching for a job for over a year, I told him we might as well try for disability, something I thought he wouldn't qualify for, but we had nothing to lose. What a shock when he got it without having to get a lawyer or jump through hoops. I wish there had been another way to solve our problems, but it sure beat losing our home and everything we had worked so hard to achieve in our 30+ years of marriage. Now everything is back on track, and we paid our house off last year.

Give the new job some time. And who knows? Something better may present itself in the near future (Faith in the Good Lord in Heaven doesn't hurt either. I'm convince that my prayers to Him are what pulled us through our hard times.).


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Kathleen Dalton Woodbury
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I'm convinced of the efficacy of prayer, too, Crystal. Thanks for sharing that.
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jayazman
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I'm right there with you, philocinemas. I was recently "let go" from a job for dubious reasons, although since I live in Arizona, they don't have to have a reason at all.... anyway, I am also working in a job that pays less.... there are aspects that I like better, but yeah, it pays less.

I'm also on the lookout for something better, but in this economy I haven't seen much. Good luck to you.


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DRaney
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Philocinemas ~ just don't let'em get you down, and certainly don't let them take your power. I got the career axe over a decade ago for something that was 'their fault'. When I refused to falsify critical information they cut me loose... after 20+ years. One of my most difficult struggles was 'self'. They got me down and took my power until I realized that I was not the bad apple in the bunch. I took a 50k cut... yikes! So'kay though, it opened the way to where I am now. And I would not trade back to that old way fer nuthin! Keep yourself intact and let THEM go. Ditto Crystal'n Kathleen...
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philocinemas
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Thanks, everybody for the uplifting comments.

I have been going through the various stages of grief - depression, denial, anger, etc. I have lined up something already (as my original post stated), but I haven't made a final decision as to which direction to take yet - however, it feels good to be wanted.

We had an out-of-town wedding reception to go to this coming weekend, and at first we had planned on cancelling, but after some thought we've decided to go to just get away. I think it will be good.

My wife has given me a honey-do list this week, and I have been working it around some writing that I haven't been able to do much in the last year. I am actually enjoying the time this has afforded me. I will be back to work shortly - probably the next couple of weeks - and so I am trying to make the best of my situation.


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Robert Nowall
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My sympathies. I've been "put off the clock" myself---but I fought hard to get the job back, lawyering up and everything---and not only came back, but I'm still there.

(Why, I don't know---it's not very interesting, and it's kind of demanding. Mostly the pay and benefits. I look forward to retirement.)

If you've got time on your hands, at least for awhile---don't forget to write. I used my "off the clock" time to finish my last-to-date novel.


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