J
jbutzky
Guest
In June 1999, I was fired from a job I had for 18 years. In October of 1998, my Department Director, under his reorganization policy, had me transferred to another section of the department. At that time, under reorganization, you have only two alternatives: (1) quit, or (2) go to the new job. Prior to this reassignment, I had received a favorable performance review that I felt was outstanding and received a 4-percent merit increase in salary. Upon reassignment, it became very clear to me within 30 days, that I was not going to be able to work in this position.
For several reasons, it continued to employment. I knew that I could not receive unemployment if I voluntarily quit. I also had hoped that I would get another job with this company. Many meetings with the Assistant Director and staff assistant ensued all of which centered around me "not performing up to expectations". The job duties were basically no different from what I had come from except in the areas of doing the mail (which had several different distribution requirements which were hard to learn) and answering the telephone (I now had to answer the phone for 60 people). A list of job responsibilities was given to me and I tried to do them to the best of my ability but most "were not done according to their time schedule, done correctly in their estimation, or performed up to their expectations, and in the case of answering the telephone - not answered correctly".
Several unsatisfactory documents were lodged against me to Human Resources. I was even advised and mandated to go through our Employee Assistance Program. The outcome of that was favorable on my part and I was told by the Employee Assistance people that I should really quit this job. What ensued as a long period of time where my telephone calls were monitored, I was watched constantly and a daily account of my activities and performance were monitored. I became sick had problems sleeping, eating, and basically functioning as an individual. I also was late for work on many occasions because I hated going to work under these conditions (This was my fault. I should have been more responsible because this is ultimately the reason that they fired me). I did hire an attorney and we went through several meetings with Human Resources staff and my boss at the time (Complaint Hearings and Grievance Hearings) and a large bill is still owed to my attorney. The information on my performance was documented on a daily basis and was not always true and correct, but being unaware that they were doing this, I had no information to substantiate what I had done on a daily basis. In conclusion, I was fired and I believe I was set up to fail in this new position but I can't prove anything.
My questions are:
(1) Nine (9) months after being fired, I have applied for hundreds of jobs and have not gotten a job at this point. What information can the company give perspective employers when called for a reference? On a couple of jobs that I have recently applied for, the company is requesting a written reference from my last employer. Why should I be penalized for 8 months out of 18 years for poor performance. I desperately need to get a job as I have now expended all of my savings.
I have not told any employers that I have interviewed with that I was fired. I merely have said "that I was employed by the company for 18 years, and under reorganization was assigned to a new job that I neither enjoyed doing or that I liked the person I was working for, so I quit."
I am highly qualified to do the job I was doing (Administrative Assistant). I have several years' experience working with executive-level people. I also have a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and have several leadership roles in professional and community organizations. Because I was a single parent, 55 year old female at the time, I chose to continue employment hoping to find another job with the company which didn't happen. I also knew that I didn't want to take early retirement. The only alternative was to let them at some point fire me which they did.
(2) Do I have to repay Unemployment Compensation?
I received unemployed for several months from June through August. The Texas Workforce Commission said they had checked with my employer and awarded me unemployment in June. At the conclusion of the hearings (complaint hearing and grievance hearings), the company appealed the decision to pay me unemployment and I now have to repay the Texas Workforce Commission close to $3,000.00 which I was living on during the 4 months from June through August.
Please advise. Thanks for your help.
For several reasons, it continued to employment. I knew that I could not receive unemployment if I voluntarily quit. I also had hoped that I would get another job with this company. Many meetings with the Assistant Director and staff assistant ensued all of which centered around me "not performing up to expectations". The job duties were basically no different from what I had come from except in the areas of doing the mail (which had several different distribution requirements which were hard to learn) and answering the telephone (I now had to answer the phone for 60 people). A list of job responsibilities was given to me and I tried to do them to the best of my ability but most "were not done according to their time schedule, done correctly in their estimation, or performed up to their expectations, and in the case of answering the telephone - not answered correctly".
Several unsatisfactory documents were lodged against me to Human Resources. I was even advised and mandated to go through our Employee Assistance Program. The outcome of that was favorable on my part and I was told by the Employee Assistance people that I should really quit this job. What ensued as a long period of time where my telephone calls were monitored, I was watched constantly and a daily account of my activities and performance were monitored. I became sick had problems sleeping, eating, and basically functioning as an individual. I also was late for work on many occasions because I hated going to work under these conditions (This was my fault. I should have been more responsible because this is ultimately the reason that they fired me). I did hire an attorney and we went through several meetings with Human Resources staff and my boss at the time (Complaint Hearings and Grievance Hearings) and a large bill is still owed to my attorney. The information on my performance was documented on a daily basis and was not always true and correct, but being unaware that they were doing this, I had no information to substantiate what I had done on a daily basis. In conclusion, I was fired and I believe I was set up to fail in this new position but I can't prove anything.
My questions are:
(1) Nine (9) months after being fired, I have applied for hundreds of jobs and have not gotten a job at this point. What information can the company give perspective employers when called for a reference? On a couple of jobs that I have recently applied for, the company is requesting a written reference from my last employer. Why should I be penalized for 8 months out of 18 years for poor performance. I desperately need to get a job as I have now expended all of my savings.
I have not told any employers that I have interviewed with that I was fired. I merely have said "that I was employed by the company for 18 years, and under reorganization was assigned to a new job that I neither enjoyed doing or that I liked the person I was working for, so I quit."
I am highly qualified to do the job I was doing (Administrative Assistant). I have several years' experience working with executive-level people. I also have a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and have several leadership roles in professional and community organizations. Because I was a single parent, 55 year old female at the time, I chose to continue employment hoping to find another job with the company which didn't happen. I also knew that I didn't want to take early retirement. The only alternative was to let them at some point fire me which they did.
(2) Do I have to repay Unemployment Compensation?
I received unemployed for several months from June through August. The Texas Workforce Commission said they had checked with my employer and awarded me unemployment in June. At the conclusion of the hearings (complaint hearing and grievance hearings), the company appealed the decision to pay me unemployment and I now have to repay the Texas Workforce Commission close to $3,000.00 which I was living on during the 4 months from June through August.
Please advise. Thanks for your help.