My friend who's husband was... (sorry, got very long)

**Kimberlina** · 08-16-2005, 09:57 AM

...getting laid off/let go/fired/whatever you want to call it called me yesterday.

Originally they had told her husband (about 3-4 weeks ago) that he would need to leave next May after he graduated. (He is finishing his bachelor's degree right now, and they are paying for it.)

Then they told him two days later that he needed to leave August 8th, this year, and they would pay him severence until the end of August (3.5 weeks pay) and they would also allow him to go on interviews during the day and they would pay him for the time. They also said he wouldn't need to pay back his tuition money (which he would have to if he chose to leave on his own) and they would likely pay for the last two classes he was taking.

Then they told him he could stay until the end of August.

Last week they told him he could stay until the end of September.

Yesterday he went into work and they gave him his paycheck, two weeks severance instead of the three they promised, the money for his classses, and told him to go home, get his stock certificates, and turn them in immediately. (He lives an hour away, so he refused.)

Have you ever heard anything so completely screwed up??? I got fired once (the one blight in my employment record) for "not saying hello" to one of my employees, and I thought that was the most twisted things I had ever heard in my life. (The truth of the matter was that the owner- I was the pastry chef and manager of a bakery- was sexist and had found a man to replace me while I was on my honeymoon, and he also found out I was looking for a new job, so he fired me, and that was his excuse. The unemployment people said it was an "unjust firing" and I got paid for a week and a half before I got another job. He didn't stay in business long after I left.) Anyway, I think this is SO bizarre.

My friend's husband is very quiet and timid and he knows his job, so I don't know what on earth he could have done to prompt them to treat him this way. We went on vacation last month and they came for a few days, and his boss told him a week ahead of time that he could no longer take vacation then. But it was already paid for, so my friend insisted and the boss relented. Wayne was going to go back to work on Friday, but had a 3+ pitting edema sunburn with weeping, so he couldn't and it was the next week they decided to let him go. He has been there for 7 years, and they are also letting a couple other people go. (This is a very small company, too.)

Anyway, if you are still reading, thanks. Can you send some more good vibes/prayers their way? They will be okay because my friend is an RN who is picking up a lot of extra hours at work, so they are actually making more than they would if he was working, but she can't do it forever- she is anxiety-prone and can't work 7 days a week forever. He's had some good interviews but so far no offers- the business owner of the most promising lead is out of town on vacation right now.

Thanks!!!

**Missy** · 08-16-2005, 10:10 AM

good grief, that sounds terrible. I am so sorry for him. Hoping he finds something better real soon

bg · 08-16-2005, 10:32 AM

Its so cruel that your friend's DH's company is (was) playing ping pong with his feelings. I hope this works out. I hope he can at least collect unemployment or something...

**Darlene** · 08-16-2005, 10:41 AM

What a kick in the pants.

I just know he's going to be ok and find a great job, I hope it happens soon.

**Goodi2shooz** · 08-16-2005, 11:07 AM

Prayers sent up! There are some twisted bosses out there.... my daughter's former boss told her every day "you're probably going to end up being fired..." And my husband's former boss (an Iranian) fired him on 9/12/2001. We believe when something like this happens, that God knows what's best for us and has better things in store.. (both my dh and dd went on to much better jobs elsewhere after their firings)

**Michele Annette** · 08-16-2005, 11:37 AM

There are some screwy people running comapanies out there. How awful for your friend's DH! I would be so angry! I hope he finds a good job soon. I wish him the best on his search!

**PrairieRose** · 08-16-2005, 11:40 AM

Aaawww I feel terrible for them both. I know that has to be hard on them. I hope things work out in a wonderful way for them. Prayers going up.

**jlxian** · 08-16-2005, 12:52 PM

It sounds to me like someone higher up in the company couldn't decide what they wanted to do. Or maybe they have someone waiting in the wings (like someone's kid or niece or cousin) they want to put in the job and that person has been indecisive about their availability, and suddenly has become available and needs the job "right now". Good grief.

What I can't figure is why he had to turn in his stock certificates..... weren't they his? Did they pay him for them?

I hope he goes to the unemployment people with this.

**Nada.Leona** · 08-17-2005, 05:41 AM

I agree, I definitely think he needs to speak to someone. There's definitely something fishy going on in there.

My DH's best friend called him the other day in a pretty sour mood -- he works in sales and he'd been deserving a promotion for some time now and they gave it to a woman. Their reasoning? She's a woman, she's prettier and she'll sell more by appealing to the masses moreso than my DH's friend.

I told my DH that that is gender biased (reversed, perhaps, but hey, it happens!) and that his friend should definitely talk to the employment folk about that one, but DH didn't tell him that. His friend is one of those people who jump to conclusions and gets overly excited about things.

**Kimberlina** · 08-17-2005, 10:40 AM

They ARE hiring someone else. They have hired someone who my friend thinks won't take less than about 4x what her husband is making (not sure where she came up with the figure) but it does make sense as they are getting rid of 4 employees and hiring one. But that doesn't completely explain they hue variation in when they told him to leav (from May of next year to Aug 8 to Aug end to Sept end to..Monday????)

Anyway, the owner of the company is the one pulling all this crap, and I don't know how they are going to present it to te unemployment people, but I am sure they will tell them the whole saga and will be advised from there....

Thanks for the prayers!