Here's the story, morning glory

[cleolinda]

So, now that I've made my big scam post on m15m, here's the Bad Thing I was talking about the other day:

My mother resigned from her job today. She's worked there a year and half, and they've had her doing the work of three people, yet were mysteriously unhappy when she did not, in fact, magically become three people. Never mind that she's working twelve-hour days just to keep her department's head above water and it's about to kill her. This came to a head on Friday, when she had a Come to Jesus talk with her employers that made her think that she was soon to be of the firing. The thing is, if you're fired, yes, you can collect unemployment insurance. Apparently in some states, you can simply say that you worked for someone from this date to that date and then say, "No, you can't call them back and check up on me." In Alabama? Can't do that. A future employer could call this one, and could ask, "Would you rehire her, if the opportunity arose?," and in the case of a firing, they can say, "No." So a firing, whether it was justified or not, is something of a stigma on your resumé here, and once I realized this, I started urging her to resign ASAP and beat them to the punch.

Well, she was going to resign Wednesday, but she went ahead and did it today. Her immediate supervisor was shocked--I half think that the employers were happy to vent their spleen on her and then continue working her into the ground; it may have sounded like they were going to fire her, but in reality, they had no such intention. The way it's worked out, then, has been for the best--they were taken by surprise and asked her to stay on 6-8 weeks to train the people who will take over her responsibilities and get them to a point where she can leave. We're going to sell my neglected car (which has been fixed, by the way) and the old engagement diamond my dad gave her (remember, they're divorced and she has since remarried), and with all that together, we've probably bought ourselves six months to regroup.

As of the other day, though, all I knew was, "She either has to quit or be fired. There goes half our income." I was a little anxious about this. Y'know.

I do want to make clear, though, that I think of this journal as having sort of a documentary aspect--I'm telling you this because you're reading and it's what's going on. We'll get through this, as we get through everything else, and if you want to observe that, it's here. This is not me on the fainting couch with my hand to my brow, is what I'm saying. I know how generous LJers can be--I'm saying this in part because I fear waking up tomorrow and finding out that y'all have taken up a collection or something, because I have seen so many people do that for friends who really needed it. And we're certainly nowhere near that. I really, honestly feel like I have been so, so fortunate in my life so far--I mean, at least we have things we can sell, you know? There are things we can do, and already things are looking up, with the extra time we've been given. I can get my Jo March on and finish the projects I'm working on; my stepfather has his job, and he's settled into it now and seems to really enjoy it. I'm not in class at the moment, so that's another expense we don't have to worry about, and I can take the summer off as well if I need to. I'm going to be stewing in my own anxiety for a while, I'm sure, but we'll get through it.

Comments

[handful.livejournal.com]

I would still like to give you much hugs. ♥ I know that you guys will land on your feet.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

That is huge news - sort of incredibly scary but slightly exciting all at once. Hopefully, you mum will be able to find a fantastic job where all her qualities are appreciated and that would be great. Obviously.

Good luck to all of you in the coming months. I hope things work out. :)

[sea-of-tethys.livejournal.com]

Oh. Well I know you're not looking for gratuitous sympathy, but *tea*

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Thanks. That whole bit at the end was more in the vein of, "... so don't take up a collection for me or anything." ; )

[kira002.livejournal.com]

Good for your mum for leaving them flummoxed. And hurrah for buying yourselves some more time. Now go get your Jo March on. (I think this calls for a new avi.)

[bibliotech.livejournal.com]

Not that I don't love you and care and am not sending you virtual love right this second, but all I can think right now is, "...damn, I really want a fainting couch."

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I do too! They're really awesome-looking. I saw one that had an attached endtable/drawer/TELEPHONE NOOK.

[skyblade.livejournal.com]

Do you believe they had no intention of firing your mother? I mean, I guess they would have needed someone to do the training, but...do you think there was some kind of backtracking on the company's part? I have seen workplaces hold the axe before just to scare its employees into being "better". And in some cases a company will pull the "we were never going to fire you" claim, just to erase culpability on their part.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I kind of didn't want to give a detail this specific in the main entry, in case anyone from her office wanders across this, but... when the bosses got up to leave from the Come to Jesus meeting, her supervisor... winked at her. That, and after another dressing-down, my mom came in the next day and said, "Look, if you want to let me go, just give me time to find a new job and I'll be out of here," and they were like, "What are you talking about?" They just really seem to enjoy yelling at her but keeping her around for three people's worth of gruntwork, I don't know.

[musikologie.livejournal.com]

I'm glad your mum got out of that situation. Hugs to all of you.

[laurelin-kit.livejournal.com]

I was wondering when you'd tell the journal audience.

I do hope everything works out, and I'm glad you aren't freaking out about it too much. It sounds like a stressful situation, but you guys have a lot of options.

Good luck, even though I think you can handle it fine. :)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Well, I wanted to wait until the actual resignation/firing happened. Thing is, on the board, I *know* her employers can't see it.

[arielchan.livejournal.com]

Never easy stuff, but I get the feeling your family knows very definately what you're doing, so I'm sure you'll come out shiny. Good luck.

[law-witch.livejournal.com]

Whoa, what abusive employers!

IF she wants to stay on and help train (for bucks and time that work for her) she should go for it. But she should feel free to take long lunches or leave early for interviews.

hey, she did the right thing, they would have just worked her to death more and made her feel like crap if she stayed (speaking from having been there and dragged through it!)

[moveablehistory.livejournal.com]

Poor Cleo. *hugs*

[lacrimaeveneris.livejournal.com]

Tough stuff, but it sounds like you have yourselves planned out, at least. Best wishes and a bit of luck (because everyone needs luck!) in the future endeavors. And I know you're not looking for sympathy, but *hug*.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I rewrote that part--it's really sweet of y'all to offer emotional support, and that's fine. I was more concerned that someone would try to start up a collection, because I've seen it happen before.

(Such a cute icon!)

[mysticowl.livejournal.com]

It does sound like your mom did the right thing and from what I gathered from your blog, she is an experienced, highly capable woman, hopefully she'll find a job more appreciative of her talents!

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

his is not me on the fainting couch with my hand to my brow, is what I'm saying

I stayed in a B&B that had one. It was lovely. My comment was "If I had one of these I'd faint more often!"

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

Sounds like the work situation was stressful for her, and she is probably better off getting out of there regardless of their intentions of firing her or not. Those kinds of mind games aren't worth any kind of salary.

I'm sure she'll find another position soon...people change jobs a lot nowadays!

Good luck to your family, and with your writing!

[missmp.livejournal.com]

I know this is going to be stressful for your family, but it might be a blessing in disguise for your mom. I satyed in a bad job way too long because I needed the paycheck, and it was so liberating when I finally quit. I felt like a new woman, hopefully your mom will too!

Hugs to you and I hope everything works out for y'all.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Thanks. That's the way she's looking at it. : )

[katels.livejournal.com]

Good luck for your mom's job search. I'm sure it'll be better for everyone's mental health to get her out of an environment like that!

Lean times are hard but not impossible. It's great that your family can pull together and all help out.

All the best.

[gabsy.livejournal.com]

You're saying I shouldn't start a dance-o-thon in order to raise money so you or anyone in your family never has to work again?

Too late.

But seriously, I really hope everything'll turn out for the better in the hand. Best of luck to you and your mother.

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

Good luck for the next few months (and after that, obviously, but I you know what I mean) and in the search for a new job with rational employers.

[meghatron.livejournal.com]

I've spent the last couple of weeks a gibbering mess because my mother-in-law and her caretaker run out of money other than disability (which barely covers renting a single room in today's market, much less an entire apartment or house) next month, and we're trying to buy the house they've rented for twenty-three years and cramp ourselves in with them and I'm about to lose my mind.

So six months cushion to line up the next step? Excellent planning, and may your mother be as blessed as I am with an employer who respects her abilities and the time she needs outside of her job.

[meghatron.livejournal.com]

Also, your icon? My first real laugh all day. Thank you.

[redmapletree.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I wish you and your family all the best of luck. Hope everything works out. :)

[scarletsherlock.livejournal.com]

god, that sucks! I know how you feel. My mom has been out of work (she was "downsized"--along with 8 other over-50 people at her company!) in December of 2004 and has yet to find another position like the one she had before. We're okay, with my stepdad's job and everything, but it can be a bit of a lifestyle change. I wish you both luck. *hugs*

Well you've got to have the right icon

[elisa0984.livejournal.com]

Your mom sounds well rid of them. Take care.

[wendywoowho.livejournal.com]

You seem very capable of Jo Marching.

I'm sorry for the suckitude in your family's collective life.

Chin up. Soldier on. Martinis at the finish line.

[la-sonnambula.livejournal.com]

Best of luck to your family, Cleo. And I really admire the calm and optimistic way you're handling the difficult situation.