What it was all about

[captain_slinky]

Nutshell: On top of everything else, I thought I was going to be getting fired at work. So Unemployment + Cancelled B-Day + Dead Dreams = Unhappy Brian


The cancellation of my birthday and the super-depresing quote about letting your dreams die were just salt in the much larger wound of what was depressing me and stressing me out.

See, yesterday I almost lost my job again. And the reasons I would have been fired for would have been for taking too much time being to nice to customers while also having called a co-werker a Retard.

See, I've been on an "Improvement Plan" since April 12th trying to get my stats better. Weekly goals for improvement were set and I was told that failure to meet these goals would result in either being "written up" or "Termination of Employment".

Thing is, thanks to the Retard who I called a Retard who got all upset about being called a Retard, I'm on a probation that menas I can't be written up for ANYTHING in the following 6 months or else my employment would be termintaed! So my "written up" or "Termination of Employment" turned in to a "Termination of Employment" or "Termination of Employment"

This week there were two stats I had to worry about; one had to be under 15, the other had to be under 35 (PACE AUX and AVG ACW for those of you who work wih me). The 15 I passed no problem, getting a 14.74. But the 35 was the bad news; it cam in at 35.5.

ON-HALF SECOND longer than I was supposed to hav it at. And the rules had been crystal-clear; failure to meet these speciic goals would result in "Termination of Employment" or "Termination of Employment".

That was the 27th that I knew my stat were off. That was the day I was tense and nervous and depressed, which bled over on to Yesterday the 28th. And i couldn't tell khristle because I didn't want her to worry; she's an incredibly talented worrier.

It really sucked because no matter what I tried to do to cheer myself up was shot down in fiery flames of fire by outside sources. A comic book convention on my Birthday? No, no money for that. New Sushi restaurant? Nope, can't afford that either. And each one of those shots further reminded me that once I'm unemployed I REALLY couldn't afford any Sushi and Comics! Similar reminders came from my other cheer-me-up sources such as planning a omic book store and planing a trip to Disneyland. And of course I was thinking about where we were gonna have to move to, Mount Vernon or Ohio?

So I waited all day long yesterday, confided in the Ninja Chat that it may be my last day, and waited for the news.

The news never came. 8 hours of sweating and cursing and tension and depression and self-loathing, then nothing. So before I left, I cornered Pat (my Supervisor).

Pat was a bit stunned that I had put so much time and energy in o this, and assured me that I still had a job, and that my numbers look pretu good with lots of improvements all across the board and that we'd talk about it tomorrow, but at least I've still got a job.

So at least I'm still employed! With that stone off from around my neck, I feel like I migh be able to fly again! So the rest of today (if I find the time) is gonna be nothing but good stuff about my life!

Comments

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Oops! You heard my little swear-slip yesterday? I guess it *was* pretty loud :)

Yes it seems you've "been there", and I'm glad you have the same perspective on it as I do; it's all a bunch of crap!

I *think* I knew about your Anorxia, didn't I? Anywho, like I said before at lunch, in all honesty I could see you and your body frame in all the way up to a size 44 or even 46 without it being even noticable. And at least I see you eat! WHatserface who needled you about your weight should have been fired or at least written up... you should have persued it further and/or gotten legal representation. The reason my Retard got so upset (and it was a dude, btw) is becuase he HAD been in the Special Olympics as a child for something to do with his legs that had since cleared up. I appologized profusely and publicly, he still had me written up.

And don't worry, you're not annoying at all at werk. You're the only one here at just about my level of nerdosity, even if you do keep your nerdiness in The Closet. You'll need to come out about it, man! Embrace who you are!

And what the heck is up with your lump, anywho? My daughter has a similar one on her head that the doctor said *could* go away later in life but will probably be with her forever. Is yours a birthmark thing like hers, or is it an old war wound?

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Well I *did* spray paint the word "RETARD" on his car...

...While it was parked in his driveway at home...

...And I was burning a cross on their front yard at the time.

But I wouldn't call it a dance! Definately not! More of a "Spritely Jig", if you will.

[nani-ka.livejournal.com]

Our Cap'n was complaing about one of our glorious callers, at which point the gentleman in question took offence... unfortunately, most of us were at lunch or on break when it happened, and he was in Fife anyhow, so despite several of the people who WERE in the chatroom at the time immediately jumping into their IM & email to try & talk him down, talk him out of going to pitch a fit with management, worst case scenario immediately played out. But, yeah, if he was up here, there were at least 4 people who would have put people on hold, gone into aux to grab them both & get it settled before it ever came to the attention of anyone in a supervisory position...

So, that lovely email went out telling us chat was verboten, and from what tora's said things are still rather tense about IM in Fife still.

[agelesseuridice.livejournal.com]

Okay I’m going to break some rules here and try to set some things straight:
I read the IM log, and “the retard” didn’t go running to management over your comments first. He told you he found your statements about Special Olympics insulting. You then went on to repeat and intensify your statements. “The retard” took himself off the phone to cool down, running into his supervisor as he left the building. “The retard” was visibly shaking because of the encounter. His supervisor considered by many to be the most laid back supervisor we had, was the one who upon review of the IM log took it to HR.
I understand you thought you were being funny, but when asked to stop you went on. That’s what got you into trouble.
And in case you care, the only reason you weren’t fired was because when “the retard” was told that you were going to be terminated he went to HR and the top leadership and fought for your job. He was a better friend to you than you know.
I’m sorry if I’m hurting your feelings, and if this puts me off the kewl kids list so be it, but I thought you might like to know the other side of things. You are responsible for putting yourself in that corner and “the retard” who has muscular dystrophy, a painful and terminal disease, again if you care, is the one who protected you. Sometimes humor misses its mark, it happens to the best comedians. All that can be done is to apologize and move on.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... what you are saying completly conflicts with what Jane herself told me about the incident. Jane told me that she wanted to let it slide but Roger was insistant. And of course Roger refused to respond to any of my personal apologies so I'm more inclined to believe Jane's version than yours, even though your version sounds more like the Roger I knew (or thought I knew?).

So confused on the issue now... and the only person directly involved who works for Comcast any more is *me*! So in my own defense, here's the way it went down as far as I had known:

I compared talking a customer through registration to explaining the rules at The Special Olympics.

Roger replied saying he was offended.

I thought he was joking and insulted him directly saying "I know you're not retarded, but I still talk slowly when trying to explain stuff to you".

Roger left the conversation.

I IM'ed him personally to apologize, to which he replied "Whatever... I'm planning on quitting anyway" and signed out of messenger.

Soon I was messaged by Jane, who told me that Roger was completely devestated and that he was demanding I be written up for harrassment, and she wanted to get my side of the story.

Days later after my "Courtmarshall", Jane messaged me to say that she had pleaded my case, but Roger was threatening o take legal action against the company. I told her "Oh really? 'Cuz me messaged me and said he was planning on quitting anyway".

The next day I was informed that they were giving me "A strict probationary period" rather than letting me go.

And that was the last I ever heard about it. I had always assumed that they used my personal chat log to call Roger's bluff! But you were down there yourself, so if you say Roger was protesting and trying to make sure they DIDN'T fire me... I wonder what Jane's motives were for feeding me different lines?

Anywho, no, this WOULDN'T exclude you from being a Cool Kid in any way shape or form! You're still a great friend, and I'm glad you've presented new evidence to me! If you hadn't let m know this, I would have gone on blaming Roger for all of this!

[agelesseuridice.livejournal.com]

It is a bit confusing, I like Jane, but a supervisor has to walk a very fine line between supporting her team current and former and supporting the party line. There is a lot of politicking and I know she was very unhappy with that. I sat in her meeting with her team when the "incident" was discussed in that very round about HR no names, dates or specifics, and she was sad and how much she admired and respected "the other individual", but at least at that point she was towing the company lines about termination. Behind closed doors she might have been fighting to keep the mess from going too far.
Jane was not there that night, it was a Sunday and she didn’t work Sundays. Jeremy was. Roger literally ran into Jeremy as he was leaving the building. It was Jeremy that took it forward and in all fairness, I’m sure when Jeremy talked to him, he asked Roger what he wanted to do and I’m willing to bet in the heat of the moment Roger wanted it addressed.
Roger was upset but he did calm down and I honestly think he was appalled at how quickly it got out of hand once HR got a hold of it. And I would also put money down on one person in upper leadership, truly dislikes IM and puts up with it only because it has been shown to be an effective communication tool but also a toy employees like a lot, pushed the matter forward to support their assertion that IM should be banned. You just walked into a bad situation at a bad time.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Agreed! Sounds like it all went down exactly like that... makes much more sense than my previous assumption that Roger had suddenly taken a vendetta against me!

I'll still always be upset over the fact that something I said could so deeply offend someone, and that he never accepted my apologies, but I guess I can understand.

And yeah, Pat kinda alluded to the "Wrong place at the wrong time" thing with IM and Peter... which reminds me, good job of staying totaly HR/PC non-commital on this! You've refused to drop a single name! It's okay... this isn't company proprietary e-mail and it's not being done on company time or anything... you're safe here :P

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

I'm crossing my fingers for Spider Babies! Think of all the wacky adventures they'll have!

[supernovame.livejournal.com]

i have had numerous 'bumps' on my head. have a few now, but too much hair for people to tell. started getting them when I joined the navy, right after getting my head shaved. Not sure if that is related. Mine are calcium deposits. Had a few removed, they don't really hurt, more annoying, unless bumped hard. the doctors easily remove them with just local anesthetic. they pull out something that looks like a soft mothball. basically the head is making pearls out of calcium. the thing i hve found though, is when they remove them, they are usually hollow, and have fluid inside, and if they pop it or don't get it all, another will grow in that spot. They have mostly gotten all of them, but they keep messing up on the last one, and it keeps having to be re-removed. it's no big deal removing them though. you might get a second opinion if you want it gone. the guy who has been mostly removing them is at group health in everett.

[teegin.livejournal.com]

Damn Cap'n I didn't know you were going through all that shit at work. Am I really that dense and blind? Oh yeah and by the way I help contribute to the geeky nerdiness also. You have to stick around work because you make me giggle and who else can I tell stupid crass jokes, puns, and obscure references too (which your one of the rare nerdz that get it)? Keep up the corruption of us lesser demi-nerdz. On that note Happy B-Day big guy and und keine Eier!

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

NEXT weekend is my Birthday... May 8th! Same day as Don Rickles and Harry S. Truman!

[teegin.livejournal.com]

Oh my bad. Well either way Und Keine Eier!

[nani-ka.livejournal.com]

Shit. I wish I'd checked my FList yesterday in the middle of my own confusing/shitty drama, this would have cheered me up...

YAY!!

Do we need to organize a 3am ninja run to eat someplace stupid where we can drink too much shitty coffee & torment the waitstaff like college/highs school students/geeks? Or some other celebratory rediculousness?

I'm glad. It would kinda suck around here without you in chat.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Awww, thank you! No need for a 3am junk run - I got it covered at home with a burrito and som BQ sauce :)

[cutenessfact0r.livejournal.com]

In regard to the previous sushi plans I think we should go on with the show, the birthday boy should not have to pay for his own meal anyways :P so whaddaya say (yes Dane and I are offering to treet you guys as a happy birthday present)

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Naaaaaah that's okay I couldn't do that (*BLUSH*), but thank you for the offer! Birthday plans have shifted and we'l be having a nice quiet day at home on MY Birthday, then going out and having a combined B-day meal with friends on Crystal's Birthday the next week (the 14th). It works out perfectly!