Well.

[ellid]

The grievance meeting did not go well. First, the Billing Manager (aka my boss) and the Director of Operations (aka the person who was hired to be the IT manager and is now basically running the place) came with the HR Manager (aka the woman who's all smiley and friendly in public). Note that the Clinic Director, the person I used to report to and who knows my work better than anyone, was not present.

They *immediately* tried attacking the shop steward for not dating the grievance (even though she's NEVER dated a grievance because there's no place for a date on the form), then tried to split hairs over whether I was really grieving the disciplinary letter or the workload. At one the HR manager actually started *shouting* stuff like "Do you want to end this now and go straight to Step 2? Do you?"

And this was the first five minutes.

Suffice to say that they denied everything about my workload, said that I was a rude, abrupt, and sloppy worker, tried to turn the whole meeting into me being nasty to the volunteer (!), and then, when the shop steward kept reiterating that this was about my workload, brought in a three month old printout showing my former Internet use. I objected on the grounds that a) I've stopped all Internet use at work, and they know it (although they denied knowing this - ! Their own software proves I'm right!), b) this wasn't part of the disciplinary meeting and is not on the written warning, and c) this is NOT about something that ended three months ago.

The meeting ended on with me once again saying that I'm overworked, that the load is too much for one person, that the volunteer is trying very hard but that she isn't experienced enough to do much more than file (especially since they haven't given her a password for the computer yet), and that I not only work for the clinic, I also am supposed to provide administrative support for two smaller programs as well, which I haven't been able to touch because of the front desk workload. The ONLY thing they conceded was that the complaints about me started after my job went from being a two person job to a one person job, which proves my point, but oh no, they can't hire another person "until the numbers come up at the clinic."

So. I'm filing a Step 2 grievance and will be meeting with the union rep on Friday. I am hoping to hold off the inevitable long enough to find something else, and thank God every second that there's enough left from the executrix fee that I *can* go without work for a few months. I'm also applying for the job at Hartford Seminary this weekend, as well as several other positions.

The shop steward is convinced that they want me out. I'm certain she's right.

What a mess.

Comments

[lore]

They want you out so they can hire in someone at a cheaper rate and "train them right" at the position - in other words, make them do the job of two people without them ever having known it was ever two jobs. You can dump a lot more crap on and have higher expectations of a newbie who doesn't know any better. She'll make herself insane to do the job "right" and be grateful for it.

They also want you out because you dared use your union rights against them, but I think they still wanted you out anyway before that kicked in. The internet useage is probably at the heart of the matter. Even though it's clearly over, and even though they had previously given you permission to use it, new people are in charge and they think once a "surfer on the company dime, always a surfer." I guarantee you, that's what started all this. And that wasn't your fault.

*HUGS* Note everything. And be sure you get, as a final result, in writing their guarantee that they will not disparage you to any future reference calls. That they will only report the facts of your employment - "Yes, she worked here, yes, from 1999 - 2007, yes, her job duties were ___" - and nothing else. But better that than them spreading lies behind your back.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you. You're living my nightmare. *HUGS*

love, lore

[varianor.livejournal.com]

I would submit that it's even more basic than that. (I suspect if you audited the boss's emails you'd find a ton of unauthorized use.) It's really one of personality. I've been fired for speaking up, when I was the only one. Managers hate conflict because they aren't in charge, and they promote those they like, firing those they don't.

Good luck. Hope you can find something better.