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courtneyt · Guest

I have recently been "terminated" from my job.

I was called into my bosses' office at the end of the day and told that I was being terminated due to being 10 minutes late pretty regularly. I had had at least two warnings about my tardiness and I tried very very hard to come in on time, but alas, I still could not get there on time in a consistent fashion. I was always waking up at the last minute, and this is pretty much based on the fact that I hated the job and was very uninspired whenever I walked into that place. I did however do my work, I got along with everyone, I was a good employee overall except for this one part. My bosses even told me this; that the only problem they had with me was that I was not on time.
After they told me that I was being terminated, I just walked out of the office without saying a word. I waiting until everyone else from my office had left for the day to pack up my things to save myself some embarrassment, although I think they already knew, because they had seen a representative from HR walking around that day. I had to let one of my bosses know that I was leaving so he could walk me out of the building, and when I left he said "Good Luck" and I barely said Thanks, and probably seemed a little bitter as I looked at him and walked away.

Now I know that my lack of punctuality is entirely my fault, it just angers me with the way they did everything. I worked all day, and they call me in at 4:00 on a Friday afternoon and tell me this. Not to mention the fact that there are other employees there that make the other employees cry because they are rude and people do things wrong all the time there, however I get along with everyone am easy going, but since there's something that they can document me on, I get fired. I am bitter.

Now my question is, do you think it would be appropriate to write a letter, a sort of an apology for walking out in such a way, and to let them know I'm not trying to "burn any bridges", and that I'm glad I had the experience of working there, and since I was such a good employee that if I needed to they could provide a positive reference for me? I already have some questions to ask as far as if I'm going to get paid for the last two weeks that I worked there and what is going to happen with my insurance. The HR rep was talking to me about my options for insurance, but as I had just been told that I was "terminated" I wasn't exactly listening closely.

So, long story short, I want to write an email to my bosses to ask them those questions, and also apologize for being perhaps a little snide, and inquire about providing a positive reference. I'm not really sure how to go about doing this so I'm looking for lots of advice. Thanks for reading this post that got very long before I realized it.

C_Vaughan · Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:22 am Post subject:

I think you should handle this in two stages. First, make the contact with them either in person or on the phone. In person would be best. Tell them that you just felt bad the day you were let go and responded out of anger and shouldn't have. Ask them for forgiveness.

Do not ask them for a letter of reference at this time.

Give the situation about a week to two weeks and then write or email them and ask if they would be willing to provide you with a reference. Keep in mind that they may say no. You were fired afterall. If they say "yes", though, you have something to use for your next interview.

Good luck.

Now, go set your alarm for 15 minutes earlier than you think you need to get up. Smile

~Carla

gtamborra

Hi,

First this is NOT a setback... this is an opportunity!!!

Three things to do now:

1) Have a BIG air intake -- fill your lungs
2) SCREAM AND SHOUT -- Thank you LORD! or any other
reference of a higher being you might want to use.
3) Release air... feel better.

You hated the job. Excellent, now lets get moving into
a career... do not look for another job!

Second, do not call anyone; do not email anyone;
do not let these people control any part of your tomorrow...

That company was yesterday; today is another day.

Of course, you need references and you will need help
but these people will not help you... I can not advise you
to use them as reference... because they wil bring up the
fact of your tardiness...

You will need to add this experience in your resume but I will
thread lightly about adding them as references...

I do give you another advice... if you do have this persistent
tardiness problem and,

for those folks that are punctual to everything, there ARE
people like myself that have this issue with "on time 9:00am"
problem...

what I did... I took non profit career positions... Some non
profits do have a relax "starting" time which makes life that much
easier... at the same time the reward is not for punctuality but for
excellence on the job.

Hope this helps. Good Luck.

OT CourtneyT · Guest

Thanks for your reply! It is uplifting despite how impossible that seems in my situation. I posted on another board and someone else suggested not writing them either and said they basically want to have nothing to do with me. Which is great. I mean, I had been planning on leaving for a while, it is just a shame that it happened this way.

The only thing that makes it really hard to handle is that my best friend/roommate works there, and I still have not even told her! And it is Monday night and by now I'm sure she knows what's up! Another one of my friends worked on my unit she knew that I was not working there anymore, however I do not think she knows the details. The other thing is that I am 23, most of my friends are either in graduate school and getting full time jobs, one of my friends told me today that he just got hired and starts in 2 weeks. ANYWAY the point is, I am having a hard time dealing with it because I am surrounded by all of these people. It makes me feel like a failure, although I do not really FEEL like a failure.

I was really afraid of what my parents would think, but they have been really supportive! I guess that's what parents do right!

Anyway I have done nothing but apply to jobs all day long and it feels good. The only thing I am worried about is going in for the interviews! Punctuality is something everyone is worried about!

I will have to look into this non-profit thing you mentioned. Thanks again. Smile

OT CourtneyT · Guest

Thanks for your reply! It is uplifting despite how impossible that seems in my situation. I posted on another board and someone else suggested not writing them either and said they basically want to have nothing to do with me. Which is great. I mean, I had been planning on leaving for a while, it is just a shame that it happened this way.

The only thing that makes it really hard to handle is that my best friend/roommate works there, and I still have not even told her! And it is Monday night and by now I'm sure she knows what's up! Another one of my friends worked on my unit she knew that I was not working there anymore, however I do not think she knows the details. The other thing is that I am 23, most of my friends are either in graduate school and getting full time jobs, one of my friends told me today that he just got hired and starts in 2 weeks. ANYWAY the point is, I am having a hard time dealing with it because I am surrounded by all of these people. It makes me feel like a failure, although I do not really FEEL like a failure.

I was really afraid of what my parents would think, but they have been really supportive! I guess that's what parents do right!

Anyway I have done nothing but apply to jobs all day long and it feels good. The only thing I am worried about is going in for the interviews! Punctuality is something everyone is worried about!

I will have to look into this non-profit thing you mentioned. Thanks again. Smile

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