If your boss hates you or is going to fire you, there have to be warnings and write-ups and all that first, right? (I mean, obviously for problems lesser than surfing the net for porn or stealing... just minor job problems)

I keep f'ing up one part of my job, partly because my big boss changes her expectations all the time and partly because I'm retarded and don't really understand what all of it means. Plus, I'm not assertive enough in getting what I need/want and I don't want her to smell that as fear or that I'm a bad worker.

I don't want to get fired, but I feel really overwhelmed right now. So, what do I do? Post on the internet. Jesus, I really should be fired.

Edit: I just reread that, and it sounds like I'm a wreck. I'm really not. I guess I just want to hear about people getting fired and what it was like in the weeks leading up to the firing. Yeah, that's it.

With each individual project, you need to clarify with your boss, exactly what he/she expects from you.

If you have questions or don't understand something, I think its better to ask questions early, then 'wing' it, and have to re-do it or upset your boss later on.

Are you in a union?

I don't think the boss needs to have given warnings or anything... at least if it is one of those jobs that has the "at will" policy throughout the application process meaning they can fire you and you can quit with no real reasoning necessary.

I would suggest talking to your boss and telling her/him about your struggles and ask for some help. There is nothing wrong with clarification.

Maybe we should page Mr. Squirgle. He had an issue about work and Obner didn't he?

no.

Well, no, since I'm assuming you're an "at will" employee (meaning you can be terminated for any reason at any time). Having said that, warnings are usually given as a matter of policy for two reasons: (1) out of fairness, and (2) to cover the company's ass legally if the employee sues the company after being discharged.

they can fire you at will but most companies have performance management guidelines they need to follow. typically at least a warning or a performance improvement plan of some sort that you can work through. this helps them avoid the appearance of discrimination/gives them evidence in court. but if you do something to a certain level there are usually grounds in the employee guidelines around immediate termination.

hey rich s, quit being paranoid. you're not going to be fired.

haha... i know, i know. she's just giving me the eye, man. that eye that says, "i know that you haven't been keeping good records, bad Jasmine."

(I just told Rich that you called me that and he laughed... a little too much for my comfort.)

in my expereince, you really have to be a total disaster to get fired from most jobs. they just don't want to go to all the trouble of finding and training a replacement.

I've been threatened with being fired for about 3 or 4 years now and I pretty much can't because I'm in a union.

Although it's kind of embarrassing and sometimes scary, it might be a good idea to ask if she has some time to meet with you.

If the expectations are unclear - as them the clarify them (preferably in writing).

If you're unclear about how to do your job - ask for clarification/training.

After that any badness will be defined. If you meet the expectations then they can't touch you.

edit: email paper trails are always a good thing to have... i.e. to have a record of what you agree to.

absolutely true. and even then, my approach is usually just to make the person quit.

I've only been fired once. From an indie record store. Accused of stealing $10 from the till.

First, I was told by the owner that $10 was missing after I closed last night and asked if I knew about it. When I said no, he asked what could have happened to it. When I asked if it could have been a result of me miscounting or if I could have somehow dropped a ten dollar bill at some point during my shift, and he shot both of those down, I told him I had no idea.

Then, about a week later, I came into work Saturday morning, and started working. Five minutes later, the owner showed up and asked me to turn in my key.



So I guess it wasn't out of the blue there. I did get some notice. But even so, there was nothing I could do to change it. I'm not sure if he wanted me to confess I stole ten dollars or what. It seems like whether or not I did it, whether or not I confessed, I'd have been fired.


This really has little to do with your situation, I suspect, and doesn't really help you out at all.

Gezzus, you are THE MAN, arn't you!

It was probably really because you played that Lisa Loeb album.