knowing when to jump ship.

[Pantless Spency]

what i sent him:
Hey Alan,
I'm really curious why i was called off of work today, i haven't been getting many hours and i was on my way to work when i received that message.
I'm not upset I'm just curious as to why and i want to know what the status of my job title is, i can't really afford to be unemployed so if it concerns the security of my job i would really like to know.
Thank you.
- Spencer

what he sent me:

Spencer,

I usually do not like to discuss things via email. If you would like, I will be back on Wednesday and.we can meet then. Or if you want, I can repond to your questions via email. Eitherway, I am still available Wednesday.

Alan

i told him to tell me via email,
getting fired? lol.

[HR2L]

hmmm i was under the assumption that if your fired you cannot file for unemployment. only if you are laid off.

Here.

http://www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment/eligibility.htm

Honestly, if you ask me from a management standpoint, its better to quit then be fired (even if its not within good practice of 2 weeks notice). If you've applied to other positions you will notice that 99% of applications will ask you if you've ever been terminated from a position or employer. This is an area I look at quite frequently and first when hiring an applicant. There are/were very few applicants that I hired in the retail world that have been fired or terminated by said previous employer. Its not a said all be all type thing, but I better have a solid internal reference to hire you if you were just fired from your last position. ;)

If your worried if a potential new employer asks why you left your old position/job or why you quit, you can tell him or her just about anything you want, because its not in there legal right to ask your previous employer why you quit (or your stated reason) so whatever you tell your new employer, they kind of have to buy (as long as its not a retarded far fetch story).

[Pantless Spency]

hmmm i was under the assumption that if your fired you cannot file for unemployment. only if you are laid off.

[priapism]

Well, if you get fired, you get unemployment, but if you quit you don't, am I right?

You need to murder Becky. ASAP.

[e30rapidic]

don't quit....especially if you hope/plan to file for unemployment.

[Pantless Spency]

now i'm wondering if i should just quit or wait for the stinger.

[HR2L]

^^^ thanks for the info.
i sent him a detailed email regarding the text message, because he didn't reply to my returned text.
texting is a more normal form of communication for us, but when my shift (9-5) is in less than 30 mins and i get a text not to come in it's pretty unprofessional.

Exactly.

A text 24 hours prior to the shift, I may see plausible, but 30 min before your said shift...unprofessional in any work place.

Professional way in handling it, attempt contact with your boss via email (now you have a said paper trail in case something goes awry, you attempted contact in a common form of communication that is deemed professional in the work world) with no reply shows that he is dodging you because he doesn't want to be the barer of bad news, nor can he be because that news isn't complete just yet. ;)

Good Luck, maybe I'm completely off on this, but somehow with as much personal experience on both ends of the table in this scenario I doubt I'm wrong. ;)

[Pantless Spency]

^^^ thanks for the info.
i sent him a detailed email regarding the text message, because he didn't reply to my returned text.
texting is a more normal form of communication for us, but when my shift (9-5) is in less than 30 mins and i get a text not to come in it's pretty unprofessional.

[HR2L]

If you don't mind me asking, what do you do for a living, or to currently pay the bills?

I was in retail based middle management (area, district, regional) for well over 10+ years and what you've just described is basicly the tone I would hand out to employees that were being worked out of the system (basicly their walking papers). Your boss can't out right fire you without your final pay check ready, and in hand in the state of CA. So he is telling you not to come in today so he can have HR prepare your final check as well as tie up any loose ends schedule wise as well as paper trail wise so the termination is done proper and within company as well as state guidelines. A good first sign that you are on the chopping block, is reduction in hours scheduled in the retail world. Technically its illegal, but honestly its so hard to prove in a work dispute case or unemployment hearing its still common practice (unless you've worked for that said retail company for 4-5+ years and have had the same clocked schedule/hours for that 4-5+ years).

The sad thing is, you work in CA and its an "At Will State" which states:

Employees are presumed to be "at will." At-will employees may be terminated for any reason, so long as it's not illegal (and honestly I've sat through so many hearings for unemployment that didn't go in favor of the ex employee its not funny...). Generally, employees that work under an employment contract can only be terminated for reasons specified in the contract. In California, the at-will presumption can be overcome by evidence that despite the absence of a specified term of employment, the parties agreed who the employer's power to terminate would be limited in some way.

However, I find it kinda of odd that he texts you this, and not called you personally (or spoken to you personally) to tell you not to come in today. Very unprofessional from a management stand point. Texting an individual is something done between peers and friends, not employees, or employers. But then again, this is a personal belief and times have changed, and maybe this is just the norm for some management practices...though if it is, its a shame.

With all that said, I'd start looking for another opportunity, and maybe just maybe return that text message he sent you (hell if hes going to be unprofessional at this point, you might as well yourself) and ask why you are being asked not to come into your regularly scheduled shift? See what he says, if anything.

Good Luck. I know the work world is harsh right now, but if your young (and you sound it) you'll be back into a new job, hell maybe even a better job/career in no time. ;)

Oh and in for pics of Becky. Sad but more true than not, tits replace brains on low level positions in the retail world. They sell, even if she can't. ;)

[Pantless Spency]

^^^^ very good way to look at it.
ive already started turning in apps at other places, ill just continue doing that :P

[BoxDriver86]

not at all anymore lol he got a screen recording system that is always running so i stopped using the CPU at work for anything. only pandora for when doing office work.

I have a feeling this was put in place for a reason...3,000+ posts in less than a year may have something to do with it. I'm not criticizing you at all, hell I'm on R3V all day at work.
Just noting the obvious here and trying to be helpful.

When I have to let someone go, I look at how much time they have spent over their entire time working for me doing things not related to work. It all comes down to how much money they make me vs. how much they cost me. I have a feeling that Becky wouldn't be on the internet much, texting, etc. which already makes her more profitable.

[BoxDriver86]

Get off of R3V and start updating and sending out your resume. Trust me, if you were told not to go into work today in that fashion there is a reason.

I wouldn't necessarily read into it too far, but I would start working on a back-up plan ASAP.

It sounds like you were training your replacement my friend.

[Ninz30]

we need to stomp becky out!

[Pantless Spency]

from my knowledge yes. she has teeth.

[slammin.e28]

Does Becky have teeth? Maybe your boss is into those gummy nom noms under his desk?