My Co-worker was fired last week!
By TrvlArrngr
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
United States
April 2, 2011 2:18pm CST
I only work on Saturdays from 8a-8pm on my 2nd job. When I came in today I found out that the Maintenance man who works with me was fired this past week. I am so upset. We worked very closely and got along well. I work the front desk of a retirement community and I am constantly in contact with Maintenance. Everyone keeps asking about him and I feel so bad. Did this ever happen where you work? What do you say to the person besides I am sorry?
3 people like this
14 responses
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
3 Apr 11
He is older and does not facebook but we will keep in touch by phone.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
3 Apr 11
hi trvlarrngr.
i've held a number of jobs in my life, the longest being for more than five years and the shortest being for at least two years so i can say that i've seen my fair share of dismissals both deserved and not so.
clearly, in your case you feel that you co-worker should not have been fired. i respect that but you should also see it from the management's perspective. perhaps it was because of a business decision or perhaps because your co-worker, although, you guys got along, was not fulfilling his duties and obligations to the retirement community where both of you are working.
anyway, thankfully, this has not happened to me. i really can't think of anything else to say to that person but to just which him luck in his new endeavor and offer help in getting him a new job.
really tricky situation here. anyway, still be thankful that you have this job and its not you losing it.
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
3 Apr 11
Very true sentiments! I am thankful for having this 2nd job. Without it I might have lost my house last year due to a paycut on my main full time job. My co-worker will be fine since he is very qualified. I just hate that he is no there anymore.
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
18 Apr 11
thanks for the best response trvlarrngr.
kinda feeling uneasy with my work as well. there's been talk that the company i'm working for might cut down on operations and this might result in some lay-offs. deep inside though, i feel that this is the farthest from the truth and if ever there will be a lay-off i'm one of the employees they'll keep because of my tenure and the quality of work i'm producing.
anyway, i'm hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. i'm gone around and looked at possible places where i can transfer just so i have a fallback. getting a second job has been on my mind since the start of the year but haven't had a chance to get one because of my current work schedule. anyway, we are entering our off-peak season so i might some some time on my hands.
going back to the original topic, being our industry's off-season doesn't help the over-all feeling here at work. people are thinking that since there is not much work to go around, the company might just resort to laying people off just to stay afloat. again, my thinking is that this won't happen but sometimes paranoia kicks in and i'm left to wonder all over again. lol!!!
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
3 Apr 11
I have same experienced with my present job.
I was working with the team for barely a month and still on making friendship with the team when one day our supervisor announced that one of our co- team mates needs to see the HR department.
I thought it's just some problem ,but was sad to know that she (my team mate) failed the monthly grading/assessment in our team.
It's kind of sad,but she was not fired at all,she was given a chance to have under training once more and will be under observation for the progress.
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
4 Apr 11
Wow. At least she was given a 2nd chance to improve. I hope she does better after more training.
1 person likes this
@garson (884)
• United States
11 Apr 11
My previous employer fires some good people. It's a residential treatment facility. Allegations of any kind occur where social services and sometimes law enforcement officials get involved. Sometimes people get fired because the agency wants to save face (I'm putting it this way) or the agency doesn't want to deal with some implications.
Depending on years of experience or how the person has been working, I'd say "There is always be something better". It sounds vague, but at a point people need to look for something better. I know it's easy to say, while the reality is harsh.
@soapies1973 (931)
• United States
2 Apr 11
That is a shame because when you have some one you like to work with the day goes by much faster and is more fun. There is not much more that you can say to him. Take care.
@katrinapaz (2436)
• Philippines
3 Apr 11
yes that is correct. Work is different when the person you work with is in good vibes with you. I have experienced a co-worker being fired but i was not able to see him after that. i just emailed him and told him that maybe there is something good that will turn up from this. When God closes a door, somehow he opens a window :)
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
3 Apr 11
I did call him today from work. He is working with his brother now and we promised each other to keep in touch. very sad
@carrine (2743)
• Philippines
3 Apr 11
yah its really sad! but what's the reason why the management fired him? maybe he did something which is not good for the company. even if how good they are if their not following the rules and regulations, then expect that it will really happen to him anytime soon. but if the management fired him because budget issues, or short cutting thats a different case. so what we can do for him is to pray that hopefully he can find a new job so that he can raise his family.
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
3 Apr 11
He got fed up with another co-worker who didn't pull his weight. He told his boss and that blew up. I guess the other guy must have something over the boss since he kept him and got rid of Ray. What goes around, comes around. I am sure they will see the other guy for all he is shortly.
@danitykane (3183)
• Philippines
3 Apr 11
Hi TrvlArrngr,
Oh yes, I have this very dear colleague that got fired because she unable to go to work for more than a week and she didn't make leave of absence. She failed to inform our management what happened to her. It is more like of a AWOL but when she came back she told us her mom got sick and she was on the province. I was so upset that even though she explained her side and made a letter of explanation her request to stay was not granted. We still are friends and I missed her so much.
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
2 Apr 11
Hi trvl arrngr: Yes, this has happened to me. At the first moment where you now what has happened you feel empty. I miss some of my former co workers. You are used to see them, talk to them and share time. It's normal that you feel sad but at the same time, we must accept that people come to us and also leave us. We can't control these things. I wish you and your former co worker good luck. Thanks for sharing with us your feelings.
ALVARO
@p3ks626 (6538)
• Philippines
7 Apr 11
It happened to two of my friends in my previous work. The company fired them for very shallow reasons and not giving them enough probationary time for the things that they needed to cope in the company. After that, many of my other co workers quit working in that company and so did I.
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
14 Apr 11
It brings morale down and then your good employees start looking for other jobs.
@chinchoy (191)
• Hong Kong
3 Apr 11
I have been in a similiar situation once. One of my co-workers actually done something wrong after warning and he was fired. I saw it was coming and have warned him about it because he was such a careless guy and was bound to commit that error sooner or later. Yet, I was really sorry that he had to leave the company.
On the brighter side, he learnt his lession and soon find another job with the help from his friends.
Are you friends or do you know some of his friends in the work place? Try to give him support, encourage him to move on and find a new job. It is friends that count in time of trouble.
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
14 Apr 11
It is always a shock when it happens, even if they kind of deserved it. In this economy you just never know if they could even find another job.
@shaace (105)
• Singapore
3 Apr 11
Hi TravlArrngr, I am sorry to hear about your co-worker. It did happened so many times before in my company. We have a very high turn-over.
Sometimes the decision of firing someone from the company is unfair, However do not dwell in the situation and move on.
All the very best
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
3 Apr 11
Yes, I am trying to move on and told him we will stay in touch.
