This is embarrassing now, because my boss is making it personal.
I’ve tried to write this so many times, and it gets so long. This is my briefest version.
- I worked at this company for 5 years. Very small (less than 10 people and half of them are siblings)
- We did not have an HR Dept.
- I found out (on accident) that the new hire, who I am still training, is being paid more than I am
- I confronted the boss about it and he fired me for “breaking the golden rule of snooping” …and for “being an alcoholic” and being hungover on company time. I have these things in writing
- I have never been written up or even verbally warned of any issues arising from my “alcoholism”
- I thought of him as a father figure and so I’d opened up to him about my struggles with alcohol, mostly because he is a former opiate addict and I thought he was offering me advice. He is now using that against me.
- I was an incredible employee and I say that with all confidence. I was the only one in the office all day. I came in all through covid because I thought my loyalty would pay off. I wrote a 20-page employee training manual from scratch, including worksheets and activity books. I often created projects outside of my job description to help the company in big ways. I was creative, positive, and a team player.
Now to today. I have a phone call with unemployment. I filed as being “fired” for “reasons not listed” so obviously they want to follow up.
What do I say and not say? I’m so nervous and honestly still heartbroken over this situation.
I think I’m going to lean into the angle that he fired me for “snooping,” which I did on accident, and for “poor performance,” which I was never written up for, reprimanded, talked to, or warned about.
I just want this phone call to be over and I’m praying I’m making it out to be scarier than it is.
Any help is hugely appreciated. Thank you ️
Edit: This is in California.