Title sort of says it all. I've been working for a small-ish nonprofit for about 2 years now. I've had disagreements with a couple members of management, but nothing I would have considered a big deal. All of a sudden, over the summer (yes, after I told them I was pregnant), they start talking about how my behavior is unacceptable, even saying things like “you can't talk to your BOSS that way. It's not your job to give US negative feedback. You talk like an executive – it's completely inappropriate.” I didn't really know what that meant, because I think hierarchy is kind of nonsense, but I was afraid of losing my job, so I said I'd work on it and started working with a coach. For MONTHs I have received nothing but encouraging feedback, and then out of the blue last week, my department head (without my direct manager) called a meeting with me and told me – “your behavior is still unacceptable. This will be the last day at ________.”
For a little bit of context, at previous jobs I've gotten pretty much nothing but glowing reviews. I do have a slightly gruff exterior (I'm a woman, so people feel the need to point it out A LOT), but that didn't stop me from being a good worker.
I have two theories about what happened. One, I was being pretty honest with a fellow employee about my concerns of some aspects of how a project was being run. She was taking over managing it in preparation for my leave and I didn't want to leave her high and dry. I think she may have passed some of those concerns upwards to my INCREDIBLY FRAGILE bosses. Sucks, but I can't even speculate if she was trying to get me in trouble. Some of the behaviors of the executives I work with are completely unpredictable. Second theory is, you know, discrimination.
It was exactly one month from my planned leave. Actually, it was also THE DAY the company was throwing me a virtual baby shower, so I ended up uninvited to my own baby shower. The organizer had already sent an absurdly large party platter of cookies to my house, so I ended up wallowing about being fired, eating the cookies THEY HAD SENT ME.
Before anyone asks, I'm talking to a lawyer. Company offered me some severance, but I haven't signed anything, and I won't until I know my options. I'm just in shock. It's one of those stories you hear about happening to other people but can't imagine it would happen to you. Husband is also currently unemployed (laid off due to construction slowdowns during the winter). THANK GOD he's union and keeps his health insurance when he's off work or I don't know what we'd do! We'll be OK, but holy shit, don't forget – employers don't care about you. Not because they are a non-profit. Not because they are small. Not because they send you cookies. And it's not just some vague system – it's absolutely the people who live in it. We systematically train managers, and especially up to executives to dehumanize workers so that they can take advantage of them. The executive who fired me had a different f***ing attitude for every level of the hierarchy.
Alright, rant over. Sorry, I'm just so tired. And so pregnant.