I was fired for the first time in my life
Throwaway account just in case. Also on mobile so I apologize for the formatting!
I was fired from my job on Wednesday. I didn’t see it coming at all. I’ve worked for this restaurant for two years, literally helped them open the place, and was fired without warning for missing a “mandatory meeting”.
Now, just for a little background, it’s a brunch spot with a full espresso bar and boozy bar. I was the barista lead, in charge of ordering and holding it down (for a measly $12 an hour I might add).
The spot was open Wed-Sun and this particular incident happened after close on Sunday.
At 2:30 pm (on Sunday) I was made aware of a meeting after the shift, we closed at 3 o’clock. I immediately let the general manager know I probably wouldn’t be able to make it, and she directed me to the bar manager. I let him know the deal and he gave me the “okay” to miss the meeting. 4pm rolls around and I just finished closing my station. My counterpart was staying for the meeting and giving me the rundown of what they talked about, so I got ready to leave and told the GM one last time that I was heading out. She completely ignored me (we were right next to each other so there’s no way she didn’t hear me). So I left, I went home and enjoyed my weekend. Wednesday comes around and i get to work around 6:30, I start my prep, and got probably 15 minutes into it before the owner and GM pulled me aside and fired me, for not telling a manager that I couldn’t stay for the meeting. I tried to explain that I had, in fact, let both mangers know. Only to be chastised for calling the managers liars. They asked me to sign something before I left but I refused, didn’t even look at the paper.
The worst part is the timing. My family lives in another country and I haven’t been able to visit since pre-pandemic. The vacation is scheduled for mid-late March and I most likely won’t be able to go. I lived basically paycheck to paycheck and have no savings. I don’t know what to do, they were also my source of health insurance and I have an expensive pre-existing condition.
The whole thing is absurd and I have no clue what I’m going to do. Thanks for listening
/endrant