Hi guys. It's my first time posting here.
Because of the Christmas spirit and being my favorite time of the year, I always tend to remember fondly these days. But there's a stain on these memories of mine. When I got fired on Christmas Eve.
This happened around 2016, I was much younger and not as disappointed on how owners or managers could care less about their employees.
I'm a graphic designer and I used to work on a printing store. Basically I was the “everything” man, the owner didn't know shit about graphic design or printing materials, inks, procedures, etc. And I was the one who implemented changes, new machinery, new processes, and introduced him into a world of possibilities only to be kicked in the balls.
I had been working there for around a year and 8 months. I knew the owner was kinda strange, he's not a people's person, and a couple of times I've seen rants on his Facebook page about the printing store, myself and my co-workers. I paid no mind to it because he's free of posting what he likes, but I'm not the kind of person to talk in someone else's backs.
Before this, we were having some struggles between us. We discussed how I feel at the time, that I was making little money, and that I would need to work less hours (I was studying at the time). I don't know why but I know he didn't like me.
So then, on December 24th, at the end of the day, he comes to my desk. Asks me how I'm doing. And suddenly he says that he does not need my services anymore, that this will be my last day working for him.
I just laughed at him, and asked him if this was some kind of joke, because it's Christmas Eve. He explained that he was totally serious.
I need to explain something. He has a creepy face. He looks the same when he's laughing and when he's mad or serious. May be his face bone structure. That's why I asked him if he was joking, I needed to ask this in order for me to get his jokes in the past.
After this, he remained calm and explained that he will give me the next to weeks off, as a vacation, in order for me to have time with my family and for job hunting. And that he will pay me completely for the two weeks, as if I worked there.
Then, once we were closing the store, he told me to come on January for other two weeks, in order for me to train my replacement. (This is a common practice where I live)
I wasn't as informed as I am now. I don't live in the US, but here we have really good laws, but these kind of people get abusive with kind people as I was taken advantage of in this situation.
After I came back on January he told me that he thought about it and that he would like to keep me here (he was not able to find my replacement), so, as dumb and naive as I was, I continued working there.
Now, on February after that, he fired me on my birthday. In front of one of my coworkers. My friend offered his house because he wanted to throw me a party and after work we were going to his house in order for us to celebrate my birthday. But no, he ruined my birthday too. I cried on the way to my friend's house.
Then, when I went to work the next Monday, the owner said that he talked about me with my coworkers and that everyone said that I should stay (I was the only one being treated this way). So I stayed for another two months.
He fired me a third time, and this time he had the balls to do it. He gave me the equivalent of three fully paid months.
I still remain friends with some of my coworkers, but I despise that asshole of a boss.
TLDR: I was naive enough to be fired three times. Boss was a dick only with me.