I really just need to vent. I was an in-house copy/technical writer for a nonprofit, WFH with one day in the office, part-time for $12/hr. I got the job through college when I graduated with a bachelor’s each in Lib Arts and Science.
It was $12 work at first. Minding calendars and events, checking emails, sorting through old copy, and then graduated to bigger projects like 50-word new copy for over 300 organizations and startups. I didn’t get paid by the word like I would have freelance. After 20-some hours of work I walked away with $200. I also set up visual presentations on the clock and started an SOP for them from scratch, which I accepted because I am disabled and work is hard to find for me. I needed the money. I took home maybe $150 every 2 weeks. I was told that there would be an option for a pay increase this summer, so that is another reason why I persisted.
Today I was told that they would be letting me go because I am unreliable and they need someone who can “commit” and come into the office. My absences on office days were noted despite other employees taking multiple vacations a month, but I made it clear my absences were due to non-negotiable dr appointments that required lab work. I noted them on the internal calendar a week in advance.
I’m trying hard not to feel like a failure, but I cannot keep up with their full-time demands for a nonlivable wage. The only perk was WFH and enough money to cover some bills. But I feel like everything they noted that was “wrong” with my performance was directly related to a known disability: not being able to travel, not being on call 9-5, how I organized my workflow, how I communicated (by email, which was approved). I was told they were done being patient and flexible for me, and that it wouldn’t work out.
I have another WFH option and my etsy, but it sucks that I went above and beyond only to be let go.
Sorry for the long rant. I’m not looking for pity or karma, just to vent to a group of people that won’t tell me to “tough it out”.