Hey guys. Sorry in advance about this post,it might be long, I am on my phone typing quickly and more focused on getting out my thoughts versus grammer.
Today, I got fired from my job. For context, I was the kennel manager at a small kennel. We have been short staffed for months and between staff coming and going, coworkers that missed time with covid, the holiday rush before that, my kennel manager title basically became me being the guy that has to pick up all the slack, gets little time off, and tries to keep things moving efficiently and positive vibes while I am there. (I should have quit months ago tbh). I take all of the shit!
Well, side story. Back in early November I still had a co-kennel manager. She was fine to work with, I didnt really have any problems with her, until one day. This is where this story falls off a cliff. Adding to my quick summary, my boss was this old lady, she has had the kennel grooming business for 20+ years, the boarding kennel has been failing recently, paired with the lease owner is raising rent for the facility supposedly, and so boss has been wishy washy since Jan 1st about if we would even be open past Feb-March.
Back in early November I had, lets call it an encounter with my co-manager. Because my boss is old school, we used bleach and lots of cleaning chemicals to get the kennel “smelling good” as she would say. No big deal. During cleaning or after I was done I always make sure to open our exhaust window system to air it out. Well, it was a cold day in November and co-manager didnt want me opening the exhaust system for this reason, because it was cold outside. We had an argument about it because she REFUSED to let me open it. I basically told her, look Im opening this exhaust system, you can call boss and tell her that you are mad at me because I want to breathe, as well as the animals. Boss told me to go back to what I was doing and leave it alone. I open the fan anyway. Co-manager leaves her key on the table and quits. I send a text apologizing saying I didnt mean to have a conflict, I simply wanted to breathe, she replies “do not message me again”. So I go about life. We managed to get a new girl on board and trained, and we made it through the hectic holidays. Boss never did take my side, she was a little upset that I “made someone quit” (sarcasm), but she moved on as well, I mean her precious business is more important.
Fast forward to February. Like I mentioned before covid caught a couple of my coworkers recently. It became myself, a trainee, and a highschooler on the payroll that didnt have covid (let me reiterate I should have never took this damn job lol). Well, boss lady decides to rehire ole co-manager to fill the void. Within a week, former co man is back to full time hours, back to interviewing potential hires, back to train the girl I had been training., and Im practically left off the schedule. Ill take the time off for sure, but now my ego is a little shook and Im like so this bitch that doesnt care if I can breathe is back after I CARRIED this business through holidays??
Im not a person that likes conflict. I would just assume come in, take care of doggos, clean and go home. Do my job right. No pettiness or drama. Well it happened again.
On Tuesdays (today) we have what is called “scrub down day”. This is where we put a little more elbow greaee into cleaning the spots that we spot cleaned throughout the week. We use powdered bleach and powdered detergent to scrub each kennel. Today, I came in only to take care of daycare dogs, so technically my duties were outside of the kennel… I came into the kennel though and the humidity said 85% and it was like walking into a bleach detergent hot box. Co-manager was working with a new girl, who I previously got along with perfectly, I even taught her to air out the kennel when cleaning. I decided to turn off the heat and open the fan for 5 minutes or so, because it was so cold, I was going to close it back soon and I did not feel like having conflict so I just do it. Well of course, former co manager comes beebopping in there and turns if off right away. I had been basically avoiding this woman, because I have no respect for someone who cant apologize to me for not caring if I can breathe or not. She crossed a personal boundary that you dont cross as far as Im concerned. Does this make me petty? Dont care. I had a duty as the kennel manager to look after myself, coworkers, and the dogs. I popped open that exhaust fan again and went back to my dogs outside. I tell the newer coworker that we need to air out the kennel, its getting steamy and I go leave to do my job.
A little bit later I had to put up my dogs to use the restroom. When I go up there, I step by the main office for a second, and I happen to hear newer coworker talking to boss I hear “yeah, because SOMEBODY cant stick to their tasks in the back/outside we are having issues” Mind you, I had been outside for 45 minutes, and the only interactions I had with them was opening the fan, telling new coworker we needed to air out the chimicals, and going back outside, and I come inside just to hear myself referred to as “somebody”. Man. Oh man. I sat up there for a second, I had dropped off so.e report cards to receptionist to give to clients when they picked up their dogs, and I pretended to not hear what was said, but I was now aware that I had two people against me, one former co manager who just got rehired after literally walking out on the job, and one new girl.
I texted my boss and said “when I finish my daycare duties, I am going home, I cannot stay here and be double teamed by people creating conflict”
Basically, when boss got there she told me no, I had to stay, and I couldnt leave until I had a meeting with her. Fast forward an hour and a half after I finish exercising daycare dogs.
Boss has a write up for me to sign, saying I “harrassed” my coworkers. I calmly try to explain that I am in no way signing it because I do not want conflict with anybody, I literally just wanted to air out the kennel. She goes full on boomer mode amd says I should have called her before exhausting the kennel. I harassed my coworkers who did not want to open the exhaust fan. God damn it.
When I refused to sign it and she said “you know what, Im done youre fired.”
Do I contact Osha first or DoL????
Fuck me this is so goddamned petty dude. I cannot believe I am sitting here right now typing this bullshit. I dont know what the fuck Im going to do next bro. Paint me up bozo the clown style