Axed Indicators that you may be on the Firing Line
What happens when the signs aren't there?
In my case, I was within my initial 90 day period; all seemed to be going well. Two weeks before my last day, I had a meeting with my bosses' boss. She was very enthusiastic about my work and even said I could expect a hefty raise when my 90 days were over, which at the time was only 2 weeks away. In that meeting she said, "I can't believe you've only worked here for 3 months, it seems like you've been here for years." I took this comment at face value but was secure in my belief that they were pleased with the job I was doing.
My boss was taking me into her confidence more and more. I was finally comfortable with everyone I worked with, becoming friends with many. If you'd asked me then, if I liked my job, I would have said with confidence, "Yes!"
Two weeks later, only days before my review, I was struck down by a migraine. I occasionally get these, but because they are rare, I don't take preventative medications. This particular migraine ended up being what I call, "a marathon migraine," these can last days on end without relief.
This one started on Friday evening and lasted until Wednesday of the next week. Between the blurry vision, the vomiting, and the pain, I couldn't go to work on Monday. Tuesday I dragged myself into the office for a big company-wide meeting, where people kept saying to me, "Why are you here? You need to be at home." I told them that I had a meeting to attend and that I would be leaving afterward for a doctors' appointment, I had scheduled for the migraine.
When I left that day, my boss told me curtly, "I'll need a work excuse from your doctor." Seeing as how that was where I was headed anyway, I said that it wouldn't be a problem. Well, I went to my doctor who was very concerned. He gave me several really strong medications, including an injection, and scheduled me for a CAT Scan and MRI the next day. I called in and left a message for my boss to let her know that I would be out one more day.
Fortunately for me, on Wednesday, I got an email from a close friend at work, telling me that our boss was really angry with me. She had been spouting off to everyone in the office, that I was going to 'get canned' when I came back to work on Thursday! I was really grateful for the warning from my friend, because it was the only warning I had received. I did confirm this by checking with others in the office. Sure enough it was true. My head was scheduled for the chopping block.
After much deliberation, I decided that I would go into work as I had planned and take the bull by the horns. After all, I had the upper hand. I knew what they didn't want me to know. By the way, it is worth noting at this point, that my boss had a reputation when it came to firing people. She loved doing it and she took great pride in making people cry and then telling everyone in the office the story.
Armed with my doctors' excuse for having missed work and a confidence in what I was doing, I went to work the next day. My boss was late for work, as usual, so I proceeded to do the few little things that needed to be done and that were my sole responsibility. After all, I'm not irresponsible and I always give 110%. An hour later, she finally showed up. When she walked in and saw me, I thought she was going to faint. She looked as though she'd seen a ghost! I thought this was incredibly funny. She asked me if I'd gotten a message yesterday from her boss? I said I had been at the hospital all day having tests done and hadn't thought to check my voice-mails. She went on to tell me that her boss had wanted to speak with me, to set up a meeting, before I showed up for work that day.
Of course she did.
I took a moment to take a few breaths and then I said calmly, "Oh, is that because you were going to fire me today?"
She just sat there blinking at me for what seemed like forever. She never denied it. Finally, she said, totally deflated, "Where did you hear that?" Without comment, I turned my back on her. Retrieving the letter of resignation that I had taken great care in writing that morning and my doctors' excuse. When I turned back to her, she was still staring angrily at me. I can only assume this was for beating her at her own game. I calmly handed her my doctors' excuse, she looked at it and dismissed it. Then I lowered the boom. I handed her my resignation.
Right before my eyes, I watched this woman deflate as she read my letter. She hadn't gotten to fire me after all. She was crushed. She'd never had someone quit before. She'd always fired them before they could. This time I had taken her by surprise and I had won.
If you are one of the few, lucky people in the world who realize that a job is just a job, and that life does go on no matter what happens, then it will be easier to make this kind of tough decision. And if you're one of the unlucky few who don't get the "warning" signs of being on the firing line, don't worry, and whatever you do, don't cry.
