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Tatteredleaf ([personal profile] paragraphs) wrote2010-12-20 08:28 pm

Rock and Roll, I'm Done with B&W

Remember how I posted a couple of posts ago about how Doran, the boss boss from Topeka who fired everyone I cared about at B&W, including my dear boss, was in town? Well guess what! Today, using the most lame, ridiculous and stupidest reasons I've ever heard, he fired me. Yup. Gone. Toast. Christmas week. That is it. 9.5 years with the company mean nothing to him--he wanted me out and he came up with the way. He didn't give a damn about my rock-solid history with the company (he has been with B&W since April). In fact he pretty much told me he didn't believe Chris ever evaluated me honestly. Too good to be true? Nope. I am that good. LOLOL. Word was flying around BNSF, all the people I helped hearing about it (and on the heels of Chris), already and Chris has heard from one who wants to talk to me. It is no secret (he tells me) that after all the work we did in our office was shipped up to Topeka that the quality plummeted. I believe it, as I had super-high standards and wasn't doing it anymore. Rawr. He hears complaints, which I knew, but yeah. Wow.

Soon as I got home I contacted BNSF corporate support, and there are two positions opening early January, both in contracts--lol where I hailed from. Same group. Steve, my former boss there, is happy for me to come back. Chris is there too, and all my old coworkers--I'm going to be welcomed back with open arms.

Insane, huh?

I have to say that though there is shock racing through my system, there are no regrets, there is mostly relief. I did nothing wrong, and I stand by that. I have watched that company go from incredible, awesome, caring and a really fantastic place to work, to a place that now has five people left, and Kevin was interviewing today--he called me on his way, having heard from Juan what happened. Juan too has been polishing his resume with the intent to start hunting after the first of a year.

It has been a fascinating experience, coming into a company--asked to come work there by Chris all those years ago--and doing fantastic work, learning so many new things, and watching it grow and change and catch the excitement of new technologies... And then to see it fall hard as all the best and brightest were systematically pushed out. Splat. And it isn't done yet, I am sure of it. Five people left, one actively looking--what ARE they doing? A year ago we had 14 people there. Now five.

So, here I am! Sitting in my daughter's Starbucks while she works and plies me with coffee. Looks like a couple of weeks off unexpectedly, but with a position after the first of the year. Thank you, Steve! Looking forward to working with that crew again, AND Chris again. :) I'll be cleaning the house and putting the tree up tomorrow with the kids, and we're planning on Tron for Christmas Day and dinner at my friend Leigh Ann's house. It's going to be a good, if very simple Christmas. Next week my sister Leslie and her daughter Lexie are coming, so that will be fun. And then hopefully the following week I can get back to BNSF.

In the meantime, I've got a lot of rewriting to get done, a book to polish, and another to finish. Will try to make the most of these two unexpected weeks off, and make 2011 a different, but awesome year. :)

[identity profile] topgeargirl2.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry to hear that you lost your job but happy that you have a new job in the new year.

Merry Christmas and hopefully 2011 will be a great year.

[identity profile] valancy-joy.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
um. wow. not sure whether to say "yay no more bad workplace" or "those rat bastards" ... but anyway here's hoping for a better 2011 ... I would be freaking out, but I also know the relief of no longer having to do a job you dislike. (should have seen me the day I finally quit walmart :)

xoxoxoxo bb

[identity profile] candesgirl.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
Um. Holy crap. That's huge stuff, babe. You seem happy about it though, and I know that as of late you've been unhappy there, so I am glad for you and your new opportunities. This guy sounds like such a tool.

I hope you can just relax and enjoy your time off, consider it a Christmas vacation, eh?

[identity profile] lovedlea.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 03:00 am (UTC)(link)
you are surprisingly chipper for someone who just lost your job, even if it was one you wanted to lose. i get in a situation like that and cry my eyes out. GO YOU! yay new job! :D and YAY VACATION TIME! :)

[identity profile] dremiel.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
WOW! How very sad to see a place you've been proud of decimated. I hope this is the very good change that you are hoping it will be; I know you've been unhappy there. Obviously don't sign away any rights. If Friday was truly your first bad eval and they hadn't warned you about any of the issues you may have an arguement for age discrimination - know you don't want to go that way but tuck it in the back of your head in case the new position doesn't work out.

As an HR professional I am embarrassed that they slipped this in before the end of the year and even more so that the assholes clearly knew this was coming but didn't want any unpleasantness at Saturday's party. Apart from anything else they are rat-bastards and you are well shot of them!

New year and new jobs for you AND Nick. WOW!
contrarywise: Glowing green trees along a road (find x)

[personal profile] contrarywise 2010-12-21 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
Well, dang. But good for you and your network, lining you up to get back to work with good friends and colleagues!

It is sad to see a formerly good, strong organization killed by one person with an agenda and no sense otherwise. But I'm glad you're landing on your feet, and I hope you enjoy your time off!

[identity profile] tx-cronopio.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
Well, damn! I'm just so glad you have another position waiting in the wings. Fuck 'em all, anyway :)

[identity profile] criada.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
Job Switching Sisters! :-D
Good luck!

[identity profile] sunhawk.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
That's so crazy, but I'm glad you have another job lined up already, that must be a huge relief! *hugs*

[identity profile] m-barnette.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 05:37 am (UTC)(link)
I am so sorry that you've lost your job but maybe it's for the best, the guy sounds like an a$$.

At least you don't have to worry about finding a new job since you already have one lined up.

Congratulations on the 'new' job and may the New Year bring you joy and success.

[identity profile] duikermeisie.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
What a maroon.

I kind of wondered if something was up over the copier thing....I mean, talk about petty, and rumour-mill based pettiness.

Good luck with the new job.

[identity profile] la-localfreak.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 07:25 am (UTC)(link)
Oh wow. Like everyone else has said it's kind of a cross between 'I'm so sorry a place you were proud of has all gone to poo and they're absolute hommodores to fling this at you, particularly this week!' but at the same time congrats on the new job and I hope it'll be a much happier place for you come the new year :). Just think- the minute you go they'll be all 'Bugger, what do we do now?' without you!
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[identity profile] qthelights.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 07:45 am (UTC)(link)
dude, between you and Nick this week... jesus!!

i am glad you will be back with people who care about you so soon :)

[identity profile] catsintheattic.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 08:27 am (UTC)(link)
Well ... first of all, I'm glad that your perspective on the new job is all bright and shiny. You deserve a good place and good people, not those nutters. It's one of the most horrible things to work at a place that keeps treating you badly. Also, yay for unexpected free time!

On the other hand, it's such a sad story. Why must there be always someone who destroys a good thing? And it's never the task or a hostile environment, it's almost always a person from within who ruins it.
ext_12726: (Christmas bauble)

[identity profile] heleninwales.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 09:11 am (UTC)(link)
I was really worried for you there for moment. It's bad enough being told that you're no longer required but to do it this close to Christmas! :(

Then I read on and discovered that all being well you will have a much better job in the new year with people you like. Well done you on keeping up the contacts!

[identity profile] cthonus.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 11:55 am (UTC)(link)
Evil company, pushing people out just before Christmas. The guy from Topeka sounds about as understanding as Davros.

Fingers crossed the new position materialises asap but it looks as if you've pretty much got everything sewn up :)

[identity profile] stargazer60.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 12:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Unbelievable!!! But a silver lining it sounds like with the new position...

[identity profile] klgrem.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 12:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I'm sorry to hear that, but glad, too.
Hey, now you have your writing time, if you want it. :)
Really glad to hear you have a position in January, but you probably could have considered a move to England otherwise...

It's a very simple Christmas here this year, too. Glad you've got good stuff to look forward to.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[identity profile] green-knight.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 01:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Congratulations on your new job!

I am entirely unsurprised the old one fired you -it had morphed to a point where it sounded like a very unhealthy place, run by people who really did not understand how a company works - that having people who love what they do, independently tackle the next task and think about how to make the job better, and who go out and look for more training so they'll be better at their jobs beats micromanagement handsdown - you probably know a lot more about the actual work than your new overboss does, but he's the MANAGER and thus can't allow anyone else to make decisions. Or some sort of male chest-beating like that.

So, you've had a good time, you've learnt a ton, now you're moving on - it'll be exciting in a new way.
used_songs: (Ianto betrayal)

[personal profile] used_songs 2010-12-21 02:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so glad you had a safety net of all of your contacts. What a terrible thing for them to do to you at that job though!

[identity profile] mrsalemp.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 02:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry for you losing your job, but hearing about the crap they pull and considering you have a great backup with better people to work with almost seems like this situation is worth more of a congrats. Topping it off - Who fires someone just before Christmas? That's messed up.

[identity profile] alba17.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 02:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I'm so glad you have a position to go to and you're happy with that. Whew! So glad you have no regrets and you're relieved. It's amazing how prevalent bad management is, which is what is sounds like was going on there.

[identity profile] sanginmychains.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 03:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Holy crow! Well, it's better to *not* work for an asshat boss, but being fired always sucks, at least a little. But good luck to him now, trying to keep people happy without you there to do what you do. I envy him his months and months of complaining phone calls as he tries to explain how what you guys send out will not be done the same way that C did it.

Do you get severance? Or is that just if you're downsized, not fired? Or does that not apply where you are?
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[identity profile] pir8fancier.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Sweetie, I wish I could say that I didn't see that coming, but after those reprimands, I felt it was only a matter of time. Right before Christmas sucks, but you've got your ducks lined up with people you like to work with so it's all good.

::HUGS::

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