Saturday 16 October 2010

A Year That's Held Chances

Hello All,

In case you're wondering, I have been meaning to post a new blog for a while now, but simply never got around to it. Early this year I posted about finding a different job, and finding a new girlfriend. Well I did find a new job, after getting laid off of the one I'd had for ten years. The new job was in a field that I've wanted to get into for several years now, auto repair/service. I didn't find a new girlfriend, but I had some hopes of possibility. Things were seeming to be going well. However, yet another point of time transpired yesterday, filled with shock, confusion, and life altering effects! I was fired!

Okay, let me set this one up for you. A little backstory to the event. About three months ago I started a new job, as I blogged about last time. The job involved a lot of car washing, inside and out. One day I finally got my chance to become a mechanic's assistant. I was getting praise from several people, for the work I was doing. One day, things went awry, and I went back to washing cars. During that entire time I needed to have some latex free gloves ordered for me, as to protect my hands from various grime and chemicals. I was the only one there that needed latex free gloves, and therefor had to special request them from the parts guy. The parts guy, a few body men, and my mechanic trainer told me to keep all my tools, and my gloves, in my car. They told me this because I don't have a tool cart, locking or otherwise, and no cabinet there had been assigned to me. So I did start keeping all of my tools, and gloves, in my car.

Yesterday I was discovered as one who kept a box of latex free gloves in my trunk. Three hours later, the general manager stopped me, while I was finishing up the cleaning of a car, to "talk with me." The talk went as follows: Him "I'm going to need you to clock out now. Then leave early, and that's all from you." Me "Why?" Him "I found out that you are keeping a box of gloves in your car." Me "Yeah, I was. Because that's where I keep them. I can't have anybody walking off with my gloves, because I can't wear latex gloves." Him "Yeah, well that's stealing of company property. This is a difficult call for me to make, but I can't tolerate theft, so that's all."


Okay, now I can understand grounds for firing an employee for stealing; I.E. Tools, cleaning supplies, parts, office supplies, etc.. But keeping a pair of non-latex gloves in my car, with my tools, and using them only for work isn't stealing. Am I wrong?

Nobody at work could believe that I was let go for that. I can't believe I was either! Ironically, the day before, I had received the benefits package in the mail. Full plan too. Health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and great 401K options. I decided to stay with the company for a long time, not knowing that less than 24 hours later I would be fired for "stealing company property" by way of keeping special order gloves with my tools, in my car. So, shit. Another notch in my bad luck staff. Now I'm back to thinking about moving back in with my parents, out of state. I was about to move out of the house I'm currently living in, and get my own place, one week from today. It hurt to call that guy back to tell him to put the apartment back up for rent. He asked why, and I told him. Even he couldn't believe why I had been let go! Oh well. I have to go back to my current place of previous employment, to return my uniforms. I will try to talk with the GM again, to see if I was let go for the gloves, or because my 90 day probation period was ending and he was looking for any reason to let me go.

Why does stuff like this have to happen to me at critical times in my life? Does anybody have a good answer for me?

I know it's a little early to count the year as over. Another two and a half months to go. There's still time.

Okay, that is all for now. I hope everyone else is doing well. As usual, I would like to wish good company, food and music to all, and that your life is going well. Until next time, peace out, and goodnight/day.