Why I Was Fired
I was fired from a corporate office that manages subsidized apartment housing. I did the payroll for the company. I had a boss that was a narcissist and perfectionist. I received several write-ups. She asked if I had personal issues. We had a personality conflict. Once, I was written up for performance after returning to work for chest pains at a hospital for 3 days. My final writeup came after taking a sick day. She would comb my desk and file cabinets looking for mistakes. She also was a religious woman and when I offered her a soft drink, she said, "Sorry I'm on Lent.:" And I'm gay.
What Being Fired Has Been Like
I felt abused. How dare her if ask me if I have personal issues. I didn't care if she was Catholic or what she thought about me. I wanted revenge. I didn't receive my "Separation Notice" to file unemployment on the day I was fired, so I had the police escort me to the former job to get the "Separation Notice." I have bills to pay! She threatened me in front of the police, "If you return, I will have you arrested for criminal trespassing!" She failed to follow the Georgia law by not giving me a "Separation Notice" upon termination. My mother has money, so she was able to help me out while unemployed. I was unemployed for a month and collected unemployment benefits. I watched every episode of Beverly Hills 90210 on the Soap Net. I got to watch the episodes I never saw. I wanted to sue, but I was emotionally drained and some lawyer gave me bad advice by going to the EEOC . Gays aren't a protected class under the EEOC.
Advice
- Being in Payroll and HR, I know the legalities when it comes to unemployment benefits in Georgia.
- If you're terminated for performance, you're likely to get unemployment.
- Be careful on the advice of lawyers. Just because they're a lawyer, doesn't mean they are correct.
- If you read someone's personality as negative during the interview, think twice about accepting the job.
- You can receive unemployment benefits in Georgia for poor performance, but not for gross misconduct.
- The employer only cares about what you contribute to the job - not if your Grandfather dies or if you go to the hospital.
