In the middle of my lunch break today I got a phone call from my temp agency saying their client was firing me. I am absolutely devastated and scared and I was hoping for some moral support.
You were employed through a temp agency? I know some people do that long-term. How long were you with them?
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:27:17 PMIn the middle of my lunch break today I got a phone call from my temp agency saying their client was firing me. I am absolutely devastated and scared and I was hoping for some moral support.
Was your time up, did they just decided they didn't need you anymore, or was it a performance issue?
I was let go from a temp job once years ago. Even the temp agency wasn't sure what happened with it. Found me another slot in very short order.
Quote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 05:31:02 PMYou were employed through a temp agency? I know some people do that long-term. How long were you with them?
6 months
I'd like to think they're just looking for an excuse to cut excess capacity
Quote from: Rothman on April 17, 2025, 05:33:34 PMQuote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:27:17 PMIn the middle of my lunch break today I got a phone call from my temp agency saying their client was firing me. I am absolutely devastated and scared and I was hoping for some moral support.
Was your time up, did they just decided they didn't need you anymore, or was it a performance issue?
I was let go from a temp job once years ago. Even the temp agency wasn't sure what happened with it. Found me another slot in very short order.
My contract was an open ended one. They said it was "unprofessional conduct". I'd like to think it's because they didn't need me anymore.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:35:57 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 05:31:02 PMYou were employed through a temp agency? I know some people do that long-term. How long were you with them?
6 months
I'd like to think they're just looking for an excuse to cut excess capacityQuote from: Rothman on April 17, 2025, 05:33:34 PMQuote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:27:17 PMIn the middle of my lunch break today I got a phone call from my temp agency saying their client was firing me. I am absolutely devastated and scared and I was hoping for some moral support.
Was your time up, did they just decided they didn't need you anymore, or was it a performance issue?
I was let go from a temp job once years ago. Even the temp agency wasn't sure what happened with it. Found me another slot in very short order.
My contract was an open ended one. They said it was "unprofessional conduct". I'd like to think it's because they didn't need me anymore.
Better talk to your temp agency and figure out what happened, especially if there was no indication of what you were doing wrong.
If they did try to correct your behavior, that may make things a smidge more complicated.
Quote from: Rothman on April 17, 2025, 05:33:34 PMI was let go from a temp job once years ago. Even the temp agency wasn't sure what happened with it. Found me another slot in very short order.
I've only worked through a temp agency once, and I'm the one who terminated it. I went in for a full-time job interview, drove to the next town over for a copy of my driving record, and stopped by the temp agency to quit on my way to work that afternoon.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:35:57 PMThey said it was "unprofessional conduct". I'd like to think it's because they didn't need me anymore.
Shall I assume that means they told you what specific conduct was unprofessional?
Quote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 05:38:34 PMQuote from: Rothman on April 17, 2025, 05:33:34 PMI was let go from a temp job once years ago. Even the temp agency wasn't sure what happened with it. Found me another slot in very short order.
I've only worked through a temp agency once, and I'm the one who terminated it. I went in for a full-time job interview, drove to the next town over for a copy of my driving record, and stopped by the temp agency to quit on my way to work that afternoon.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:35:57 PMThey said it was "unprofessional conduct". I'd like to think it's because they didn't need me anymore.
Shall I assume that means they told you what specific conduct was unprofessional?
Not really
I don't know how you should put that on a résumé. When I quite from a temp agency, I felt that it wasn't a bad thing to put on a résumé because it was in order to secure a full-time job. But being terminated, even if by a temp agency, might be different.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:44:11 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 05:38:34 PMQuote from: Rothman on April 17, 2025, 05:33:34 PMI was let go from a temp job once years ago. Even the temp agency wasn't sure what happened with it. Found me another slot in very short order.
I've only worked through a temp agency once, and I'm the one who terminated it. I went in for a full-time job interview, drove to the next town over for a copy of my driving record, and stopped by the temp agency to quit on my way to work that afternoon.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:35:57 PMThey said it was "unprofessional conduct". I'd like to think it's because they didn't need me anymore.
Shall I assume that means they told you what specific conduct was unprofessional?
Not really
Sounds like the same reason every federal employee on probation got fired for.
Sorry to hear Kernals. I worked a temp-to-hire job once and 3 months in got a "permanent" job just about when I knew they weren't going to need me anymore.
I remember the old days when places would be afraid to say you did anything wrong and would just axe you in some half-assed "layoff", now they say you did something wrong but refuse to tell you what.
Also I didn't see it in the thread, did the temp agency also fire you or were they committed to placing you with another client?
Quote from: SectorZ on April 17, 2025, 05:53:15 PMQuote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:44:11 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 05:38:34 PMQuote from: Rothman on April 17, 2025, 05:33:34 PMI was let go from a temp job once years ago. Even the temp agency wasn't sure what happened with it. Found me another slot in very short order.
I've only worked through a temp agency once, and I'm the one who terminated it. I went in for a full-time job interview, drove to the next town over for a copy of my driving record, and stopped by the temp agency to quit on my way to work that afternoon.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:35:57 PMThey said it was "unprofessional conduct". I'd like to think it's because they didn't need me anymore.
Shall I assume that means they told you what specific conduct was unprofessional?
Not really
Sounds like the same reason every federal employee on probation got fired for.
Sorry to hear Kernals. I worked a temp-to-hire job once and 3 months in got a "permanent" job just about when I knew they weren't going to need me anymore.
I remember the old days when places would be afraid to say you did anything wrong and would just axe you in some half-assed "layoff", now they say you did something wrong but refuse to tell you what.
Also I didn't see it in the thread, did the temp agency also fire you or were they committed to placing you with another client?
The temp agency says I'm free to apply to other jobs they have.
Just to add insult to injury, they suspended my access to their internal network immediately, not giving me a chance to say goodbye to my coworkers over Teams.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:55:35 PMQuote from: SectorZ on April 17, 2025, 05:53:15 PMQuote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:44:11 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 05:38:34 PMQuote from: Rothman on April 17, 2025, 05:33:34 PMI was let go from a temp job once years ago. Even the temp agency wasn't sure what happened with it. Found me another slot in very short order.
I've only worked through a temp agency once, and I'm the one who terminated it. I went in for a full-time job interview, drove to the next town over for a copy of my driving record, and stopped by the temp agency to quit on my way to work that afternoon.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:35:57 PMThey said it was "unprofessional conduct". I'd like to think it's because they didn't need me anymore.
Shall I assume that means they told you what specific conduct was unprofessional?
Not really
Sounds like the same reason every federal employee on probation got fired for.
Sorry to hear Kernals. I worked a temp-to-hire job once and 3 months in got a "permanent" job just about when I knew they weren't going to need me anymore.
I remember the old days when places would be afraid to say you did anything wrong and would just axe you in some half-assed "layoff", now they say you did something wrong but refuse to tell you what.
Also I didn't see it in the thread, did the temp agency also fire you or were they committed to placing you with another client?
The temp agency says I'm free to apply to other jobs they have.
Sounds like a good thing, then. My temp agency already had my qualifications and just said, "Well, we have an opening at X, you want it?" And away I went.
Any idea what the referenced unprofessional conduct might be?
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 17, 2025, 06:11:35 PMAny idea what the referenced unprofessional conduct might be?
I may have raised my voice at a customer, something I only do if they are constantly interrupting me.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:55:35 PMThe temp agency says I'm free to apply to other jobs they have.
So it doesn't sound like you're in a bad place, then.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:58:09 PMJust to add insult to injury, they suspended my access to their internal network immediately, not giving me a chance to say goodbye to my coworkers over Teams.
That's normal. It sucks to not be able to say good-bye, but it's normal. Maybe it didn't use to be, I don't know.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 06:17:15 PMI may have raised my voice at a customer, something I only do if they are constantly interrupting me.
If you know what it might have been, then that's probably what it was.
People who succeed in customer service have the ability to avoid raising their voice, no matter what. Not everyone is cut out for it. I know I'm not.
Quote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 06:24:16 PMSo it doesn't sound like you're in a bad place, then.
Who's to say I'll get any of those jobs?
Quote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 06:24:16 PMPeople who succeed in customer service have the ability to avoid raising their voice, no matter what.
That's not possible.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 06:34:44 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 06:24:16 PMPeople who succeed in customer service have the ability to avoid raising their voice, no matter what.
That's not possible.
In general? Of course it is.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 06:31:02 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 06:24:16 PMSo it doesn't sound like you're in a bad place, then.
Who's to say I'll get any of those jobs?
If it was actually really bad that agency probably wouldn't let you apply for anything else. There isn't too much career equity that comes out of temp jobs anyways. Take what you can get now temporarily and apply for stuff that is more in line with your long term career goals.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 17, 2025, 06:45:46 PMQuote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 06:31:02 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 06:24:16 PMSo it doesn't sound like you're in a bad place, then.
Who's to say I'll get any of those jobs?
If it was actually really bad that agency probably wouldn't let you apply for anything else. There isn't too much career equity that comes out of temp jobs anyways. Take what you can get now temporarily and apply for stuff that is more in line with your long term career goals.
Thank you
In a brick and mortar business, customers are shitty, stupid creatures that must be manipulated into doing what you need them to do to help them achieve whatever it is they're trying to achieve. This is a learnable skill. If you are trying to talk to them and they're interrupting, there a number of ways to get them to stop.
One is to just stand there and wait for them to burn themselves out saying whatever it is they want say that won't make a difference as to how the transaction is handled. (Yes, it's very interesting that your account supposedly has sixty trillion dollars in it, but your card declined, so it doesn't matter to me and you need to call your bank.) If you can look like you're listening, they appreciate this, but sometimes looking obviously bored and like you're not paying attention can hasten the end of the interaction. Either way, just don't say anything at all until they stop talking.
Another is to talk progressively quieter so that they can't hear you over their own voice. They want to keep ranting and raving, but they also deeply want to hear you agree with them. And they can't do that if they are talking over you. So they have to shut up for a bit to listen to you.
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 17, 2025, 08:03:30 PMOne is to just stand there and wait for them to burn themselves out saying whatever it is they want say that won't make a difference as to how the transaction is handled.
I don't like that. It's not fair to all the people waiting on hold.
I find it hard to believe they would go to the trouble of looking through resumes and then spending weeks training someone to replace me over one or even a few bad calls.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 06:31:02 PMWho's to say I'll get any of those jobs?
But the bridge not having been burnt is a better starting place than the temp agency not wanting anything more to do with you.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 06:34:44 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 06:24:16 PMPeople who succeed in customer service have the ability to avoid raising their voice, no matter what.
That's not possible.
Yes, it is. I've known people who have that ability. They keep calm during the interaction, hang up the phone, and move on to the next call. To someone like you and me, it's practically miraculous. But it isn't impossible.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 08:24:18 PMQuote from: Scott5114 on April 17, 2025, 08:03:30 PMOne is to just stand there and wait for them to burn themselves out saying whatever it is they want say that won't make a difference as to how the transaction is handled.
I don't like that. It's not fair to all the people waiting on hold.
It's quite possible that letting them do that will actually shorten the conversation overall. Besides which, as I'm sure you've been told in training, your job is to take one customer at a time. Be fair to the customer you're actually on the phone with at the time, before deciding what's fair for the next one.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 08:30:44 PMI find it hard to believe they would go to the trouble of looking through resumes and then spending weeks training someone to replace me over one or even a few bad calls.
They might assume that a couple of bad calls, multiplied over time in the future, will end up being more than a couple of bad calls. That is to say, they can do math. Enough complaints on the same rep, and there's a discernable pattern.
And also, do your customers get automated follow-up surveys? Those are really popular these days. If so, then there are probably thresholds that are fairly rigid, or at least benchmarks that the company is expected to hit.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 08:24:18 PMQuote from: Scott5114 on April 17, 2025, 08:03:30 PMOne is to just stand there and wait for them to burn themselves out saying whatever it is they want say that won't make a difference as to how the transaction is handled.
I don't like that. It's not fair to all the people waiting on hold.
Yeah, I didn't either, because I usually had a line. That's when the mumble-quietly approach can help.
Doing customer service over the phone is a special kind of hell, though—all the downsides of in-person interaction (can't consult with someone else between messages or revise your thoughts before sending them) with none of the upsides (can't see their face or use visual aids if necessary), plus you have to deal with interference from bad connections and people not being able to hear as well on the phone as they would in real life.
Quote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 08:49:46 PMThey might assume that a couple of bad calls, multiplied over time in the future, will end up being more than a couple of bad calls. That is to say, they can do math. Enough complaints on the same rep, and there's a discernable pattern.
I think it had more to do with the fact that call volumes plummeted after tax day (I worked in financial services)
You'll bounce back. Nobody on here is in a position to tell you what happened. These replies are (predictably) just trying to sleuth out a situation they have next to zero info on.
It's up to you to reflect on what happened, why, and what you may need to do better moving forward. Learn from it and put it behind you. I believe in you man!
Quote from: thspfc on April 17, 2025, 09:09:07 PMLearn from it and put it behind you.
Yep, this is the key. All of those things that your gut is telling you "it could have been because X"—well, now you know what to work on in your next job.
The key thing is that the agency is not cutting you loose. So your actual employer hasn't fired you and you can avoid saying you were fired when you're asked that in the future. (Something similar happened to me once. Hasn't caused any problems since then after they concluded there had been a big misunderstanding. Something similar happened to my brother once as well and the place he was working moved him to a different location as a solution.)
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:58:09 PMJust to add insult to injury, they suspended my access to their internal network immediately, not giving me a chance to say goodbye to my coworkers over Teams.
That's standard in a lot of workplaces. Don't take it personally. Maybe your former supervisor would be willing to forward a brief message from you with your contact information.
I've been fired from a couple of jobs before, and I've used them as a growing experience since then. In the age of social media, it's very tough just trying to hold on to a job, much less get one, because of the non-work related issues employers (current and prospective) have noticed on these platforms. So I hope you're extra careful not to let your dirty laundry get aired and further jeopardize your chances of finding employment. That aside, best of luck in your future endeavors.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:58:09 PMJust to add insult to injury, they suspended my access to their internal network immediately, not giving me a chance to say goodbye to my coworkers over Teams.
I got let go from my permanent job. "Position eliminated" Not only was I not allowed to say goodbye, no one was told why I was gone. I got no severance, whereas I would have given two weeks notice myself. COMPANIES HAVE NO LOYALTY TO YOU!
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:58:09 PMJust to add insult to injury, they suspended my access to their internal network immediately, not giving me a chance to say goodbye to my coworkers over Teams.
Unfortunately, that is standard security policy when you are let go. They have to go with the "worst case scenario". I know that when I was managing a team, two people were "let go" with no explanation, and I immediately had to go through and remove access or put in those requests on a high-urgency basis.
Right now, I have a target on my back, and I have collected all of the email addresses of the key contacts of my company who will have no hesitation in proving a recommendation.
Quote from: Henry on April 18, 2025, 12:00:38 AMIn the age of social media, it's very tough just trying to hold on to a job, much less get one, because of the non-work related issues employers (current and prospective) have noticed on these platforms.
All of a sudden, Henry's online behavior got a lot more interesting.
A few years ago, my boss was fired after two decades with the company. Even though we're a small company where everyone knows each other, it was still a matter of him walking in, grabbing the most important stuff from his desk, and then walking out again without any conversation—and coming back for the rest after hours, when the rest of us weren't there.
Fortunately for me, his wife also works with me, so not only do I know what happened, but I still see him every so often if he drops by for a quick lunch with her, and at the annual plus-one Christmas party.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:58:09 PMJust to add insult to injury, they suspended my access to their internal network immediately, not giving me a chance to say goodbye to my coworkers over Teams.
Regarding this comment, as others have noted, that sort of thing is very common, and some companies will even escort the terminated employees from the premises. The reason is to prevent a disgruntled actor from deleting files, releasing a computer virus, etc. It's understandable from an IT security viewpoint.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 06:34:44 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 06:24:16 PMPeople who succeed in customer service have the ability to avoid raising their voice, no matter what.
That's not possible.
I've worked in customer service of some form for 25 years and have never raised my voice at a customer, despite having kicked several out of my restaurants. You need to remain calm or you have no authority.
Quote from: 1995hoo on April 18, 2025, 09:37:22 AMQuote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:58:09 PMJust to add insult to injury, they suspended my access to their internal network immediately, not giving me a chance to say goodbye to my coworkers over Teams.
Regarding this comment, as others have noted, that sort of thing is very common, and some companies will even escort the terminated employees from the premises. The reason is to prevent a disgruntled actor from deleting files, releasing a computer virus, etc. It's understandable from an IT security viewpoint.
My staff is usually is tasked with escorted terminated people out of the building and if applicable off the installation. Part of the deal is seizure of ID and access cards. The severity of the termination doesn't really matter, it is just standard operating procedure.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 18, 2025, 10:18:27 AMQuote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 06:34:44 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 06:24:16 PMPeople who succeed in customer service have the ability to avoid raising their voice, no matter what.
That's not possible.
I've worked in customer service of some form for 25 years and have never raised my voice at a customer, despite having kicked several out of my restaurants. You need to remain calm or you have no authority.
My first job in my career field was the customer service end - in an area where our patron base was largely upper-class retirees, so super-prone to having a chip on their shoulder before you even answered the phone or greeted them in person.
My boss/mentor was something of a "bitchy patron whisperer" - she could tell you "no" in a way that made you feel like you still got what you wanted and leaving with everyone smiling. Taught me a lot about human behavior - and although I could never aspire to her level of genius, I have carried those skills throughout my career as well as in the rest of my life.
Quote from: DTComposer on April 18, 2025, 01:02:58 PMQuote from: JayhawkCO on April 18, 2025, 10:18:27 AMQuote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 06:34:44 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 06:24:16 PMPeople who succeed in customer service have the ability to avoid raising their voice, no matter what.
That's not possible.
I've worked in customer service of some form for 25 years and have never raised my voice at a customer, despite having kicked several out of my restaurants. You need to remain calm or you have no authority.
My first job in my career field was the customer service end - in an area where our patron base was largely upper-class retirees, so super-prone to having a chip on their shoulder before you even answered the phone or greeted them in person.
My boss/mentor was something of a "bitchy patron whisperer" - she could tell you "no" in a way that made you feel like you still got what you wanted and leaving with everyone smiling. Taught me a lot about human behavior - and although I could never aspire to her level of genius, I have carried those skills throughout my career as well as in the rest of my life.
Not to pat myself on the back, but I've long been told by colleagues that I could somehow say anything to anyone and not have them be mad at me. Definitely a soft skill that's been beneficial in my career.
Quote from: DTComposer on April 18, 2025, 01:02:58 PMQuote from: JayhawkCO on April 18, 2025, 10:18:27 AMQuote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 06:34:44 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 06:24:16 PMPeople who succeed in customer service have the ability to avoid raising their voice, no matter what.
That's not possible.
I've worked in customer service of some form for 25 years and have never raised my voice at a customer, despite having kicked several out of my restaurants. You need to remain calm or you have no authority.
My first job in my career field was the customer service end - in an area where our patron base was largely upper-class retirees, so super-prone to having a chip on their shoulder before you even answered the phone or greeted them in person.
My boss/mentor was something of a "bitchy patron whisperer" - she could tell you "no" in a way that made you feel like you still got what you wanted and leaving with everyone smiling. Taught me a lot about human behavior - and although I could never aspire to her level of genius, I have carried those skills throughout my career as well as in the rest of my life.
When I was managing the team, my policy was that it was better for one of my people to blow up at me rather at the customer. People call technical support because they have a problem, not that everything is working fine. In the business area that I'm in, if a system is down, that customer can be losing thousands of dollars per MINUTE in lost productivity, and has to report what has happened to their management.
Temp agencies are the worst. I worked in a laboratory on a 6-month contract with one, got very little in the way of training, and the lab ended up terminating the contract 4 months early after rushing the employee I was filling in for back from maternity leave. Never worked another temp job again after that, and I eventually stopped including it on my resume. I totally sympathize.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:27:17 PMIn the middle of my lunch break today I got a phone call from my temp agency saying their client was firing me. I am absolutely devastated and scared and I was hoping for some moral support.
End of Contract notice? sometimes I get these things due to whatever stuff I signed with the temp agency. Or in some cases the client company needed to reduce staff with the end of contract notice by notifying the temp agency. Then the Temp agency will send me to somewhere else.
Quote from: Rothman on April 17, 2025, 05:37:59 PMQuote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:35:57 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 05:31:02 PMYou were employed through a temp agency? I know some people do that long-term. How long were you with them?
6 months
I'd like to think they're just looking for an excuse to cut excess capacityQuote from: Rothman on April 17, 2025, 05:33:34 PMQuote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:27:17 PMIn the middle of my lunch break today I got a phone call from my temp agency saying their client was firing me. I am absolutely devastated and scared and I was hoping for some moral support.
Was your time up, did they just decided they didn't need you anymore, or was it a performance issue?
I was let go from a temp job once years ago. Even the temp agency wasn't sure what happened with it. Found me another slot in very short order.
My contract was an open ended one. They said it was "unprofessional conduct". I'd like to think it's because they didn't need me anymore.
Better talk to your temp agency and figure out what happened, especially if there was no indication of what you were doing wrong.
If they did try to correct your behavior, that may make things a smidge more complicated.
They didn't. When I had my weekly meeting with my supervisor last thursday, he had nothing bad to say about my performance, except that I was spending a little bit too much time in between calls.
Being a temp cuts both ways, you can walk away whenever you want and so can they.
Quote from: kkt on April 18, 2025, 07:16:33 PMBeing a temp cuts both ways, you can walk away whenever you want and so can they.
Also non-temp in "At-will employment" states, which is every state except Montana.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 09:03:55 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 08:49:46 PMThey might assume that a couple of bad calls, multiplied over time in the future, will end up being more than a couple of bad calls. That is to say, they can do math. Enough complaints on the same rep, and there's a discernable pattern.
I think it had more to do with the fact that call volumes plummeted after tax day (I worked in financial services)
That being the case, what are your credentials for financial services? Do you think you could benefit from some additional education--possibly pulling you away from some of those direct interactions with customers you didn't like?
Quote from: Molandfreak on April 18, 2025, 08:26:20 PMQuote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 09:03:55 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 17, 2025, 08:49:46 PMThey might assume that a couple of bad calls, multiplied over time in the future, will end up being more than a couple of bad calls. That is to say, they can do math. Enough complaints on the same rep, and there's a discernable pattern.
I think it had more to do with the fact that call volumes plummeted after tax day (I worked in financial services)
That being the case, what are your credentials for financial services? Do you think you could benefit from some additional education--possibly pulling you away from some of those direct interactions with customers you didn't like?
I am working toward an online certificate in accounting with the University of Arizona
When you're a grunt, you can't pick fights with customers. Customers who are petty and vindictive enough to fight back because they felt dissed by you will win every time.
I don't know about that, outright customer abuse towards employees is a thing that occasionally happens. A couple years back one customer called in because he was late on his storage facility payments. During the call he made the comment to an employee along the lines of "I'll come down there and kill someone if my stuff gets touched." I actually called the police and had him legally trespassed.
Quote from: Big John on April 18, 2025, 07:20:40 PMQuote from: kkt on April 18, 2025, 07:16:33 PMBeing a temp cuts both ways, you can walk away whenever you want and so can they.
Also non-temp in "At-will employment" states, which is every state except Montana.
At a statewide level, yes, but there are also significant numbers of jobs in every state where there are union contracts requiring at least some notice when firing someone, and possibly a specific cause and attempt at correction as well.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 18, 2025, 11:04:52 PMI don't know about that, outright customer abuse towards employees is a thing that occasionally happens. A couple years back one customer called in because he was late on his storage facility payments. During the call he made the comment to an employee along the lines of "I'll come down there and kill someone if my stuff gets touched." I actually called the police and had him legally trespassed.
I had threats against me for outcomes of auto damage claims. I never took them too personally, especially since I was in Massachusetts handling claims for people 500 miles from me. One was an insurance agent, so I took particular fun in just filing a state complaint against him where they forced him to write a letter of apology.
Quote from: Rothman on April 18, 2025, 07:54:40 AMQuote from: Henry on April 18, 2025, 12:00:38 AMIn the age of social media, it's very tough just trying to hold on to a job, much less get one, because of the non-work related issues employers (current and prospective) have noticed on these platforms.
All of a sudden, Henry's online behavior got a lot more interesting.
Never, ever, ever, make your social media posts public. Limit them to friends or even certain subsets of friends.
Don't befriend a bunch of work associates on social media. Don't join work-related groups.
Don't post your current place of employment or job title on your social media profile. Limit what non-friends can see vs. what friends can see on your profile/bio.
Avoid posting selfies or profile pictures of your actual face.
The less that a current or prospective employer, or a work troublemaker, can see about you when they search for your profile, the better and safer you are.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 23, 2025, 11:32:52 AMQuote from: Rothman on April 18, 2025, 07:54:40 AMQuote from: Henry on April 18, 2025, 12:00:38 AMIn the age of social media, it's very tough just trying to hold on to a job, much less get one, because of the non-work related issues employers (current and prospective) have noticed on these platforms.
All of a sudden, Henry's online behavior got a lot more interesting.
Never, ever, ever, make your social media posts public. Limit them to friends or even certain subsets of friends.
Don't befriend a bunch of work associates on social media. Don't join work-related groups.
Don't post your current place of employment or job title on your social media profile. Limit what non-friends can see vs. what friends can see on your profile/bio.
Avoid posting selfies or profile pictures of your actual face.
The less that a current or prospective employer, or a work troublemaker, can see about you when they search for your profile, the better and safer you are.
In all the years of doing what I do did the content of an employee's social media posts ever came once up as evidence used against them in an investigation. And to that end the investigation didn't originate with the social media posts but rather a complaint by filed by an employee about something that happened at work.
The social media item I'm referencing in the example above involved a store manager sharing links with workers on Facebook. Said links were of said store manager posing in silk underwear on a known pedophile site. This wasn't the primary driver the investigation, there were many other way worse things going on.
Quote from: Henry on April 18, 2025, 12:00:38 AMI've been fired from a couple of jobs before, and I've used them as a growing experience since then. In the age of social media, it's very tough just trying to hold on to a job, much less get one, because of the non-work related issues employers (current and prospective) have noticed on these platforms. So I hope you're extra careful not to let your dirty laundry get aired and further jeopardize your chances of finding employment. That aside, best of luck in your future endeavors.
I've never been fired and am active on social media. It's not hard to show restraint.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 23, 2025, 11:32:52 AMQuote from: Rothman on April 18, 2025, 07:54:40 AMQuote from: Henry on April 18, 2025, 12:00:38 AMIn the age of social media, it's very tough just trying to hold on to a job, much less get one, because of the non-work related issues employers (current and prospective) have noticed on these platforms.
All of a sudden, Henry's online behavior got a lot more interesting.
Never, ever, ever, make your social media posts public. Limit them to friends or even certain subsets of friends.
Don't befriend a bunch of work associates on social media. Don't join work-related groups.
Don't post your current place of employment or job title on your social media profile. Limit what non-friends can see vs. what friends can see on your profile/bio.
Avoid posting selfies or profile pictures of your actual face.
The less that a current or prospective employer, or a work troublemaker, can see about you when they search for your profile, the better and safer you are.
Somebody's speaking from experience...not posting selfies on a locked down account seems a bit extreme, though.
My current Facebook profile picture is of me and my wife somewhere on the Big Island. I have about twenty co-workers who are friends on my account. I haven't worried about them being there because I don't really have anything noteworthy to say online that would get me into work trouble.
A lot of this social media advice reads to me as paranoia.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 23, 2025, 11:32:52 AMNever, ever, ever, make your social media posts public. Limit them to friends or even certain subsets of friends.
[...]
Avoid posting selfies or profile pictures of your actual face.
The less that a current or prospective employer, or a work troublemaker, can see about you when they search for your profile, the better and safer you are.
A public picture on Facebook of my family at church dressed up for Easter: what possible damage might I expect to come of that?
For the longest time, I was never "fired" from a job. I either left on my terms, or it was a seasonal job with a finite length of time.
One day on a job in my 30s, I was asked to go to see the GM and my supervisor and was told I was fired for some petty reason.
Was I upset? A little...but I turned the tables and thanked them. I told them that this was the first time in my nearly 20 years in the workforce that I got fired and I refused to acknowledge what they considered was "poor performance" in their eyes, as until then, I always had stellar references from my past jobs. Plus they were playing favorites as others had far worse job performances and yet they were there longer than myself.
Never been fired. Never been documented for anything other than not showing up for a lunch shift one time when I was 21 because I forgot I had picked it up from someone.
Quote from: kphoger on April 23, 2025, 01:07:19 PMQuote from: hbelkins on April 23, 2025, 11:32:52 AMNever, ever, ever, make your social media posts public. Limit them to friends or even certain subsets of friends.
[...]
Avoid posting selfies or profile pictures of your actual face.
The less that a current or prospective employer, or a work troublemaker, can see about you when they search for your profile, the better and safer you are.
A public picture on Facebook of my family at church dressed up for Easter: what possible damage might I expect to come of that?
I'm just not a fan of posting my picture on the Internet for the world to see in general. And I've been like that for years.I prefer my anonymity.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 23, 2025, 02:52:22 PMI'm just not a fan of posting my picture on the Internet for the world to see in general. And I've been like that for years.I prefer my anonymity.
I mean, you have that right, and I don't fault you for it...But you're also the only one on this forum whose face has appeared on TV multiple times with a big honking chyron underneath with your name and employer. :D
Quote from: hbelkins on April 23, 2025, 02:52:22 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 23, 2025, 01:07:19 PMQuote from: hbelkins on April 23, 2025, 11:32:52 AMNever, ever, ever, make your social media posts public. Limit them to friends or even certain subsets of friends.
[...]
Avoid posting selfies or profile pictures of your actual face.
The less that a current or prospective employer, or a work troublemaker, can see about you when they search for your profile, the better and safer you are.
A public picture on Facebook of my family at church dressed up for Easter: what possible damage might I expect to come of that?
I'm just not a fan of posting my picture on the Internet for the world to see in general. And I've been like that for years.I prefer my anonymity.
Well, then it sounds like a personal rule rather than a general one.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:27:17 PMIn the middle of my lunch break today I got a phone call from my temp agency saying their client was firing me. I am absolutely devastated and scared and I was hoping for some moral support.
Any luck on a new position?
Facebook profile pictures aside my actual name gets used on this forum all the time. So much so that I get some amusement out of times when people think my actual name is Max. I only chose this screen name because I had just seen Fury Road shortly before registering on the forum.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 24, 2025, 07:52:21 AMFacebook profile pictures aside my actual name gets used on this forum all the time. So much so that I get some amusement out of times when people think my actual name is Max. I only chose this screen name because I had just seen Fury Road shortly before registering on the forum.
I can't believe Fury Road was ten years ago.
Quote from: Rothman on April 24, 2025, 08:11:16 AMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on April 24, 2025, 07:52:21 AMFacebook profile pictures aside my actual name gets used on this forum all the time. So much so that I get some amusement out of times when people think my actual name is Max. I only chose this screen name because I had just seen Fury Road shortly before registering on the forum.
I can't believe Fury Road was ten years ago.
That and it took almost a decade for a follow up film. Even my wife liked Furiosa when we went to go see it.
I haven't chimed in, but seeing such a broad spectrum of opinions on this is interesting. This is just my take on 20 years of experience in the coal/steel/higher education/contract industries:
- Your coworkers are not your friends at work. People are at work to keep a business operating, and a business only sees you for your contributions.
- If you are terminated, you should leave. For security and legal purposes, your access to various systems will likely be terminated at that point. If you want to say goodbye, you can do that on LinkedIn.
- Social media can be positive and negative. If your opinions are polarized and you publicly express them, that can influence your relationship with your colleagues and employer. If you are looking for work, it will impact your job search. I can't begin to tell you how often I reject applicants based on a 10-minute search of that person's name on Google. If I find something too polarizing or controversial, or posts and comments demeaning to other people, I'll pass on that applicant.
- That said, my media and social media presence benefited my last two employers. The writing and skillsets I have used in developing my three sites over 20+ years were a factor in my employment (per conversations with the individuals who had hired me). I keep my online presence tailored.
- Nothing on social media is private. Don't post about it if you don't want it out there. Not everything in life needs to be shared.
- A contracting position can bring a lot of money, but it's also not stable long-term. You may make more money, but you don't have a vested interest in the long-term goals of that employer. You are also at-will, so any infraction or misstep can lead to immediate termination.
Quote from: seicer on April 24, 2025, 08:59:14 AMYour coworkers are not your friends at work. People are at work to keep a business operating, and a business only sees you for your contributions.
I keep seeing people post this, but, as a rule, I disagree with this completely. When I got married, of the 200 people who were at our wedding, I'd bet around a quarter of them were current or former co-workers, including bosses. You're certainly not forced to be friends with anyone you work with, but, in my experience, it's way easier to feel a part of the team at work if you like the people you work with and they like you too.
A large percentage of people who I would now consider close friends are those who I either worked for or worked for me. Cultivating people who can vouch for you long term on a professional or non-professional level is not bad thing.
Quote from: seicer on April 24, 2025, 08:59:14 AMI can't begin to tell you how often I reject applicants based on a 10-minute search of that person's name on Google. If I find something too polarizing or controversial, or posts and comments demeaning to other people, I'll pass on that applicant.
I used to be extremely against this sort of thing—what people do outside of work is generally their own business, not the employer's—but I can't say it isn't fair to pass on someone whose social media trail paints a portrait of someone who's an asshole who would be a pain to work with.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 24, 2025, 09:15:16 AMYou're certainly not forced to be friends with anyone you work with, but, in my experience, it's way easier to feel a part of the team at work if you like the people you work with and they like you too.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 24, 2025, 09:31:24 AMA large percentage of people who I would now consider close friends are those who I either worked for or worked for me. Cultivating people who can vouch for you long term on a professional or non-professional level is not bad thing.
No, but it should be recognized that getting too chummy with coworkers can be hazardous in some cases. If you tell the wrong person you have a non-standard religion, or orientation/gender identity, or political affiliation, or whatever, you can find yourself dealing with a whole lot of shit you wouldn't need to deal with if you'd just kept your lips zipped.
That doesn't mean that you shouldn't ever become friends with people at work, just use discretion and don't assume everyone is your friend when they're not. (And even then, sometimes people you think are your friends will play dirty when you're both up for the same promotion, or you did something they take as a slight.)
Back in the day, I used to pass on applicants who didn't bring their own pen when coming in to fill out an application at the restaurant I managed. You knew you were coming to fill out an application, but you didn't bother to prepare yourself? Wouldn't likely bode well for a fine dining restaurant.
Quote from: ZLoth on April 24, 2025, 07:48:59 AMQuote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:27:17 PMIn the middle of my lunch break today I got a phone call from my temp agency saying their client was firing me. I am absolutely devastated and scared and I was hoping for some moral support.
Any luck on a new position?
Nope, I haven't even finished updating my resume.
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 24, 2025, 10:22:53 AMQuote from: seicer on April 24, 2025, 08:59:14 AMI can't begin to tell you how often I reject applicants based on a 10-minute search of that person's name on Google. If I find something too polarizing or controversial, or posts and comments demeaning to other people, I'll pass on that applicant.
I used to be extremely against this sort of thing—what people do outside of work is generally their own business, not the employer's—but I can't say it isn't fair to pass on someone whose social media trail paints a portrait of someone who's an asshole who would be a pain to work with.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 24, 2025, 09:15:16 AMYou're certainly not forced to be friends with anyone you work with, but, in my experience, it's way easier to feel a part of the team at work if you like the people you work with and they like you too.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 24, 2025, 09:31:24 AMA large percentage of people who I would now consider close friends are those who I either worked for or worked for me. Cultivating people who can vouch for you long term on a professional or non-professional level is not bad thing.
No, but it should be recognized that getting too chummy with coworkers can be hazardous in some cases. If you tell the wrong person you have a non-standard religion, or orientation/gender identity, or political affiliation, or whatever, you can find yourself dealing with a whole lot of shit you wouldn't need to deal with if you'd just kept your lips zipped.
That doesn't mean that you shouldn't ever become friends with people at work, just use discretion and don't assume everyone is your friend when they're not. (And even then, sometimes people you think are your friends will play dirty when you're both up for the same promotion, or you did something they take as a slight.)
In my particular case the folks I'm referring to are those I've now known for several years. There is a substantial difference between let's say someone who only worked for me over two months versus another I hired seven years ago and has been promoted twice.
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 24, 2025, 02:48:30 AMQuote from: hbelkins on April 23, 2025, 02:52:22 PMI'm just not a fan of posting my picture on the Internet for the world to see in general. And I've been like that for years.I prefer my anonymity.
I mean, you have that right, and I don't fault you for it...But you're also the only one on this forum whose face has appeared on TV multiple times with a big honking chyron underneath with your name and employer. :D
Not to mention that his username here is his actual name (minus the -ayes part, of course), and his profile has the state he lives in and a badge identifying his employer. For someone who likes anonymity so much, he sure does share a lot of personal information about himself right there in his forum profile.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 24, 2025, 09:15:16 AMYou're certainly not forced to be friends with anyone you work with, but, in my experience, it's way easier to feel a part of the team at work if you like the people you work with and they like you too.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 24, 2025, 09:31:24 AMA large percentage of people who I would now consider close friends are those who I either worked for or worked for me. Cultivating people who can vouch for you long term on a professional or non-professional level is not bad thing.
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 24, 2025, 10:22:53 AMNo, but it should be recognized that getting too chummy with coworkers can be hazardous in some cases. If you tell the wrong person you have a non-standard religion, or orientation/gender identity, or political affiliation, or whatever, you can find yourself dealing with a whole lot of shit you wouldn't need to deal with if you'd just kept your lips zipped.
That doesn't mean that you shouldn't ever become friends with people at work, just use discretion and don't assume everyone is your friend when they're not. (And even then, sometimes people you think are your friends will play dirty when you're both up for the same promotion, or you did something they take as a slight.)
Not to mention that the best friends can eventually make the worst of enemies.
At my own company, I've witnessed employees become romantically involved and then break up—even to the point of marriage and divorce. The work relationship at that point is never good, and most times one of them has left the company.
But there are a lot of others who have developed friendships that outlasted their mutual employment. My closest co-worker and her husband (who used to be my boss) still hang out with a field tech who hasn't worked for us in more more than a decade—and my former boss now works for him elsewhere.
Also, if you spend all of your time at work or at home, work is probably your only opportunity to form new friendships.
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 24, 2025, 11:55:59 AMAlso, if you spend all of your time at work or at home, work is probably your only opportunity to form new friendships.
I basically don't know anyone outside of work and church anymore. Unless you guys on this forum count.
Quote from: kphoger on April 24, 2025, 11:43:38 AMQuote from: Scott5114 on April 24, 2025, 02:48:30 AMQuote from: hbelkins on April 23, 2025, 02:52:22 PMI'm just not a fan of posting my picture on the Internet for the world to see in general. And I've been like that for years.I prefer my anonymity.
I mean, you have that right, and I don't fault you for it...But you're also the only one on this forum whose face has appeared on TV multiple times with a big honking chyron underneath with your name and employer. :D
Not to mention that his username here is his actual name (minus the -ayes part, of course), and his profile has the state he lives in and a badge identifying his employer. For someone who likes anonymity so much, he sure does share a lot of personal information about himself right there in his forum profile.
At first, I thought you were talking about my Facebook profile, and I was going to go on a Zuck rant. My Facebook profile is supposed to list only past employers.
I just wonder how much of this forum's personal information is available publicly to outsiders?
If you are specific enough you can find almost everything posted here on a Search Engine. Even searching for my actual name on Yahoo got a result for the forum on Page 3.
The weirdest result I got was an entry on IMDb. Apparently the podcast I did with Roadwaywiz about the highways in my garage merited an entry for some reason.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 24, 2025, 01:45:21 PMI just wonder how much of this forum's personal information is available publicly to outsiders?
I'm talking about your forum profile. You chose a username that's your actual name, and it's publicly visible. You chose to show the state you live in, and it's publicly visible. You chose to display a [DOT Employee] badge, and it's publicly visible. Everything I see to the left of your posts when I'm logged in is still visible when I'm logged out.
It doesn't sound as though you like anonymity all that much.
Quote from: kphoger on April 24, 2025, 02:14:21 PMQuote from: hbelkins on April 24, 2025, 01:45:21 PMI just wonder how much of this forum's personal information is available publicly to outsiders?
I'm talking about your forum profile. You chose a username that's your actual name, and it's publicly visible. You chose to show the state you live in, and it's publicly visible. You chose to display a [DOT Employee] badge, and it's publicly visible. Everything I see to the left of your posts when I'm logged in is still visible when I'm logged out.
It doesn't sound as though you like anonymity all that much.
I mean, to be fair to H.B., not every person that has a DOT Employee badge here works for a state DOT—some work for county or city agencies.
Not that a random passerby would know that, of course.
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 24, 2025, 02:16:29 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 24, 2025, 02:14:21 PMQuote from: hbelkins on April 24, 2025, 01:45:21 PMI just wonder how much of this forum's personal information is available publicly to outsiders?
I'm talking about your forum profile. You chose a username that's your actual name, and it's publicly visible. You chose to show the state you live in, and it's publicly visible. You chose to display a [DOT Employee] badge, and it's publicly visible. Everything I see to the left of your posts when I'm logged in is still visible when I'm logged out.
It doesn't sound as though you like anonymity all that much.
I mean, to be fair to H.B., not every person that has a DOT Employee badge here works for a state DOT—some work for county or city agencies.
Not that a random passerby would know that, of course.
And yet, the pieces are there if one was inclined to put the puzzle together.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 24, 2025, 01:45:21 PMI just wonder how much of this forum's personal information is available publicly to outsiders?
Personal information posted on an Internet forum might be available publicly? I've never heard of such a thing.
I don't know of any way to search for a specific user's forum post without being logged in.
Quote from: kphoger on April 24, 2025, 02:45:01 PMI don't know of any way to search for a specific user's forum post without being logged in.
Kind of the same thing...
(https://i.postimg.cc/VN4XBmvn/Screenshot-2025-04-24-124818.png)
Sorry, I left out an important letter.
Quote from: kphoger on April 24, 2025, 02:45:01 PMI don't know of any way to search for a specific user's forum posts without being logged in.
Quote from: kphoger on April 24, 2025, 03:02:35 PMSorry, I left out an important letter.
Quote from: kphoger on April 24, 2025, 02:45:01 PMI don't know of any way to search for a specific user's forum posts without being logged in.
Maybe not all posts, but anything quoted can come up in a search a la "kphoger site:aaroads.com".
Quote from: hbelkins on April 24, 2025, 01:45:21 PMI just wonder how much of this forum's personal information is available publicly to outsiders?
Pretty much all of it. Only the member list, specific profile pages, private messages, and a few specific boards are invisible to guests. Anything that displays to the left of posts or posted in most boards is publicly visible.
Quote from: vdeane on April 24, 2025, 08:50:30 PMQuote from: hbelkins on April 24, 2025, 01:45:21 PMI just wonder how much of this forum's personal information is available publicly to outsiders?
Pretty much all of it. Only the member list, specific profile pages, private messages, and a few specific boards are invisible to guests. Anything that displays to the left of posts or posted in most boards is publicly visible.
Imagine trying to get the scoop on FritzOwl via these forums.
Quote from: SectorZ on April 25, 2025, 08:30:11 AMQuote from: vdeane on April 24, 2025, 08:50:30 PMQuote from: hbelkins on April 24, 2025, 01:45:21 PMI just wonder how much of this forum's personal information is available publicly to outsiders?
Pretty much all of it. Only the member list, specific profile pages, private messages, and a few specific boards are invisible to guests. Anything that displays to the left of posts or posted in most boards is publicly visible.
Imagine trying to get the scoop on FritzOwl via these forums.
If you registered you once could find his host page. What a window into madness that was.
Quote from: SectorZ on April 25, 2025, 08:30:11 AMQuote from: vdeane on April 24, 2025, 08:50:30 PMQuote from: hbelkins on April 24, 2025, 01:45:21 PMI just wonder how much of this forum's personal information is available publicly to outsiders?
Pretty much all of it. Only the member list, specific profile pages, private messages, and a few specific boards are invisible to guests. Anything that displays to the left of posts or posted in most boards is publicly visible.
Imagine trying to get the scoop on FritzOwl via these forums.
He's probably one of the hardest for non-members to scoop, given how his posts are confined to one thread in Fictional Highways. In any case, how easy one is to scoop here is based on what they share; it's not like Facebook, which will go so far as to create a "shadow profile" of people who aren't even registered to the site with information their tracking has gathered but which people haven't posted themselves.
Quote from: kernals12 on April 17, 2025, 05:27:17 PMIn the middle of my lunch break today I got a phone call from my temp agency saying their client was firing me. I am absolutely devastated and scared and I was hoping for some moral support.
Sorry to hear that, and best of luck in finding another opportunity.
I am very late commenting here, but I want to add that businesses use temp agencies for two main reasons:
(1) To find labor for temporary projects or seasonal demand shifts
(2) To bypass normal recruitment process and find labor quickly
Both of those reasons are more about risk mitigation in the short term than they are about cost savings in the long term. As such, it's relatively rare, though not unheard of, for employment through a temp agency to work out long-term. And "working out long-term" doesn't even mean that you would continue to work through the agency for that business forever. If things work out well and the business decides they have a permanent job for you, they would most likely end up hiring you on directly, rather than continuing to pay a premium to the agency for your services.
You and most others here probably knew all of that already, but it's worth a reminder that any job obtained through a temp agency is almost certain to be temporary, and that is unfortunately just the nature of the beast.
I've worked with a few temp agencies in the past.
Generally, most are decent places. One reason a temp service works for some is that if you work long enough for a temp service over one or more jobs, you do get some benefits that the job you go to won't pay for. So if you stay with a temp service, you could get some benefits sooner than if you got hired from the company(s) directly.
Temp services are also good for some.companies because they can do extended "test drives" for people that may be qualified for a position, instead of hiring a person and risking having to go through the in-house process of replacing the person, if the temp hates the job or if the company feels they don't mesh as well as they'd like.
Advantages to the temp worker is that if they like you for the foreseeable future, the company may bring you onto their payroll sooner so they don't lose them. Also, if it WAS a temp or seasonal job from the start and your job was completed, you get an edge on other applicants if said company is looking for a permanent position to be filled -- you already have some vetted cred with the company that other applicants won't have.
I have also gone to temp services that don't try that hard to market you to fill a suitable position, and sometimes they will require YOU to check in with THEM daily or weekly to see what they may or may not have. IMO, that's what they should be doing for you!
Also research the temp services beforehand to make sure they specialize in the field(s) you want. Some only fill industrial positions, some clerical, some only medical, etc...
Quote from: ZLoth on April 18, 2025, 07:30:44 AMRight now, I have a target on my back
Yup, as expected. I have thirty days to find a new position at the company I work for. At least I received the help of a recruiter and have a lead on a new position within the company.
Quote from: kphoger on April 24, 2025, 11:43:38 AMQuote from: Scott5114 on April 24, 2025, 02:48:30 AMQuote from: hbelkins on April 23, 2025, 02:52:22 PMI'm just not a fan of posting my picture on the Internet for the world to see in general. And I've been like that for years.I prefer my anonymity.
I mean, you have that right, and I don't fault you for it...But you're also the only one on this forum whose face has appeared on TV multiple times with a big honking chyron underneath with your name and employer. :D
Not to mention that his username here is his actual name (minus the -ayes part, of course), and his profile has the state he lives in and a badge identifying his employer. For someone who likes anonymity so much, he sure does share a lot of personal information about himself right there in his forum profile.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 24, 2025, 09:15:16 AMYou're certainly not forced to be friends with anyone you work with, but, in my experience, it's way easier to feel a part of the team at work if you like the people you work with and they like you too.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 24, 2025, 09:31:24 AMA large percentage of people who I would now consider close friends are those who I either worked for or worked for me. Cultivating people who can vouch for you long term on a professional or non-professional level is not bad thing.
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 24, 2025, 10:22:53 AMNo, but it should be recognized that getting too chummy with coworkers can be hazardous in some cases. If you tell the wrong person you have a non-standard religion, or orientation/gender identity, or political affiliation, or whatever, you can find yourself dealing with a whole lot of shit you wouldn't need to deal with if you'd just kept your lips zipped.
That doesn't mean that you shouldn't ever become friends with people at work, just use discretion and don't assume everyone is your friend when they're not. (And even then, sometimes people you think are your friends will play dirty when you're both up for the same promotion, or you did something they take as a slight.)
Not to mention that the best friends can eventually make the worst of enemies.
At my own company, I've witnessed employees become romantically involved and then break up—even to the point of marriage and divorce. The work relationship at that point is never good, and most times one of them has left the company.
But there are a lot of others who have developed friendships that outlasted their mutual employment. My closest co-worker and her husband (who used to be my boss) still hang out with a field tech who hasn't worked for us in more more than a decade—and my former boss now works for him elsewhere.
People getting into relationships at work isn't always something that blows up or even violates office policy. At my current office the rule is that a superior can't date a subordinate. Given that there is a lot of different departments there is a lot of leeway. Supposedly if a relationship were to develop in the same department HR would just transfer one person (if available). That of course requires both parties report said relationship to HR.
I did see this play out with our current Director. His wife worked in the same department but held a role of equal stature prior to his promotion. Rather transfer her to another department the decision was made to transfer her department to Operations.
A coworker I started with actually met his wife at work. They started dating nine years ago but kept things to themselves. Nobody really knew (besides me) until they got married.
In the past I dated two women at prior jobs. The first employer didn't have any rules about dating where the later one stipulated it couldn't be out of the same office location. Neither relationship had notable consequences at either employer, both were known. There wasn't any violations of conduct afoot and keeping things on topic at work certainly didn't hurt.
I was dating a girl I worked with when she got promoted to being a manager. It was against the rules technically, but given that it was the restaurant biz, it wasn't enforced.
Dating in the workplace just seems a recipe for disaster. Heck, I dated a woman from our close-knit decent-sized group of friends and our breakup wasn't the greatest for the group. Can't imagine what would happen in the workplace if there's a bad breakup.
The second co-worker I dated was someone I was in a relationship for several years with. I was her training buddy when she was new, and we hit it off because we had a lot of common interests. The reason we broke up was that she wanted to move to the Midwest for career opportunities whereas I still doing well for myself in Arizona. She knows my sister pretty well and is still pretty good friends with her. I wouldn't say we left things on unfriendly terms as I still talk to her now and then.
The first person I dated at work was a cash office auditor. Given I was in LP we talked quite a bit because she had to deliver cash short variances to my office daily. She asked me if I wanted to go to lunch one day and things kind of progressed from there. Things weren't exactly a secret given seven other people worked in that LP department at the time (including four off duty MCSO deputies).
I wasn't as serious about the things as she was since I was 22, working full time and in college full time. She was 30 and wanted to move things along faster than I was comfortable with (she was worried about not having kids in particular). In fact, she really caught me off guard when she asked me to move in with her. Had I been out of college I might have taken her up on it and pursued things more seriously. Gradually we just stopped dating and that was that.
I don't know, neither person I dated at work was unstable or wasn't trying to build a viable career for themselves. I've seen work relationships blow up in the faces of other people plenty of times. Usually one of those parties (if not both) had other issues related to job performance.
Quote from: kphoger on April 24, 2025, 11:43:38 AMAt my own company, I've witnessed employees become romantically involved and then break up—even to the point of marriage and divorce. The work relationship at that point is never good, and most times one of them has left the company.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 27, 2025, 10:29:44 AMPeople getting into relationships at work isn't always something that blows up or even violates office policy. At my current office the rule is that a superior can't date a subordinate. Given that there is a lot of different departments there is a lot of leeway. Supposedly if a relationship were to develop in the same department HR would just transfer one person (if available). That of course requires both parties report said relationship to HR.
Did I fail to mention that the lady who got married to a co-worker and then later divorced
was HR? In fact, she and the gentleman were my two bosses (it's a small company, so responsibilities are divided up in strange ways, but I work in conjunction with both 'departments'). She then left the company, and he started spending a lot of time with her replacement—so much so that her husband ended up divorcing her. He has now since left as well (career change), but company Christmas parties to which some or all of them still get invited are kind of awkward.
Quote from: kphoger on April 27, 2025, 03:47:02 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 24, 2025, 11:43:38 AMAt my own company, I've witnessed employees become romantically involved and then break up—even to the point of marriage and divorce. The work relationship at that point is never good, and most times one of them has left the company.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 27, 2025, 10:29:44 AMPeople getting into relationships at work isn't always something that blows up or even violates office policy. At my current office the rule is that a superior can't date a subordinate. Given that there is a lot of different departments there is a lot of leeway. Supposedly if a relationship were to develop in the same department HR would just transfer one person (if available). That of course requires both parties report said relationship to HR.
Did I fail to mention that the lady who got married to a co-worker and then later divorced was HR? In fact, she and the gentleman were my two bosses (it's a small company, so responsibilities are divided up in strange ways, but I work in conjunction with both 'departments'). She then left the company, and he started spending a lot of time with her replacement—so much so that her husband ended up divorcing her. He has now since left as well (career change), but company Christmas parties to which some or all of them still get invited are kind of awkward.
I have a related HR story that is particularly juicy but I can't really share publicly. I'll just say that HR people aren't exactly always beyond reproach with questionable interactions with co-workers.
I met my wife at work—we were both slot attendants, and I had trained her when she transferred from security. We had just went on our first date when I got a voicemail for an interview for a promotion that would have made me her supervisor. I didn't call back to schedule the interview. I don't think I've ever made a decision that seemed more clearly correct in hindsight—I of course married my wife, and the guy who got the promotion ended up being so stressed out from it that he died of a heart attack.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 27, 2025, 04:26:40 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 27, 2025, 03:47:02 PMQuote from: kphoger on April 24, 2025, 11:43:38 AMAt my own company, I've witnessed employees become romantically involved and then break up—even to the point of marriage and divorce. The work relationship at that point is never good, and most times one of them has left the company.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 27, 2025, 10:29:44 AMPeople getting into relationships at work isn't always something that blows up or even violates office policy. At my current office the rule is that a superior can't date a subordinate. Given that there is a lot of different departments there is a lot of leeway. Supposedly if a relationship were to develop in the same department HR would just transfer one person (if available). That of course requires both parties report said relationship to HR.
Did I fail to mention that the lady who got married to a co-worker and then later divorced was HR? In fact, she and the gentleman were my two bosses (it's a small company, so responsibilities are divided up in strange ways, but I work in conjunction with both 'departments'). She then left the company, and he started spending a lot of time with her replacement—so much so that her husband ended up divorcing her. He has now since left as well (career change), but company Christmas parties to which some or all of them still get invited are kind of awkward.
I have a related HR story that is particularly juicy but I can't really share publicly. I'll just say that HR people aren't exactly always beyond reproach with questionable interactions with co-workers.
Tease.
Quote from: Rothman on April 27, 2025, 11:48:46 AMDating in the workplace just seems a recipe for disaster. Heck, I dated a woman from our close-knit decent-sized group of friends and our breakup wasn't the greatest for the group. Can't imagine what would happen in the workplace if there's a bad breakup.
I once had a notable co-worker (now deceased) who used to have a saying about that: "Don't get your meat where you get your bread."
"Don't dip your pen in the company ink."
"Don't build a campfire where you store the dynamite."
"Keep the honey out of the money."
"If you dip your spoon in the company stew, don't complain when it burns you."
Never been a fan of corporate culture truisms myself. I think enough reputable people have commented here about in-work relationships to provide evidence that isn't a sure fire job-related death sentence.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 28, 2025, 12:51:50 PMNever been a fan of corporate culture truisms myself. I think enough reputable people have commented here about in-work relationships to provide evidence that isn't a sure fire job-related death sentence.
It only raises the chances of such.
Quote from: Rothman on April 28, 2025, 01:37:40 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on April 28, 2025, 12:51:50 PMNever been a fan of corporate culture truisms myself. I think enough reputable people have commented here about in-work relationships to provide evidence that isn't a sure fire job-related death sentence.
It only raises the chances of such.
It isn't on the top five most common things I've interviewed people for related workplace misconduct. It might not even be in the top ten if I sat down and audited what I've interviewed people for.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 28, 2025, 01:42:17 PMQuote from: Rothman on April 28, 2025, 01:37:40 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on April 28, 2025, 12:51:50 PMNever been a fan of corporate culture truisms myself. I think enough reputable people have commented here about in-work relationships to provide evidence that isn't a sure fire job-related death sentence.
It only raises the chances of such.
It isn't on the top five most common things I've interviewed people for related workplace misconduct. It might not even be in the top ten if I sat down and audited what I've interviewed people for.
Probably because most people are smart enough to avoid such in the workplace.
My wife and I started dating while working together (and I was her supervisor!) - although we had met years before and our paths had crossed many times through gigs and friends. We both knew pretty quickly that we were in it for the long haul.
A couple of months in we told my supervisor (who was also our good friend) - then a couple of months after that we told our Board (we were at a non-profit). They had us sign a document regarding in-workplace relationships (basically to cover their butts if things went sideways), and a few months later, I was promoted to a vacant position and was no longer her supervisor. We got married while working there, but moved away a few months after that.
Side note: we were running the youth program part of our company, and while we thought we were relatively discreet (absolutely no PDAs, always drove to work separately, etc.), when we announced our relationship to the kids at an end-of-year party, we were greeted with a chorus of "we KNEW it!!" and "we had been shipping you so hard!" :-D
Quote from: Rothman on April 28, 2025, 01:43:36 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on April 28, 2025, 01:42:17 PMQuote from: Rothman on April 28, 2025, 01:37:40 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on April 28, 2025, 12:51:50 PMNever been a fan of corporate culture truisms myself. I think enough reputable people have commented here about in-work relationships to provide evidence that isn't a sure fire job-related death sentence.
It only raises the chances of such.
It isn't on the top five most common things I've interviewed people for related workplace misconduct. It might not even be in the top ten if I sat down and audited what I've interviewed people for.
Probably because most people are smart enough to avoid such in the workplace.
I don't know, the majority of terminations I've been involved with investigating usually pertained to people doing something incredibly stupid.
Quote from: Rothman on April 28, 2025, 01:37:40 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on April 28, 2025, 12:51:50 PMNever been a fan of corporate culture truisms myself. I think enough reputable people have commented here about in-work relationships to provide evidence that isn't a sure fire job-related death sentence.
It only raises the chances of such.
In-work relationships do indeed raise the chance of encountering corporate culture truisms. Sometimes you just have to touch base in order to circle back to platform your synergy.
My wife is in charge of the nursery at church. We require each children's classroom to have two adults present at all times, as a CYA protocol: in case there's ever any accusation of inappropriate conduct, there's always going to be a 3rd-party witness. But opinions are split as to whether a husband and wife should be able to count as those two adults, because it might be assumed the one couldn't function as an unbiased witness against the other.
Quote from: kphoger on April 28, 2025, 02:41:21 PMBut opinions are split as to whether a husband and wife should be able to count as those two adults, because it might be assumed the one couldn't function as an unbiased witness against the other.
I would have to imagine that someone brazen enough to abuse a child in front of someone else would only do so if they knew for a fact that the person wouldn't rat them out. And for most people, your spouse is one of the few people you can trust to stay silent to others about your shortcomings.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 28, 2025, 12:12:54 PMQuote from: Rothman on April 27, 2025, 11:48:46 AMDating in the workplace just seems a recipe for disaster. Heck, I dated a woman from our close-knit decent-sized group of friends and our breakup wasn't the greatest for the group. Can't imagine what would happen in the workplace if there's a bad breakup.
I once had a notable co-worker (now deceased) who used to have a saying about that: "Don't get your meat where you get your bread."
This seems like a riff on "don't crap where you eat."
When I met my wife and started dating her, we worked for different employers. Then my boss bought out her boss and we became co-workers, although at different locations.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 28, 2025, 12:51:50 PMNever been a fan of corporate culture truisms myself. I think enough reputable people have commented here about in-work relationships to provide evidence that isn't a sure fire job-related death sentence.
I used to work at a company with thousands of employees, and not only were in-company relationships tolerated there, they were borderline encouraged. That being said, with a company that big there was a good chance you'd never actually work with your partner if you were in different departments. Things get messier at a ten-person company.
Quote from: TheCatalyst31 on April 30, 2025, 11:08:14 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on April 28, 2025, 12:51:50 PMNever been a fan of corporate culture truisms myself. I think enough reputable people have commented here about in-work relationships to provide evidence that isn't a sure fire job-related death sentence.
I used to work at a company with thousands of employees, and not only were in-company relationships tolerated there, they were borderline encouraged. That being said, with a company that big there was a good chance you'd never actually work with your partner if you were in different departments. Things get messier at a ten-person company.
Heh. When I worked at a large law firm in DC, an associate lawyer was complaining that spouses or guests were not allowed at firm functions. He quipped, "We work all day, we sometimes even sleep here, are they implying they want us to sleep together now?"