Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
F/U to meeting with my boss
Thanks for all your support and comments. I understand that she had to do what she had to do for her company. She hired a person to take my place while I was out. She told me that she is going to fire that person because it just isn't working out. But instead of giving me a chance to come back and redeem myself and show her I'm the same person and a great employee, she would rather hire another employee, take the time to train and take a chance of getting another person that doesn't work out.
I received a letter from her this morning Fed-Ex priority overnight. She has fired me. She did say it was with great sadness and my experience, skills and knowledge would be a great asset to her company, but she feels as thought it's time to end our employment relationship. She wants me to stay in touch and let her know how I'm doing, blah, blah. Um..yeah, I don't think so.
It just blows my mind because I KNOW there is more to it than what she is saying. She did offer to write a letter of recommendation. If I don't take it and don't put her down as a reference, then people will wonder what happened since I was there for three years. My disability runs out Aug. 31, so I guess Sept. 1 I will be in the unemployment line.
I still have personal belongings at the office. How do I get those? I know the guy that she gave the title of GM gets there at 7:00 am. I'm thinking of going when he is there and she is not to get my things. Not say anything to him and leaving. I know things have changed and since it is a small business it's hard to lose someone like me with all the responsibilities I did, but I don't get why she isn't giving me another chance?? I didn't do anything wrong and I am healed so I won't be getting sick again. She is treating me like I stole or lied to her or did something wrong, but I didn't.
So if anyone is hiring an office/admin position, please let me know. 
Re: F/U to meeting with my boss
I'm really sorry that this has happened to you. What happens next is up to you. I think this is a good time to look at who you are and what you really want. Is being an admin your only career goal? Maybe its time to explore something else that you feel passionate about.This could be a fresh start.
I don't think you should go to the office without arranging it with her. That could be considered criminal trespassing. I think it will also mess up whatever remains of the relationship with her. You don't want to mess up getting a recommendation. No matter what, you should be the bigger person because you didn't do anything wrong. Don't assume that this decision was all about you. You are continuing to take it personally when there could be hundreds of reasons that she decided not to move forward with employing you. Unfortunately you may never know the reason and have closure. How you handle it and move on is up to you.
~~~MARRIED BIO~~~
Oh no, I'm so sorry. What a messy situation and the worst possible outcome. Just keep your chin up and know that it's not your fault.
I've thought about that. I'm not sure how she could have found it though. I have talked about the situation, but I have not bashed her in any way. I have said nothing but how much I loved my job and how much I loved her on there. I have never mentioned her name or the name of the company. Do you think that could have something to do with it? I've always been nice and professional regarding her. I have not said anything that was not true.
I doubt that's it.
An employer cannot demand that you feel in any way, so for her to say that in order for you to come back to work you have to feign excitement about a pay cut and a decrease in vacation is completely inappropriate. It is also inappropriate for her to extend a job offer to you, and then rescind it without notice, warning or reason.
I have no idea--it just sounded to me like she was trying to distance herself from you professionally--perhaps as if she thought you were causing trouble for her-- so that thought popped into my head. I haven't read your blog so I wasn't basing my comment on anything in particular you've said.
Oh, okay. Just checking. I am going to send you a PM, I want you to relay a message for me.
Yeah, she sent me an offer on Friday and said let's talk Monday. We never talked yesterday and I got this letter at 9:00 this morning. It wouldn't have matter what I said yesterday, her mind was made up.
Then I would want closure. Call her and tell her you'll be coming in tomorrow (its getting late for today) to pick up your things then while you're there, stop by her office and say "I just need to know why. What was the change of heart over the weekend? I need to know this information from a professional standpoint so I never make the same mistake again."
sorry. It sucks royally.
Call me Kat =^..^=
Southeastern Cycling
My Nest Bio and Cycling Advice
Wow, I was not expecting that! I'm so sorry. I agree in that you shouldn't just show up since, technically, you have been let go. But it couldn't hurt to call her tomorrow, like pp said, and come in to get closure. I know she doesn't "owe" you anything regardless of the situation, but again, out of respect for your friendship and professional relationship, she should be able to at least talk with you.
I know they're a smaller company and not all laws apply to them and I know nothing about employment law here in GA, but it seems like some sort of line has been crossed with the disability issue. I don't know though, I'm probably just speculating and I'm not saying that you should fight it or anything (I wouldn't want to work with her or them after all that) but to at least know what your rights are, I guess to help with closure.
That's so rude and unprofessional!
Done. YGPM back.
I just sent her an email requesting her provide a letter of recommendation. Not that I'll use it, but at least I have it. I also said, "I will be by tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. to pick up my personal belongings." That way she knows I'm coming. Someone gets there at 7 but this is before the other ladies in the office get there and way before she gets there. I also said, "[Boss], I just wish I knew the truth as to why this is happening. I know there is more to it than what you are telling me." And that was how I ended it. I know she won't respond or tell me why, but at least I tried. I don't want to be petty or immature, and I feel like that is professional. Like Kat(?) said, if I did something wrong, I need to know so I can learn from it and not make the same professional mistake again.
Honestly, I would consult with an employment attorney. Just because GA is at will state doesn't mean you don't have grounds for a valid lawsuit. I really think that she has screwed you over. Part of my job duties are in Human Resources, and I have spent a lot of time with our employment attorneys.
I recently had a very similar issue come up with an employee that was out on short term disability. I confirmed with my attorney that we could NOT let this person go while he was on STD, and we were also strongly counselled to give him written warning of the job issues, with a 90 day turn around for improvement.
The fact that she let you go while you were out on STD, for no valid reason, especially after she has given you a job offer just a couple days previously, and then rescinded it without warning or reason, to me are valid issues that you should address with an attorney.
**disclaimer** - Obviously, I am not at attorney, this is just my .02 cents.
I hate that it has come to this, but I agree with you. I mean surely there are some laws she is breaking! It's just not right. There have got to be laws out there defending the employees. Either disability laws or employment laws or something. She has no grounds to let me know. Except that I didn't show her enough excitement about the new position. I'll have to think about this and see if it's something I want to pursue.
My guess is that's exactly why she offered you the demoted position. I am pretty sure the law is they have to give you a job when you return from STD but it does not have to be the same position you were in when you left. Even still, she should not legally be able to terminate you while you are out on disability.
Our situations are different but I took STD as maternity leave with my first child and they basically eliminated the position while I was out. They waited until the day I came back to "fire" me for no reason at all other than they split my job up amoung 3 other people in the department for free and didn't want to have to pay my salary. I asked the manager why she didn't call me while I was out on leave so I could be interviewing and getting my resume in order and she said that legally they could not let me know that they were getting rid of me while I was out. Totally suck.
Fingers crossed that bigger and better things are around the corner.
I've been following your blog. That stinks. I'm sorry. I am in the legal field as well, I will keep my eyes open for you. I am somewhat in the market for a new job as well. I do know of a really good employment attorney in Atlanta if you are interested, let me know.