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Co-Worker Fired, No One is Saying Why
There is a situation in my office that is driving me nuts.
I work for a small business (about 20 people). I?ve seen a few people fired in the three years I?ve been here. Typically, the reasons are obvious from the get go (newbie sales people with low numbers, people who use up sick days before they earn them and people who spend the day gabbing or playing games online), but even if the reasons are obvious, the big boss or the supervisor for that department announce to others why so-and-so was let go to avoid office gossip.
On Monday morning, our bookkeeper/HR lady of over 5 years was fired in a bad way. She seemed to be good at her job and a genuine person, but she does talk to people quite a bit and has made some mistakes that rubbed the boss the wrong way in the past. Usually people who quit or are fired are allowed to say goodbye to people before they leave and they are left to gather their things alone. I noticed a lot of closed-doored conversations with the supervisors and the resident lawyer moving back and forth between offices and heard some faint crying. An hour or two later, I asked me supervisor what was going on with the atmosphere and she told me the HR lady was fired. I was upset at first because I liked her, but asked what happened and my supervisor acted like she didn?t know, but I could tell she did. All she said is, ?It must have been serious because they didn?t let her say good bye and they supervised her packing and leaving.? I don?t think if a cop escorted her out, so I don't know if it was something criminal.
Later that day, our super-admin knocked on everyone?s doors and asked for keys to the office, we all returned them and were given new keys and a locksmith changed our locks. The big boss and I get along well, and he came in my office later that day to say everything is okay with the company, but this has been a long time coming for the HR lady. He didn?t say what she did and I didn't ask, but said ?there will be an announcement about it" soon and that he is ?concerned that she may retaliate and she did have access to sensitive employee information.? It the end of the day Wednesday--still no announcement. Seemingly every conversation around me is taking place behind closed doors now. Hmmm?
I already sent home some portfolio materials and plan to update my resume in case something happens, but what would you think is going on? Would you be worried for your job? Would you try to find out what happened? I?m beginning to think this announcement isn?t going to happen and I?m just supposed to hear it through the grapevine, but those who seem to know aren?t talking to me and everyone else is acting scared to ask. I?m friends with our HR lady and want to send her a message on Facebook that I?ll miss her at work and wish her luck, but I was waiting until this announcement so I don?t make assumptions.
Re: Co-Worker Fired, No One is Saying Why
I would not contact her at all just like pp said as you don't want to get in the middle of the situation. It sounds like she may have done something criminal, but that is just an assumption and it is best not to make assumptions.
Your company will most likely let everyone know but in their time and probably after they get some things resolved.
I would just go on with your job and not worry about anything right now.
It is rare at any company I've worked for to have an announcement about someone's termination. And if you think about it, it's really none of your business.
I wouldn't be worried about my job. But I might if I started contacting someone who just got fired under those circumstances.
I wouldn't contact her. It may be that there's an investigation going on due to some evidence or other information, and your company is getting their ducks in a row before they make their decision what they're going to do from here. That could have something to do with why they're not saying anything. They may have some sort of lawyer who works with them who advised them to not say anything until the investigation is complete.
MYOB.
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I agree with everyone else - I wouldn't contact her and I'd MYOB. They're making an announcement so you'll find out in due time.
If she was the HR person, that means she probably had access to everyone's bank account information, SS #'s, and hosts of other personal information. By having her escorted out & changing the locks, they're taking extra measures to ensure that sensitive information isn't used for malicious purposes.
As PP said, if she was fired for something criminal, your employer was probably advised to keep everything quiet until the investigation is complete. That being said, I'd be wondering too because I'm nosey.
Don't worry about your job though...I'm sure you're fine.
Second, to the above - you need to realize this! It's actually really none of your business why they fired her. Great, they've told you in the past. Well... they don't have to, and I'd actually argue that they shouldn't be telling you. Unless it somehow directly affects you. But if it doesn't... it's between them and the person who was fired.
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
Ditto. It's natural to be curious, but I agree with ECB that I'm surprised they've told you in the past why someone was fired. Honestly, that is a breach of that person's privacy (how would you feel if you were in their shoes?) and IMO just invites MORE gossip. I would not contact her and just let it be.
Generally, anyone in a financial position like that is immediately escorted out of the office. It doesn't mean she was embezzling or doing anything seriously wrong - its just a control so that the person can't steal financial data and such before she leaves. This is not at all unusual.
Yep, stay out of it.
Not that this matters, but I think it is weird that the HR person was friends with coworkers on Facebook. I feel like that crosses a line from professional to personal and HR people should steer clear of that.
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