What do you think? Am I finally losing my mind, or is it real?

[Not_Giving_Up]

I was out all week with bronchitis, thanks to my wonderful son, who infected the entire house. I went back to work this morning at 8, doctor's note in hand. As usual, the repugs that own the place weren't there, so I sat down and started trying to find my desk under everything that had been piled on it during the last four days. The freeper that works there gave me some big jobs to bill, and told me that they were high priority, so I got on them. Around 9:45 the boss lady called, and told me that I could go home at 10:30. :wtf: She has a friend on the payroll who normally only comes in for a short blip on Fridays to do the payroll for the mow crews (they're paid in cash, under the table), and i usually go to lunch when she comes, since all of the info is on the computer that I use. Well, boss says her friend will be coming at 10:30, and will need my computer for the rest of the day, and this will give me an extra day of rest. Ummm, sick time does not exist. I've already missed four days that I really couldn't afford to miss, not to mention the work piled up on my desk. She tells me that she will call me over the weekend.

A little background - Ever since the Boxer Revolution, the overall attitude towards me has changed. I commented that I had to run and get a tape on my lunch break, and when asked why, I said "To tape the Boxer Rebellion!" When I came back from lunch, the freep told me that the Dems were making fools of themselves, blah, blah, blah. I refused to get sucked into the argument, and went back to work.

The very next day, I had absolutely no internet access. Yeah, I checked into DU when things were a little slow for me. Freeper boy reads Drudge half the day, and doesn't do his work. I was told that Freep and I were both offline until his machine was cleaned up, that it was infected with spyware and viruses. I later found out that this was not true. He still has full access to whatever he wants, and I can go nowhere, which made it impossible for me to even get to an e-mail account to which bills are sent.

I'm getting the distinct vibe that she's going to call me sometime this weekend and tell me about how I'm no longer working out. Am I being paranoid?

[Not_Giving_Up]

1. Shameless kick of my own rapidly sinking thread

:kick:

[MADem]

2. Start developing a game plan, just in case

Are you in one of those right to work states, or do you actually have laws on the books to protect workers where you live? Find out what constitutes unfair termination.

I don't think you are being paranoid at all. When they lie to you, as they did about your computer access, it's for a reason.

Do you have enough time in to collect unemployment? If so, start looking at the requirements for signing up for it. It's always a while before you get a check.

If you want to be a total asshole, turn them in for the undocumented, under the table workers. If you have any paperwork on that, grab it, copy it, keep it. Ya never know when that stuff comes in handy...

[rwenos]

3. Exit Strategy

I knew the ax was poised, so one Friday afternoon I cleaned everything out of my office , all my personal stuff, pictures of family, artwork, etc.

It freaked them out on Monday morning.

I got fired anyway a few months later. And, as I said on another thread, the boss who fired me got laid off herself, together with her entire staff of 40+, last week.

I laughed my ass off.

My point: prepare for it, visibly. It will freak them out for awhile. If you get fired, it would happen anyway. But when you walk out with your backpack or briefcase, you can laugh because they'll still be working there.

By the way, I LOVE the idea of denouncing them to the Migra. Serves the bastards right. Get what documentation you can, before you leave.

[Not_Giving_Up]

6. I have nothing personal there

Years of working temp got me in the habit of leaving home at home. As far as making copies of documentation, if I get a call this weekend, that's out. I don't care. I'll report them anyway.

[rwenos]

9. A Fine Idea

But I prefer "denounce them." Has a sort of a KGB type feel.

Main thing is to stay focused on YOUR agenda, not THEIR agenda. That way they "just didn't work out with you," rather than the reverse.

And if you can get a new gig quick, you can resign on their ass.

[Not_Giving_Up]

10. Oh, they definitely haven't worked out with me

Like I said, I expect to get the news this weekend. She said she'd call me this weekend...She never calls me on the weekends.

[rwenos]

14. So No-Show on Monday, and See Your Temp Agency Rep

Maybe you can have a new gig by afternoon. And if not, you "got sick over the weekend."

[Not_Giving_Up]

15. I'm not a temp there though

I temped for years...but not here. I could probably get a quick gig as a temp again though.

[rwenos]

17. Hard to Say What's Right

Only you know how close the ax is to your neck. It's a risk, but just not being there Monday morning is probably worth the stomach acid it creates.

[Not_Giving_Up]

19. I've just been getting the heebie jeebies from them for a while now

They proudly sport their W '04 stickers on the back of every SUV they own, while I have to watch my step because i'm the only Dem in the office. (It's Texas, what can I say, and NOT a very blue area).

I swear, it's gotten to the point where getting out of bed is a real bitch just knowing that I have to go there. The problem - I feed a family of four, plus 3 cats and a million birds. I've been crossing my fingers on that other job, hoping I could tolerate the torture until I heard.

[jdj]

23. you sound like me.

I somehow managed not to get fired from my job, but I am now doing cleaning for them intead of going in everyday, and it is wonderful not to have to see these fundies every damn day.

They were JUST horrible to me, treated me like I had three heads, I suspect because of the rainbow sticker on my car. For over a year I went in there and got treated this way, because I messed up my job history when I took care of my grandmother for 2 years (About 5 or six part-time jobs in that time, some simultaneously), so I SWORE I would stay there at least a year. I am in school now, but in just a month I feel like a whole new human being, from being out of that place.. I'd like to go the whole rest of my life not having that thing called a "boss" or a "co-worker" ever again.

[Not_Giving_Up]

24. I don't put stickers on my car...I like my windows not shattered

I live in the Houston area, and while I realize there are dems here, there are plenty of obnoxious repugs too. I have a DU shirt, and I wear it every chance I get. So far, no one has felt the need to express disagreement, but I have gotten a few stares.

I thought this job would be a good thing because it's ten minutes from mu house. Screw that, I'll drive for an hour in Houston traffic just to be respected.

[MADem]

11. Not just the migra, go the whole HOG--the IRS has a ratfink line!

And I think they give the ratfink a cut of the take!

[Not_Giving_Up]

16. I plan to hit them every way I can

Oh, and get this...their biggest contract??? A chain of daycare centers. So, there are guys, some of whom are only known to the employer by a first name, working around kids. Who knows who these guys are! I will say this - I could communicate with some of them with my limited spanish, and they all seemed OK, but that really means nothing.

[Not_Giving_Up]

5. Actually, this place has been a great source of stress for me

I've only been there since October, but the office is total choas. The boss changes her mind three or four times a day about how things should be done. It's a small office...her, her husband, the freep, and me. Her friend drops in when convenient. She keeps changing how she wants things to be done, then asks me why things aren't finished. Gee, bitch, I was waiting for you to make up your mind. Not only that, but they have four kids, the oldest is six. There is a play room at the friggin office. Sounds cool, maybe, but they don't stay in there, they want to talk to me whenever they are up there, making sure I get nothing done.

If my paranoia turns out to be the truth, I plan to hit them hard. They are applying for visas for the guys now, but the paperwork from the attorney handling it clearly states that anyone that they are getting visas for should not have worked illegally in this country. The attorney's office KNOWS that these guys are currently working for them. No payroll taxes, no worker's comp for them. They also allow these guys to drive company vehicles without licenses, even taking them home.

[MADem]

12. Here's where you go, the reward may help you between jobs!

Although you are not required to identify yourself, it is helpful to do so. Your identity can be kept confidential. You may also be entitled to a reward.

http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=106778,00.html

[Not_Giving_Up]

13. Bad ass! Got it bookmarked just in case.

I don't care about identifying myself, they'll know it was me...SO????

[Not_Giving_Up]

8. At least I know my tax return will be here soon, so the rent will be paid

Also, I've had a lead on a much better paying job for a while. Someone is retiring at my stepdad's union hall, and I'm definitely qualified for the position. My resume was submitted before I ever had this crappy job. They are looking for someone to start around the beginning of March, and I really want that job...double the pay!!!!!

[DBoon]

18. and document any unlicensed software they use

to hand over to the BSA:

http://www.bsa.org/

The BSA loves snitches!

[Not_Giving_Up]

20. Everything is licensed

Only two computers in the place, the freep's and mine. Boss has one at home that she dials in with, but she dials directly into my computer.

Really annoying for me too, by the way. I'd be working, and all of a sudden get a message that the computer was locked. She's call and say "Oh, I forgot to call you and let you know I was getting in". Bullshit, she wanted to see what I was up to (back when I had web access).

[DBoon]

21. Can they *prove* everything is licensed?

If not, the BSA will really nail them. Even if they can, an accusation will cause them a lot of trouble.

Snitch lines formed by the private sector don't have to follow rules of due process.

The weapons they try to use against us can be used against them as well. It's the art of Akido in action.

[Not_Giving_Up]

22. I have no idea

This woman is so damn unorganized, i doubt it. 90% of the mail for the business goes to her house...she doesn't bring it to the office for weeks. All of a sudden, she'll show up with shopping bags full of unopened mail. We've come close to being in the dark and without a phone nearly every month.

I'd rather stick to nailing them for things I know for sure are going on. I don't need to guess about the illegals and the drivers licenses. One of the guys got a ticket for running over a fire hose. He had no license. They hired a lkawyer to fix it for him, how nice!

[NightTrain]

4. Sad to say, you're NOT being paranoid.

Sounds to me like your douche-bag bosses are preparing to give you the boot. I'm sorry.

[Not_Giving_Up]

7. I didn't think I was being paranoid, but sometimes I do overreact

All the way home, Kodachrome was playing in my head..."I can see the writing on the wall"

[Not_Giving_Up]

25. Just a little update...

Saturday, 1 PM, no mysterious call yet. I've been online for about 30 minutes...crappy dial-up, but she usually calls my cell phone anyway.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

26. Good luck, Not_Giving_Up. Your boss sounds like a real asshole!

I take it you've updated your resume lately and have been sending them out.

This whole 'paying under the table thing,' along with the other issues you mentioned...they are just looking for trouble. I hope they get their gooses cooked; sounds like they deserve it!?

Hang in there!
:thumbsup: