Picking up from last time –
I moved into my apartment on a Sunday (July 31, 2011).
That Thursday (August 4th), I was sitting at my desk within I think a day or two of signing my lease, unfortunately still not doing all that much. And I got a call from human resources.
I went up and there was my boss already practically in tears. And they let me go. I could hardly believe this. And yet, I should’ve seen it coming! With barely any work for me to do, and with not super gelling with people so well, (and with the small heart thing to boot), of course the writing was on the wall.
I don’t know why I thought I’d just stay there, pretty unhappy, day in and day out without anyone doing anything to remedy it. I’d seen Office Space. (Heck, I’d seen The Office.) I thought people in offices were unhappy and that lots of time was wasted. Kinda just thought that’s how it went.
If I would’ve had any clue – if I would’ve thought for one second they were gonna let me go – I would’ve totally talked it out with my boss. I would’ve said, “Don’t even sweat it. I haven’t signed a lease. I’m happy to fly back to New York.”
She knew I moved across the country for this, and she knew when I was signing my lease. I don’t really understand what I view as kind of a lack humanity, not to just tell me what was going on. But, we all see things differently. Maybe she assumed I knew it was coming. Or maybe she was living in denial that they’d have to. I don’t know.
Anyway, when it was all happening, I was so shocked. I didn’t yell. I didn’t cry. I didn’t know what to do. I was just in shock. I did say, “I wish you would’ve told me before I signed the lease.” No one said they were sorry for that. The human resources person just coldly told me that since I’d recently signed maybe the apartment building would let me out of it (yeah right – I asked and they were so not having that).
I was escorted down to my desk to get my belongings. That felt weird. But I guess that’s what they do in big companies.
The people in cubicles by me seemed to know it was coming. I don’t know if they were warned when I was up there, or if everyone in the close-knit office learned before I did. Either way, I was very embarrassed as I took all my stuff with a security guard standing over me. And I left.
I thought it was a little weird they didn’t take my key to open the suite. But if they escort people out, I guess maybe they also change the locks.
After I had some time to fume, I got so angry.
(Since this is where the post ends, it sounds like maybe I’m gonna do something crazy. I’m not. I’m just gonna get another job the following day…)
I’ll pick up here next time.