Angie, all you can do is the best you can do and if that isn't good enough for them then you don't need them. But like Marie says you don't want to be without a job.

I was told yesterday morning "quit or be fired" so its over with anyway. I've got enough money in savings to be out of work for a few months if I have to, and I've got some connections to get myself back to work so I'm really not to worried.

On a good note, my stess levels went down almost instantly and I've actually been able to enjoy my weekend for once.

I agree with the others that you should make them fire you. Then you can collect your unemployment check while you look for another job, and they have to give you your check within 24 hours rather than having to wait intil next payday. Hey! After the way you've been treated, make them pay a little eh?

I am glad that you are feeling better. That is good to hear.

It is important to enjoy your time off. I am happy for you that you have enjoyed yours. Surely they would want you to quit because it looks better on them and they wouldn't have to pay you unemployment. They are thinking what is best for them and you have to think of what is best for you. Usually when you have been given an ultimatum like that they already have someone to replace you with. And if they don't then that is their problem and not yours since they didn't to work with you. You can leave in good conscience by letting them fire you. It is their loss and not yours. Sometimes one can leave with a letter of recommendation when an employer is not satisfied with an employee.

Well, I did end up resigning, but there are times when you can quit and still collect unemployment - I'll look into my options this week. And I do have a few options to get back to work right away if I want to.

I will also be consulting a lawyer this week since I was "removed from my position" because of the lack of communication between myself and the Park Ranger (the guy I filed the Hostile Work Environment claim that no one ever did anything with). I've also got it in my medical records that my depression is largely situational and that job was the only major stressor I had in my life.

I'm getting a second opionon from an outside HR director, but it looks to me like this company could be in a lot of trouble.

Oh my. It looks like you are going to stick to the man. You left on good terms. You are not burning the bridges behind you. Looks like you are leaving your options open. This will look good on future job applications. It seems that you have been wrongfully treated. I am glad you have the gall to go through with the option with the lawyer. You must have money saved back for a rainy day. It seems like you have nothing to lose now that you have resigned. There is option of being reinstated and the possibility of just getting just due compensation. I hope you luck with it.

Thanks Roy. Unfortunately, this has left such a bad taste in my mouth, that wouldn't go back to work for this company, but if I can get the offer in writting it will look better as I look for more work.

As for the rainy day: My grandfather passed away back in March and I inherited some money. I used some of it to get back on my feet after my divorce and I was going to invest some too, but since the stock market is total chao right now I decided to leave it in savings for the time being. Good thing I did.

I've also been talking with my family about the situation, and my mom is also willing use a peice of her inheritance for lawyer fees, so thats a help.

I miss my grandpa, but he was 82 years old when he died of cancer. He lived a rich, rull life and didn't suffer; he was actually out dancing 2 days before he died. I think he would be happy that his money has helped me out so much.

You are smarter than me when I was your age. I left a trail of last checks that I didn't pick up. Comes with having a chip on my shoulder and a serious attitude problem. I remember coming back to this one company for a rehire. They wouldn't rehire me because they didn't need anyone but the plant manager said, "Oh, by the way do you want your last check?" Just responding to your entry of leaving a bad taste in your mouth. One thing I did like about working for temporaries is that if one didn't like the job one could try out another temporary. I just made two years at the nursing home, yesterday. I asked one of our nurses what I get for two years of work and she felt sorry for me and gave me a Baby Ruth candy bar.

Congratulations on the 2 years Roy. That is an accomplishment with the work you do. It takes a special person to work in a nursing home, I couldn't do it. I got my 5 year pin at the hospital in May, amazed I made it that far with some of the managers there, surprised myself.

Angie - you are a smart lady. Do what you need to to take care of yourself. The company you worked for sounds like it had some major problems in their management and it sounds like you do have a case. Good luck.

Karen - hope you are doing well. Haven't talked to you for a bit. Hang in there.

I am happy for you, Marie. That is amazing. Some days you work at these kind of jobs and you ask yourself why. Just the other night I was consoling a widow resident who recently lost her husband. She sews up scrub tops for me. This last one she is making she said didn't want any money for the top. She said the nurse gave her a nerve pill to help her get to sleep. A lot of aides call her mama. It is these special people that make all the difference in the world especially when you are having a bad day.

That is true Roy. My dad will be in the nursing home for 2 years in December. There is one resident that I took a liking to, a really sweet little lady, she was always around the front door when I brought dad his dinner on Friday nights and she always smiled and said something nice to me. I would tell her she looked nice or her hair looked pretty, whatever, but she always smiled at me. Over this past year, she has gone downhill, don't know if it is Alzheimer's or what, but she looks at me once in awhile and not sure she knows who I am anymore. I talk to her when I see her, but she has that vacant look in her eyes, really sad, she was so sweet. I don't know that I could be around them daily and watch the decline. I am too "soft-hearted" and get too involved with them. Not that you don't, but it is easier for me to sit at a computer and not be personally involved with them. I do admire people like you who work with them daily. Takes a special person to do that.

The decline is a hard thing to watch. Just lost another one while I had a night off. Her room mate we have been trying to keep from being alone. They had been together since school days. The daughter of the surviving room mate announced to her mother during her visit at supper that her mother's friend had past. I guess there isn't a nice way to do it but some thought the presentation of her daughter to the mother was callous. But then who better to tell her was all I could think. My mother just got back from the hospital. My brother had told me that my mom was at my sister's. Mom called me last night at when I was at work to let me know she home and okay. I didn't know that she had went to the hospital and told her I was glad she was okay. According to my brother they were checking for arteriole blockage. I am glad my younger brother still lives with my mom. Mom said she was at my sister's and then went to the hospital. It is easy to get out of touch. I hope you are having a good day, Marie.

stopping in to justsayhi

Hi Deb, hope you are having a good day.

Thanks Roy. I called dad's doctor's office today and left them the message of what was going on. His doctor will check on him, will take a few days to hear back. I just have a feeling that he may be starting to make his exit. I think he has been thinking about it since his sister died in February, has felt alone, abandoned, he still has me and my baby brother, but he misses her so much. She was like his second mother. They talked daily and she helped raise him after his mother died when he was 12, so no one can replace that. Also, the 3rd anniversary of mom's death (01/02/06) is coming up and he is probably going into a slump over that too. They were married for 56 years when she died. Just a gut feeling, but I think he may be slowly starting the decline. Thanks for caring and listening. Take care.

You're welcome, Marie. I had to smile and laugh, today. Our resident kleptomaniac had this little case in her hands. It looked important and she had just wheeled past the nurse with the nurse cart full of medications. I am used to this resident having house keeping's floor signs, other people's shoes, other resident's alarms or an assortment of things she pack rats as she wheels herself down the hallway. I asked the resident, "What has my little buddy picked up, today?" She always smiles this impish little grin. I opened the case and found it was the blood sugar checker the nurse uses. I told the resident that looks like something off the med cart. The nurse looked up and said, "Oh my, thank you, Roy. That would have cost us lots of money."

Oh, hi, buttons.

I just wanted to add that some of our senior residents won some of the special Olympics. I found out that there is a senior league, too. It is a regional special Olympics and they brought back some ribbons. I was happy for the lady who does my scrub tops because she won the wheelchair race.

Hey Marie, All, hugs. I'm out here. I mostly read latey, but Im here. Im hanging in there. Some weird crap happening and Murphy and kharma are having a field day with me. If it's bad or wierd, it's been happening to me. So I again have gone hermit for a while.

hugs, you all take care.

Karen

I am glad you are hanging in there, Karen. Sabbaticals are good. They help you to evaluate and reevaluate. It is a beautiful day here and the sun is shining.

Good to see you again Karen. I hope things are getting a little better but I understand taking a break too. I have become something of a "lurker" myself. I don't much fit in with the "in" crowd these days so stay in the "trees" more than anything.

Dad is about the same, don't know what to think. Haven't heard back from his doc yet, so not sure what to think. It will take his doc a few days to check things out, but my gut tells me he is not doing well. Guess I better gear up for what may be coming down the road.

Sorry to hear about your mom Roy, that stinks that she would lie to you about being in the hospital.

Hope everyone is having a good week. Take care.

Oh, it wasn't my Mom that lied to me, Marie. My youngest brother told me that he would keep me updated. Mom had went to one of my sisters like he said but then had went there to the hospital. I guessed it must have slipped his mind or she didn't tell him. I worked two hours over tonight. Have an inservice tomorrow before work. And payday, too, tomorrow. Thats always important especially with what I have forked out on the van. I guess I should be grateful for the nurses being hardasses here, lately about the state rules. They have kept state away. Just tonight I watched one of our residents unbuckle her seat belt for her wheel chair and the alarm didn't go off which means it wasn't turned on. I immediatedly spotted it because I have had my ass chewed out for it before. Got to wash some wheelchairs tonight and the nurse thanked me for staying over. Seems like one aide that was supposed to come in got a $2000.00 payment for back child support. Can't blame her for taking off.