YOU’RE FIRED
These are such awful words! I really was devastated! We just bought a new truck! Our house was 8 months away from being paid for! Holy crap so was the Harley! And oh!! My husband was angry beyond angry! At me… I just can’t understand how he could have directed all that anger on me. I worked very hard at the job I did. I made mistakes!! Look at all of the duties I was expected to perform!!?? I was told I was fired due to too many mistakes. Duh!!

I was working for a “friend” , a person I had known for more than 10 years! I worked my butt off for her businesses!! (short version of a day at work) I would come in and first thing, check messages on the voice mail and email. I would start entering orders into the system and printing out the order forms. While doing this, I would get phone calls, which were usually orders, so it took me all morning to get the orders from the night before, and the current incoming orders entered in the system. After getting all entered, there would be a lot of catalog requests that would need to be entered into the system. If there was time, I would enter some. When the data entry was finished, I would then start packing the orders, all the while going back and forth between answering phone orders every five minutes! The packing and taking of orders went on all day. At several points, when I wasn’t answering phones, pulling orders, packing orders, and taking orders, stock, that was supposed to be on the shelves, would empty. When this would happen, I would fill what needed filled. On occasion, there would be someone to help fill and count. (hooks, hooks! Who knew there were so many hooks!) When it would get close to the end of the day, shipping labels would need printed and given to the various different people who would double check my order packing. Entering more orders would also be done. All of these duties, plus more, I did for $9.00 an hour! How crazy is that?

The company had a GREAT mail order program. There were so many features that were not utilized. Links to email, so those orders would not have to be manually entered. It would even auto enter catalog requests. I frequently would suggest that we investigate how to use these features. Every time, I was told there just wasn’t time. Instead of taking away any of my duties, my day would be re-arranged so much that I would get behind. My day would be re-arranged 2 or 4 times a month! Not very productive! The most mistakes were made during the transition of new “rules” that were regularly put in place. I just don’t understand how a businesses owner of a small company could get rid of an employee like me!

After a few months of depression on my part and anger on my husbands, I just could not find a job all summer! The area I live in is rated # 2 in the state for the highest unemployment stats. These are a few of the events that lead me to the conclusion that I never want to work that hard for someone else ever again! I will put all that effort into working for myself!