so, yeah..... I sent this to the head four of the company I used to work for.

Hi guys. I wanted to at least explain the things Laurel brought up on my voicemail. I’m not receiving a return phone call, so I guess email will have to suffice.

Regarding Saturday, April 3rd. My wife left her medications, nebulizer and a check from her mother to pay for a specialist appointment on Saturday in my vehicle on Friday night. I had to get these to her, especially because she was in the middle of one of her more difficult “attacks”. I explained to Deborah that I had to bring the check to her (I left out the sick wife part as I try not to tell everyone and anyone about my personal issues). She asked “Do we have to stop drilling?” I replied, “technically yes” Being that is was Saturday, and everyone came in to work extra on the weekend, I didn’t want to have to do that, because of my personal screw up. I didn’t think anyone would be available to come to the site to cover for the time it would take for me to get to Spring Hill and back, especially on a Saturday. I asked Deborah if she would mind covering while I did this, to which she agreed. I understand FULLY that this is the bad decision that is leading to my termination. It was 10 am at this time. Instead of the normal 2 hour round trip drive time, it took 3 hours due to construction and Easter traffic on I-75. I called Deborah to let her know I was leaving to return and asked about the drilling, at which time she gave me the update. When I returned, I apologized profusely and resumed monitoring. You can see on my timesheet that I DID NOT CHARGE GDE FOR HOURS I WAS NOT ON SITE.

Regarding “leaving at lunch for hours”. I’m not quite sure what that is, but I go to lunch when they do. Somewhere between 11 am and 12:30 pm is when they break for lunch, for about an hour. I go grab something at the intersection of Fowler and 56th everyday and then return back to the site to eat it. This Monday, I explained to Tom (the driller) that I had to go to the office to pick up samples during my lunch break. I explained this to Jack also on that day. I told them it may take a little more than an hour for me to return. It ended taking an hour and 20 minutes I believe. I returned to the site and resumed monitoring. So, again, I’m not sure how that constitutes “leaving the site for hours”.

Regarding leaving early on Tuesday, April 3rd. I explained last week to GSS that I would have to leave at 3 pm on either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday to renew my car registration. I couldn’t do it online because they wanted to see my proof of insurance. Not only was this not a problem, I was met with a “sure, no problem”. I sent an email to Erin letting her know I would have to be covered for on Wednesday…just being proactive and covering my absence if that’s how it turned out. After explaining my situation to Tom on Tuesday, he agreed with me on stopping installation at 3 pm so I could accomplish the renewal. At most they would have put one more pin in. Quitting time was averaging 3:30 since we started the project anyway. I called Erin to inform her that they were stopping drilling early for me so I could renew my registration. Drilling ended and I left the site at 3:15 pm. I’m failing to see why this was a problem. If it was a problem with GSS, why on earth would they tell me sure, and then complain about it? If they had just told me it was unacceptable, I would have stuck with the alternative plan, which was to have Evan cover the project for the day.

I want to state to everyone, “duplicitous lying” with the time you paid me over the course of my employment has never occurred. NEVER. I am guilty of poor decision making, that I will own. But I have never stolen time, which is effectively money, from GDE. If I leave a site between 3:00 pm and 3:07 pm, my leave site time is 3:00 pm. If I leave between 3:08 pm and 3:15 pm, my leave site time is 3:15 pm. I add drive time as applicable and that is it.

To be terminated as a result is unsettling, but as an adult man, I understand your decision. I don’t agree with it, as there are others who are consistently late by hours, show up hungover or not at all, sleep during drilling, etc…and are still employed. I know that sounds petty, and that’s not my intent. But policies should be applied across the board. In the end though, full responsibility is mine. I left the site unmonitored and deep down it hurts to know that I still knowingly broke that rule and my dismissal is the consequence.

I also want to add that I have always been thankful and grateful for the full time hours in the field, the extra soil work at night and weekends, holiday bonus and lunches provided by GDE’s generosity. I’ll always speak highly of you guys, because you’ve always been nothing but super to me. This was the best job I ever had. I still believe that I was a good employee, however, I do see your motivation for this decision. Ill will doesn’t really accomplish much, so I will have none.

-Christopher

Sorry to hear you went through all that.

That's a very well written letter, and I hope they respond accordingly. Good luck.

Sorry to hear that. Frustrating not being able to get your side of events across.

Good luck!

Efan said:

Thanks Efan. The second in command called me recently and told me how furious he was the president did this, and over something so petty. She has all sorts of personal issues going on.

BTW, the drunk and useless employees are her sons.

mcmeekle said:

she fired me on my voicemail for christs sake.

JerseyKRS said:

That's piss poor....

mcmeekle said:

same guy I mentioned early is so angry at that also. He's calling a meeting to see if he can reverse her decision.

I explained to him though, how can I work there knowing she thinks I'm an untruthful? It all sucks, yo.

I agree, very well written. I am sorry your employer terminated you. It's a real shame when good workers are let go.

Good luck Chris

do you have an unfair dismissal tribunal in your industry?

I always think it's a shame when people terminate others for personal reasons. Especially when they try to flip the script and act like the other person is unprofessional.

But I am glad that someone is standing up for you !!

JerseyKRS said:

Her inability to look you in the eye speaks volumes.....

Is this the devastating news that Erin mentioned on her birthday thread? That sucks.

Sounds perfectly written to me. Except Tuesday wasn't April 3rd.

sextonseven said:

yes.


and.

Oh man that sucks.

Really well written letter! Ya'll are in my prayers!

That's classy man. Go out on a high note. They fired you on your voicemail????

I also want to add that I have always been thankful and grateful for the full time hours in the field, the extra soil work at night and weekends, holiday bonus and lunches provided by GDE’s generosity. I’ll always speak highly of you guys, because you’ve always been nothing but super to me. This was the best job I ever had. I still believe that I was a good employee, however, I do see your motivation for this decision. Ill will doesn’t really accomplish much, so I will have none.

-Christopher[/quote]

Taking the high road when it would be just as easy (and justified) not to is always a big sign of class/maturity. I'm sorry your employer did this to you and hope they will reconsider after reading such a well written and fair letter.

Best of luck to you.

Damn Chris, I'm real sorry to hear things had to go down like that... I'm really hoping that the old saying,

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."

will apply to you in this case.

Best of luck to you!

wow, honey, i am really sorry to hear that.

but congratulations on a wonderful letter. incredibly mature and well written.

The letter you wrote is very fair, especially considering how unfair their reasons for firing you are.
I think the incident you described would perhaps be reason enough for them to give you some kind of verbal warning or something, but to fire you? That's just VERY narrow-minded of them.
And delivering the news to you via voicemail? That's just crappy treatment on their behalf.

That sucks.

Good luck with your challenge. I know how hard that is.

Hey hun,

Sorry to hear about this, it is a bad decision especially if others have done worse- coming in drunk etc etc.

As someone said it is good that you have people sticking up for you.

Also love the last paragraph, class all the way, IMO.

All the best, M.

Classy.

Those people are fucktards.

I think it was a case of, the employer was at risk of looking bad and/or weak, so someone's head had to roll in order for to save face. It was Chris' head this time. Happens all the time.

I'm praying that the VP who's trying to bat for Chris is able to somehow talk sense into the president, who made the initial decision to terminate him based on false information. Sometimes people's egos don't allow them to admit they've made a mistake, and I'm praying that's not the case here.

Thanks for all your support, guys. This has been terribly rough on Chris. I don't say this because I love him, but because it's true: he was, and always has been, a stellar employee. Always early, never calls in, works overtime and takes on extra assignments. This is a shitty case of a good worker paying the price so a company can save face. It's a shame, because they're good people for the most part.

thanks guys.

I feel so much better after the phone call I had with Jack (the other partner). I was feeling pretty bad about myself and the decisions I've made and that conversation did so much for me.

JerseyKRS said:

I don't think she can think you're an adjective, honey. A liar, maybe, but not an untruthful.

I'm a firm believer in good things happening to good people...and Chris, you are the good-est of people...your drive, work ethic & overall positive attitude will pay off for you in the end...I know things suck now...but they wont for long...

tackam said:

Well written letter.

I hope the decision will be reversed and you get reinstated.

I feel you have been unfairly treated.

Seek the advice of a labour relations or human rights boards if need be.

you're a class act.

I'm sorry to hear of your trouble. Wishing you well.