Why is it that every time I am either quitting a job or getting laid off due to company restructuring, the idiot personnel manager says, "This job was probably not a good fit for you".

I just had this happen to me recently when I was told that my job was being eliminated due to company downsizing. As it turns out, the personnel manager was too much of a pussy to come and tell me himself, I had to go to HIM to get the straight story (go fucking figure!). I had a suspicious feeling in my mind that I may have been losing my job, since three of the guys that I supported all left in the same week for a better opportunity at a competing company.

I went to the personnel manager to express my concern about my future with the company, and whether I still would have a job or not. I also asked him if the three people that had left the company were going to be replaced, and/or if the people that were being supported would be moved around a little so that nobody would lose their job. His answer: "Probably not." So I then asked him "So that means that I should probably start looking for another job." He replied, "Yes." Then he says to me, "This probably was not a good fit for you anyway." WTF!! That was when I saw red, and I said, "Oh no, I disagree with you, I always got along well with my bosses!" I felt like saying, "If this job was "not a good fit", I would not have lasted three and a half years here, you asshole! Put that in your pipe and smoke it!"

It's bad enough that you're losing your job, but why oh why do bosses and/or personnel people find it necessary to make such a belittling remark? It's like they're kicking you when you're already down, and that is not right! It's also like they're trying to put the blame on YOU, when that is not necessarily the whole story.

This has happened to me more than once, and at first I would not say anything and would just act like I agreed with them. Now I've learned to say in a nice way, "I disagree, and you're full of shit, bucko!" Sorry to sound like a ranting bitch, but I am totally upset and pissed off right now.

If anybody could give me any insight as to why bosses always find it necessary to say this when you're already upset/depressed/down about losing your job, I certainly would appreciate it. It greatly upsets me when bosses do this, because I work very hard for every penny I earn, have a great attitude about my job and the people I work with, and I don't appreciate being spoken to this way.

Asshole personnel manager/boss edit
[This message was edited Fri Apr 25 21:27:00 PDT 2003 by psychodelicide]

Here, have a

Thanks, Althom, I need it.

your asshole of a boss!

Thanks, Handclapsfingasnapz. Too bad I couldn't do that to him personally.

I'm seriously thinking of investigating some "work out of your home" opportunities, because I'm fed up with the bullshit and office politics that I see going on in corporate America today. It's not a pretty picture, sad to say.
[This message was edited Fri Apr 25 21:28:25 PDT 2003 by psychodelicide]

I went through this very just this past Monday. Believe me, I feel you... I feel you.

Thanks, Lammastide. I hope you find a new job soon.

psychodelicide said:

They probably say that to every1 they lay off to make them feel better.

Take things easy man. I hope better things come your way.

CAMILLE4U said:

I have considered that thought that too, but it does not make the person who is leaving the company feel any better, it only makes them feel worse.

To all of you bosses/supervisors or anybody in the working world who has the capability of human resource functions on your job, listen up: NEVER say to the departing person, that the job "was not a good fit for you", that does not make the situation or the person who is leaving/losing their job feel any better. Think of how you would feel if you were the person who was losing your job, and the idiot on the other side of the desk said that to you. I can guarantee you would get pissed off too. Instead, get some balls and some sensitivity and say to them, "We appreciate your hard work during your employment here and you will be missed". That's all you need to say, since the person who is losing their job is going through a tough enough time already, and don't need any more added drama to their life.

My last day on the job is April 30th, and I still have a few things to say to that stupid personnel manager. He hasn't heard the last from me yet!
psychodelicide is still pissed edit
[This message was edited Sat Apr 26 9:33:15 PDT 2003 by psychodelicide]

Maybe when you said to the Bill Lumberg guy that you should look for a new job, he encouraged that because it would mean that he wouldn't have to pay any redundancy money as you would have left voluntarily?

Maybe you should say to the guy "Hey, you know what Bill, I'm happy here and I think I'm gonna stay a while longer." (In the meantime, look for another job).
Then it would be a case of them having to fire you after spending 3 1/2 years in the company and you might get a payout. Either way you're leaving the fuckers, so why not take some of their money with you??

Oh and stock up on loads of stationary and stealable stuff from the office. It's the 'done' thing!


editted becoz eye kant spall
[This message was edited Sat Apr 26 9:40:29 PDT 2003 by JimmyNothing]

Actually, I am getting six weeks severance pay at my regular rate, plus five days of unused vacation. The personnel manager also told me that he was going to come and tell me this himself, but since I approached him about it, he said that he might as well be honest with me. He also pulled out a memo to me outlining my severance pay, COBRA, etc. that was dated April 30th, so the handwriting was on the wall, so to speak. I guess he was waiting until my last day to tell me what was going on.

I also discussed with him other employment options within the company, but there were none. Thanks for your concern.
[This message was edited Sat Apr 26 10:22:31 PDT 2003 by psychodelicide]

psychodelicide said:

True

Psych companies in general don't really have much concern for their employees. Today we are only numbers to them so to speak. If you do find an employer that treats their empolyees well and a human resource staff that is professional you are lucky. I agree that the comment was not appropriate at all.

I know it's upsetting but try not to think about right now. Don't let this person ruin your private time at home as well as your last few days at work. I know that is easier said than done,but you just concentrate on using your positive energy right now to find employment. Like you said think and look into different avenues, you have a LOT of experience and will be able to find something.

I'm goning to give you a call this weekend so we can talk about it.

Aww thanks, Tongue.

As a follow-up to this story for all of you who expressed your concern (which I deeply appreciate!), one of my remaining bosses returned from vacation and I told him about my position being eliminated. My boss was genuinely upset about it, he feels just as badly as I do, which made me feel good and helped me to realize just how much he appreciates me and all the hard work that I do for him.

There is a lady who does kind of what I do who is pregnant and is expecting her baby in late May. I went to her today and asked her if she was expecting to return after her baby was born, since the personnel manager did not have a concrete response when I asked him about it. It turns out that she is NOT coming back after the baby comes, which gives me the possibility of moving into her position.

Then I went to the personnel manager (I was steaming mad by then - lol!) and told him that I had just spoken to the pregnant lady, asking her if she was planning to return to work after her baby was born, and she told me no. The marketing manager then told me that the job was a marketing/administrative position, and they needed someone who knew how to do the job, and I told him, "Hey I can learn it. The woman who is leaving her job can train me. I'm more than willing to take on and learn this new job."

I also told him that I disagreed with his statement about my job here not being "a good fit", because if it had NOT been a good fit, I would not have lasted here at this company for the last 3 1/2 years. I told him that the guys I worked for are difficult, and I would have been out within the first year if I did not "fit in". I was very adamant and positive during my conversation with him, because I thought to myself, "Hey, if the pregnant lady can do that job, so can I" (she has not been doing this line of work as long as I have, she is much younger than I am).

The personnel manager asked me to email him my resume (which I did), and he would arrange a time for me to interview with the guys who were losing their marketing/administrative person. I am sooo hoping that I get this job, because I really hate interviewing, and I don't want to have to go somewhere else. Wish me luck, and I will update you as I know more.

Psychodelicide is now hopeful edit
[This message was edited Mon Apr 28 10:06:09 PDT 2003 by psychodelicide]

Well the other job that I was hoping to get fell through, since they are looking for some qualifications that I don't have. Looks like it's back to square one for me. Oh well, it's their loss, not mine. I probably don't need them anyway.

Fuck 'em. I hope you find something better...soon. We'll all be wishing you well...

Awww, thanks June 7. Nice to know that you guys care.