I feel sick for my co-worker (long)

[bronxgirl]

I may DD this but I just need to vent. I feel so bad for my coworker who is most likely going to get fired in a couple months. Prior to having my daughter I was her supervisor (although we have a ridiculous matrix system where everyone has like 3 bosses) and things were fine. After I left that position she applied for it. She didn't get it, but they told her they were grooming her for a future management position so things were good. Unfortunately where we work is somewhat dysfunctional so for some reason her work group leader started having some issues with her and was giving her a hard time about stuff, some of it legitimate, some not, and things snowballed from there. After a few months of that our department head, who previously liked CWer, started giving her a rough time and it escalated to the point where CW'er could do no right, even when she could provide evidence of positive feedback from patients and colleagues. It's been evident for several months that they are trying to push her out. Yesterday she was told if she doesn't improve in 3 months she'll be fired. I know that means they're firing her in 3 months, no matter what. It's such a shitty BS situation. It has nothing to do with her work and is all about politics and control issues and crap like that. On top of everything else she told me today that she's been having some health issues and may need surgery. When she gets fired she's going to lose her health insurance so I don't know what she's going to do then. I feel awful for her and so angry at my boss for doing this crap and so sad for our department for losing a good employee. Shit like this is why the rest of our organization thinks our department is a joke. I don't have a question here...just needed to vent.

[lilibet]

That sucks for her. My work does similar crap like that. They're working on getting rid of a couple of ladies who have been at the company 20plus years for really dumb stuff. So awful.

[Deleted]

I'm sorry. Can you gently suggest she start looking and that you'll be happy to serve as a reference? Would she be able to afford COBRA if they fire her?

[bronxgirl]

Sept 27, 2012 16:54:54 GMT -5 BirdGirl said:

I'm sorry. Can you gently suggest she start looking and that you'll be happy to serve as a reference? Would she be able to afford COBRA if they fire her?

She's been looking for a couple years but hasn't had good luck. She had a couple interviews and one even called references (I was one), but she didn't get it. I know she's done some adjunct teaching so hopefully she can get some more work from that. I don't know that much about her finances, but she has really high student loans and currently doesn't make a lot of money. I don't know about her saving/ spending habits. I encouraged her to go to HR, although I don't know if they can do anything at this point.

[curbsideprophet]

That sucks, sorry.

[CloudBee]

I'm sorry. It's hard to see good people go.

[WOT?*]

Can she get her medical issues taken care of now while she has insurance? And if it's applicable and appropriate, maybe take some leave time to destress and recover and deal with her health issues?

[bronxgirl]

Sept 27, 2012 18:21:57 GMT -5 WOT?* said:

Can she get her medical issues taken care of now while she has insurance? And if it's applicable and appropriate, maybe take some leave time to destress and recover and deal with her health issues?

I think she's trying to get the medical stuff taken care of. Meanwhile, we have plenty of truly awful people who skate by.

[sapphireblue]

That is such bullshit. I think I've seen that same dynamic. It's rough. I feel terrible for her too.