After 3+ years, I got fired [Forum Archive]

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After 3+ years, I got fired

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Posted by: TheGreatSatan

I worked at Office Depot for about 3 1/2 years and finally got fired. I knew it would happen eventually, because I would always go the extra mile for customers regardless of what we were charging. We would do $30 setups on new PC's where we would remove all the junk programs, files, and games and tweak the OS to top speed. I would also install Advanced System Care (a FREE program) and sometimes Avast or Avira (Also FREE).

Normally you would charge $30 per software install, but since they were free and it would only take a couple of seconds to do, I would just do it. After several hundred computers sold and several hundred installs it finally caught up to me.

The manager never cared and everyone I worked with did it too, but the Loss Prevention District Manager (LPDM) who did our audits didn't like it so he fired me.

So the job hunt begins. I always loved working on computers there and the general feel of the place so finding something new will be annoying. I already have 3 interviews set up, but for places I don't see myself staying at.

Do I qualify for Unemployment? Or only if I hadn't been fired. . . .?

Posted by: Little Wing

did he fire everyone doing it or just you? sue office depot and open your own shop.

Legal Issues
Before you begin a job search consider where you stand from a legal perspective. Was your firing legitimate or could it be considered wrongful termination? Are you eligible for unemployment benefits? If you were fired for misconduct you may not be eligible, but, don't presume that is the case.
Check with your state unemployment office, especially if you have a different opinion than your employer does about how you parted ways. In many cases, if it isn't clearcut, the unemployment office will lean towards the unemployed job seeker, rather than the employer, when making a decision on unemployment compensation benefits.

Posted by: bio-chem

you qualify for unemployment. hope you have a bit of a nest egg. if you do take your time and get the right job for you. good luck

Posted by: PainandGain

You got what you deserved, devil-worshiper!!!

Posted by: maniclion

I wish I was unemployed so I could sit around and work on my Novel's, short stories and poetry....

Posted by: Dark Geared God

fired for install a free program...thats bull..

Posted by: theCaptn'

Originally Posted by Little Wing

did he fire everyone doing it or just you? sue office depot and open your own shop.

Legal Issues
Before you begin a job search consider where you stand from a legal perspective. Was your firing legitimate or could it be considered wrongful termination? Are you eligible for unemployment benefits? If you were fired for misconduct you may not be eligible, but, don't presume that is the case.
Check with your state unemployment office, especially if you have a different opinion than your employer does about how you parted ways. In many cases, if it isn't clearcut, the unemployment office will lean towards the unemployed job seeker, rather than the employer, when making a decision on unemployment compensation benefits.

sounds like your lucky day . . sue those fuckers

Posted by: Curt James

You'll find something in your field.

Just had my desktop in the shop and the tech or repair person lamented how they hire people with degrees who don't know jack but have better luck with people who love computers and are familiar with all the ins and outs.

What's your background, training, interest? Regardless, wishing you good luck in your job hunt. If you were fired then I just assumed you qualified for unemployment.

Good luck!

Posted by: Dark Geared God

collect that free check until the end of summer u need a break go surfing. i know i am..

Posted by: SYN

I think you should take steps to make this a widely known issue, and fight it. Seriously how good are they going to look if hundreds of people found out they fired somebody for finding out they were providing good customer service?

Posted by: Fetusaurus Rex

I wonder if the creators of Avast know that Office Max is making $30 for installing their free software? I'm sure they wouldn't be happy about that

Posted by: Mudge

^ Thats a damn good point.

Posted by: Big Smoothy

Sorry to hear about what happened, The Great Satan?

Why didn't the manager just warn you, and say "don't do it anymore for free?"

Was it a written company policy?

Posted by: SYN

Originally Posted by Mudge

^ Thats a damn good point.

Agreed. You may be able to get them in trouble for that.

Posted by: maniclion

Originally Posted by Fetusaurus Rex

I wonder if the creators of Avast know that Office Max is making $30 for installing their free software? I'm sure they wouldn't be happy about that

They aren't charging for the product, it's for the labor. But $30 is too much for a program that you click a couple times, it installs and you click Close or Finished and that's it...

You should make up a sign that say's "Office Depot fired me because I would not charge $30 to install free software, that takes 2 minutes to complete, on your PC's" and have a bucket for donation's with another sign "Donate money so I can stand in this parking lot until everyone knows how they rip you off."

Posted by: maxpro2

Morally, this sucks what happened to you. Legally, you don't have a leg to stand on.

Posted by: JerseyDevil

You definitely qualify for unemployment benefits. If you told the boss "screw you asshole", then no. But if it is 'performance' related, then yes, you qualify for unemployment benefits.

Sounds like this is company wide. Maybe you can organize a class action suit.

Posted by: TheGreatSatan

Originally Posted by Big Smoothy

Sorry to hear about what happened, The Great Satan?

Why didn't the manager just warn you, and say "don't do it anymore for free?"

Was it a written company policy?

No, the manager knew. Everyone was using programs that were free to fix the computers and to make them run better. It just pisses me off that I can be fired for something everyone does.

I wouldv'e loved a reprimand, but this guy gets off on firing people. We had others get fired before that were always for such stupid little things. One chick used a coupon twice and another guy let his friend use his discount. These are both instances that you'd think would result in a reprimand, not a firing.

A lot of people may brag about how successful they were, but I really was. If the store sold 7K in plans and services for the month, 3K was my doing alone. I had people who would repeatedly come back just to see me, people who would call to see if I was working before they came.

I hope their sales suffer

On another note:

I applied for Unemployment, but it'll supposedly take 3 weeks for them to decide if I'm eligible. I hope to be working by then. I've filled out about 14 applications and have already had two interviews and another scheduled for Monday.

Posted by: JerseyDevil

Best of luck buddy. Fuck'em!

Posted by: Big Smoothy

Best of luck, Great Satan.

I'm not legal scholar, but you should be eligible for UE benefits (from a moral standpoint, but that doesn't mean squat legally).

Also, it shows that At-Will states (there are 37 of them) and I assume you are in an At-Will Employment state, perhaps.

American workers are treated like sh*t.

Posted by: TheGreatSatan

I live in IL, like you^

Posted by: JerseyDevil

At least you won the Stanley Cup

Posted by: unclem

sorry to hear that bro. i wish you worked on my computer for being honest. i live in ny and the jobs r hard to find but i sent out my resume to 30 places i wanted to work and 26 of them called me its better than putting in appl. because they think if he went through all that work to do that hes a good company person. try it if nothing else works bro. good luck finding your wished postion. peace to the honest man. imo

Posted by: KentDog

Sorry to hear about your situation, but glad to hear you are already lining up interviews.

Good luck with the job search, and hope you land something better soon.

Posted by: MDR

Tough economy-hang in there

Posted by: AKIRA

Originally Posted by JerseyDevil

You definitely qualify for unemployment benefits. If you told the boss "screw you asshole", then no. But if it is 'performance' related, then yes, you qualify for unemployment benefits.

Sounds like this is company wide. Maybe you can organize a class action suit.

I got fired after 5 years of part time making enough money to qualify for unemployment but I cant get it cuz of school? I got an interview with an unemployment guy who was supposed to call my work and do the same with them. I won that. However because of my school, I was denied. I had to do an appeal and it still was disapproved.

It might had been because I told them I was looking for part time work. However, I lost a part time job...and that part time job paid a lot by the hour, so much that I didnt need a full time job. This made that part time job, now lost, a perfect one while being in school full time. Because I am looking for a similar job, I cant get unemployment?

Let me tell you something, I was enraged by this and now morbidly depressed. The same day I was fired, I went and looked for work. I look every day and apply when a job opportunity comes up. I am doing what I am required to do, I am not looking for an easy way out, and I was wrongfully terminated. I am absolutely dumbfounded that someone like me, who is as active as possible in looking for a job, cant get unemployment that I won from my ex-company, but lost because I am looking for part time work.

After the result of the appeal, I called the unemployment office and acted like a newbie and apparently the Appeal Officer was convinced I was NOT looking for work whatsoever. I told that dumbass that I look for jobs every day. I suppose he expected me to send out applications into space or to a dishwashing position. What that idiot wanted to know was if I was sending out applications to places that werent even hiring. I told her that I apply every single time there is an opening and have even applied at places twice. Ive even gone and put a resume on Monster.com. Anyway, I wrote an email, wrote a letter, and sent 2 faxes of every fucking company I have already applied, some of which arent even in my sought out profession. No word yet and I expect to call tomorrow.

GreatSatan, guess what I used to do?

Loss Prevention

Posted by: TheGreatSatan

I was in the Marines and Air Force and I've applied for loss prevention too. I don't want that job, but whatever. . . . .

Posted by: TheGreatSatan

Wow, thanks to whomever changed my location.

Posted by: Mudge

LMAO, I didn't do it man!! I only think an admin can???

Posted by: Light Weight

Originally Posted by Little Wing

sue office depot and open your own shop.

Only in America

Posted by: Fetusaurus Rex

Originally Posted by Light Weight

Only in America

It makes sense to sue someone for this kind of wrong doing though, get that eye rolling bullshit out of here

Posted by: Light Weight

Originally Posted by Fetusaurus Rex

It makes sense to sue someone for this kind of wrong doing though, get that eye rolling bullshit out of here

Seems like Americas answer to everything, just sue them

Im not saying he was doing the wrong thing for installing free programs for customers but he was doing the wrong thing by the company.
He got fired for it, move on and get another job.

HTFU

Posted by: maxpro2

Originally Posted by Fetusaurus Rex

It makes sense to sue someone for this kind of wrong doing though, get that eye rolling bullshit out of here

Morally, he was doing the right thing. It is outrageous for a company to charge such high fees for installing free software.

Legally, he has no ground to stand on. He was getting paid by the company to sell these services and to bill customers for these services. Instead, he was paid by the company but did not bill the customers. An analogy can be made to a mechanic getting paid by an auto shop, and using the auto shop's garage and tools to do repairs for a customer.... but then not charging the customer anything.

Posted by: Fetusaurus Rex

Originally Posted by maxpro2

sounds like it was an extra service, not something that I would think had anything to do with the compensation to him as an employee, unless he saw some commission for the installs? Otherwise it is flat out milking the dollar out of customers at it's finest

Posted by: AKIRA

Since I was in LP for 11 years , I can see why they did it. It is considered "internal theft." Its bullshit. What I focused on what catching shoplifters (externals) and employees pocketing cash. Sometimes we got the employees passing merchandise to friends which is related here. However, if it doesnt cost the company a dime to have the software, then there is no loss.

The only way and I mean ONLY way I can see it in the eyes of it being a loss prevention matter is if they looked at it as shady behavior. "If he is doing this, he could be doing something else." To me that would serve as a correction if one had never been done to you before instead of terminating you. For example, you can have a employee taking shit from the lost and found box that has been there for years. OR the employee could hand the lost sunglasses, lost bags, lost umbrellas, lost cell phones, out to customers. It doesnt cost the company money, but the behavior is considered shady. Its not a means to an end, but companies dont look at individual employees, they just look at numbers.

The LP prolly added up every time you provided this and gave some speech about how much you cost them right? Yeah, well there was no loss, so you can add all that shit up and tell them thats how much you couldve robbed customers. However, that wouldve made me fire you on the spot. Even though its a valid statement.

Posted by: ROID

call jesse jackson

Posted by: TheGreatSatan

I agree to the statement that Americans sue over everything. I would've never even thought to sue over this. I understand the coporate reason for my loss, but not the human reason. I was foolish to think a company would want to go the extra mile for their customers at no cost to them.

I would love to have my own business if the money was there, but it's not. BTW, I've been out of work for 8 days now. I've applied to quite a few I have no interest in and have been on 8 interviews. I have my second interview with Radio Shack on Monday.

I had a security guard job offered to me, but I turned it down because of the hours.

Posted by: maniclion

Originally Posted by AKIRA

Since I was in LP for 11 years , I can see why they did it. It is considered "internal theft." Its bullshit. What I focused on what catching shoplifters (externals) and employees pocketing cash. Sometimes we got the employees passing merchandise to friends which is related here. However, if it doesnt cost the company a dime to have the software, then there is no loss.

He's providing a service at no charge,
one which they(Office Depot) gouge people for at $30 a pop....even if the software was free it still takes man-hours to install, they have to pay him to sit there and watch the progress meter putt along....Is $30 fair to charge for Free programs any chump can DL for nothing? No way but he should have made his objections through the chain of management instead of just neglecting his duties.....

Posted by: AKIRA

It may not be fair, but the company looks at it as $30 lost, which it isnt. Its like a store charging you for shopping bags or a restaurant charging for ketchup. They dont see it that way and they may have even used him to warn other employees to not go that extra mile because that extra mile may make or break the bottom line if everyone shows human kindness.

No one is being asked to accept it, but its easy to understand.

Since it is easy to understand, he shouldve been written up or "coached" at best. Had he continued to do it after that, then hed get the boot.

Satan, have you already had a corrective on a similar matter before?

Posted by: TheGreatSatan

I also made the store so much money. I was consistently #1 in sales and services. Every day we were above our daily $ goal. I was charging them to work on their computers, just not extra $$$ for the FREE software. I did all the work myself and never had a computer for more than 30hrs (Day and a half tops).

I never was warned or reprimanded. I was doing everything while everyone in the store knew. I got praised on how much I did for them with FREE software. Just like you would expect, the manager stood quietly while I was fired.

Posted by: AKIRA

If there is a HR department with Office Depot, which id expect they do, submit a case.

Posted by: TheGreatSatan

It's not worth it. It was against policy. I did it, because I was allowed (by management) and we made a lot of money doing it.

Posted by: TheGreatSatan

I've been out of work for nine days now.

I went to an informal interview at Radio Shack. They had all the applicants in one room in side-by-side chairs and a bunch of managers across from them. It feels like you can't get your point across when you hear the guy next to you answering too.

Must've been OK, because they called me for a second interview on Monday. I'll probably really have to screw it up to not get hired

Posted by: withoutrulers

I was under the impression you could get unemployment as long as you didn't punch someone or steal from the company. My advice would be to get unemployment, ride it for as long as you can. While using unemployment, go and get some easy certification at a tech school, and find another job doing what it sounds like you like to do. Fuck office depot. Large box corporate stores treat their employees like shit. Wal-mart, home depot, office depot, it's all the same bullshit.

Posted by: TheGreatSatan

I'd rather be working and not having my wife insult and ridicule me everyday. It's been 10 days, Office Depot still owes me 1 check plus all my 80hrs of vacation pay and yet she still is on my back about being jobless.

Posted by: AKIRA

Originally Posted by withoutrulers

I was under the impression you could get unemployment as long as you didn't punch someone or steal from the company. My advice would be to get unemployment, ride it for as long as you can. While using unemployment, go and get some easy certification at a tech school, and find another job doing what it sounds like you like to do. Fuck office depot. Large box corporate stores treat their employees like shit. Wal-mart, home depot, office depot, it's all the same bullshit.

Thats what I thought too. Apparently they only give it to people who WANT it rather than DESERVE it.

Posted by: TheGreatSatan

Booyah!

I got a job. I start next Monday at Radio Shack as the assistant manager!

Posted by: Dark Geared God

Posted by: DOMS

Originally Posted by TheGreatSatan

Booyah!

I got a job. I start next Monday at Radio Shack as the assistant manager!

Congratulations!

You ahead of at least 10% of the nation.

Posted by: TheGreatSatan

I think there are plenty of jobs, just not everyone is willing to do them.

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After 3+ years, I got fired

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